What's in this bottle?

[Dessieb2022]

Hi, I found this gas bottle at the back of a family member's garage. I'm looking to get set up for mig welding with gas so they said I could have it if it helped. Trouble is neither me nor them know much about gas bottles or what the colours mean. Is this of any use to me? Or is it something I could exchange at the local gas supplier?

 

[Wozzaaah]

Dispose of it, you have no idea what’s in it, it could be absolutely anything.

 

[Parm]

Dispose of it, you have no idea what’s in it, it could be absolutely anything.

Do exactly this

It will massively improve the quality of your welds

 

[Bki26]

Looks to have been all blue previously, do they have any welding gear to point to argon? Or any burning gear to point to flammable gas.

As others said best to safely dispose of it but if it was me I'd want to find out what it is by examining the markings and if nothing from that I'd crack the valve open outside a tiny bit with a reg on and fill up a balloon with a miniscule amount and see if it burns or blows out the flame of a bbq lighter but that's just my curiosity so don't do that.

 

[Richiew]

Flame test sorts the men from the boys...

 

[Richiew]

Seriously, if you don't know what gas is in a pressurised bottle, please dont put it anywhere near a welder or sparks.

 

[Dessieb2022]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I don't think I'd be brave enough to connect it up and start welding with it but was looking to see if it was easy to identify the type going by the colour. Or if I could use it as an exchange bottle to save some ££. I am a novice regarding mig welding and gas stuff so all feedback and input is much appreciated.

 

[Richiew]

It looks really old. Balloon test might tell you if it is helium. There's no paint left to give you a clue. You can look at the threads as CO2 bottles are threaded differently to argon if you are really curious, but seriously, there are no savings to be made here. Dispose of the bottle down the tip and get a new one from a good supplier. Would you want to get gas from a supplier that would take that bottle in exchange?

 

[Dessieb2022]

It looks really old. Balloon test might tell you if it is helium. There's no paint left to give you a clue. You can look at the threads as CO2 bottles are threaded differently to argon if you are really curious, but seriously, there are no savings to be made here. Dispose of the bottle down the tip and get a new one from a good supplier. Would you want to get gas from a supplier that would take that bottle in exchange?

Good point I will leave it where I got it and move on. Cheers

 

[waddycall]

I used to work in an industry that used a bottled carbon monoxide/carbon dioxide mix. You never know what’s lurking inside an unmarked cylinder.

 

[backpurge]

No label, don’t use it

 

[Screwdriver]

If I was going to take a flying guess I would say acetylene bottle. If you're feeling brave you could crack it open and see what if anything comes out. Off ticket bottles only have any value if they're full or relatively modern and can be refilled (you would need to know some dodgy types who do that). Older bottles cannot easily be refilled or swapped, old valves can stick or jam at the most inconvenient moment leaving the hapless user in a bit of a predicament (ask me how I know).

None of these options are sensible. The only sensible thing to do is to find out from the local authority how you can dispose of it. There may be a cost element to that but this particular bottle represents a significant hazard and someone will at some stage need to deal with the problem.

You should step up to the plate and sort it out before there's an incident. One day some idiot is going to play around with it to see what's in it. I know I would...

 

[rtcosic]

Dispose of it, you have no idea what’s in it, it could be absolutely anything.

Do exactly this

It will massively improve the quality of your welds

What would be the appropriate way to 'Dispose' of a pressurised container of unknown contents?

... Dispose of the bottle down the tip...

I cannot imagine dumping it in the scrap metal bin at the local 'Civic Amenity Site' is appropriate! I also rather doubt a gas supplier would enthusiastically accept one either.

 

[Richiew]

Maybe a poor choice of words from me. Our local recycling centre has a cage where you can deposit unwanted cylinders.

We don't have tips anymore.

 

[Robotstar5]

What would be the appropriate way to 'Dispose' of a pressurised container of unknown contents?

 

[Wozzaaah]

What would be the appropriate way to 'Dispose' of a pressurised container of unknown contents?




I cannot imagine dumping it in the scrap metal bin at the local 'Civic Amenity Site' is appropriate! I also rather doubt a gas supplier would enthusiastically accept one either.

As said, recycling centres will usually take them.

 

[Jan-DIY]

Our scrapyard charge up to 100€ for a single ace cylinder. Unknown mixtures are on extra fee.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

As said, recycling centres will usually take them.

But bare in mind some do charge.

 

[Stupoty]

Google says BS1288 is "Manganese Steel Gas Cylinders for Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous Oxide and Ethylene "

BS-1288 | Manganese Steel Gas Cylinders for Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous Oxide and Ethylene | Document Center, Inc.

BS-1288 Manganese Steel Gas Cylinders for Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous Oxide and Ethylene

www.document-center.com

Stu

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Good point I will leave it where I got it and move on. Cheers

Best idea, don't let someone else's problem become yours.