How do you transport your gas bottles for refill?

[Oldpath05]

Now that I read all these horror stories about transporting acetylene gas, I'm back from the welding store with my acetylene, strapped to out side of my Abram's Tank, standing vertical. I hooked up my torches, and did some cutting, now I'm done for the day, how important is it to back off the gauges when I'm done cutting in my garage or out side? A lot of the times, I leave the gauges still set, and just shut the torches and tanks off.

 

[sixdogs]

Yeow...back off the gauges. Little kids can turn the tanks open.

 

[jim_wilson]

This seemed to turn into an acetylene thread

I'm mostly worried about transporting bottles with shielding gas. Up until now I've been using the small 40cf and 80cf bottles - and I either transport them in the back of the Suburban or in the trunk of my car - making sure I have them wedged in good so they don't roll around. But I've seen a few good deals on 125cf bottles locally on Craigslist - so now I'm thinking of getting something bigger so I don't have to refill as often.

So putting them into the back of the truck is a bad idea (enclosed SUV) - would making a "cage" or something like that for them - and putting them horizontally in the back of a utility trailer - properly strapped down - be an acceptable way to transport the cylinders? The sides of the trailer are too low to be able to safely strap in a 125cf bottle standing vertically. I'd be worried about the things tipping out or something like that.

 

[k0ua]

On the shielding gas there is no reason you cannot transport them horizontally. Just make sure they are secure, have the caps on them and cannot become "missiles" if you have an accident.

 

[mikehaugen]

I know this isn't about transportation, but since we were talking about how how the acetylene is drawn from the acetone I though I would add that you need to be aware of your tank size. Drawing it off too fast from a small tank can also cause the acetone to exit with the gas. I can't remember off the top of my head, but there are charts telling the flow rates of different sized cutting tips and rosebuds and the recommended size tank for each flow rate. You shouldn't use a huge rosebud with a little 40cf tank.

 

[Big Barn]

Originally the LWS used to deliver our oxy and acetylene bottles to the farm but I'm much too small a consumer for them to do that now.

Acetylene I strap upright in the front corner of my pick up box. Inert gas bottles lay lengthwise in the box in wooden 2x4 "cradles" with a ratchet strap over them.

Terry

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

I know this isn't about transportation, but since we were talking about how how the acetylene is drawn from the acetone I though I would add that you need to be aware of your tank size. Drawing it off too fast from a small tank can also cause the acetone to exit with the gas. I can't remember off the top of my head, but there are charts telling the flow rates of different sized cutting tips and rosebuds and the recommended size tank for each flow rate. You shouldn't use a huge rosebud with a little 40cf tank.

In this video they talk about withdrawal rates of 1/7, but I've been told that has been changed to 1/10 now.

http://youtu.be/gWZSjGk5rUM

 

[Arc weld]

Backing the regulators off takes pressure off the diaphragm and will extend their life. Also a lot safer when opening the cylinder so the adjusting screws don't come flying out when opening the valve to fast.

 

[BukitCase]

"Also a lot safer when opening the cylinder so the adjusting screws don't come flying out when opening the valve to fast."

Yup, that was very nearly the last thing I ever learned, back in 1964 - was 1/3 owner in a garage/towing/gas station in Calif, the "expert welder" partner hooked up a new Oxy bottle and cracked the valve, the tee handle missed my head by maybe an inch, went thru 3 walls and bounced off the hood of a car in the parking lot.

I went down to the LWS the next day and asked if they had any welding safety pamphlets or anything, and when I read what they gave me I about passed out.

Don't ever let anyone convince you that "what you don't know can't hurt you" - HUGE load of BS... Steve

 

[sixdogs]

"Also a lot safer when opening the cylinder so the adjusting screws don't come flying out when opening the valve to fast."

....

I went down to the LWS the next day and asked if they had any welding safety pamphlets or anything, and when I read what they gave me I about passed out.

Don't ever let anyone convince you that "what you don't know can't hurt you" - HUGE load of BS... Steve

Boy, isn't that the truth. I see a lot of guys doing things that qualify as dangerous but think they are somehow immune if they don't know all the details in advance. Clearly a bad idea. Good advice.