Acetylene rationing

[JDdude]

We have a large rail yard here and the guys claim that Acetylene is being rationed because of a large plant explosion down south..

Just a FYI..

Sorry if this is a repost..

 

[YesDeere]

Welder friend of mine was telling me that last week. Said his supply house had about two weeks worth and they had no restock date insight

He claimed there is only one place in the country that produces it. And it burned. Don't know for sure

 

[slowzuki]

I switched to oxy propane 10 years ago, just another benefit!

 

[jml755]

Local Praxair here in Michigan was out last Friday. Said "3-4 wks" before they get any more, but I don't know what they were basing that on. Didn't take long to dry up supply. I think the explosion happened 2d or 3rd wk of March. I've got a 100# propane tank I'm going to get filled. Probably be a run on propane tips from Victor. LOL. Not sure how much acetylene I've got left, so I'll just run off propane for awhile. If I like it as much as people say I will, maybe never go back. Guess I'll just run through more oxy on it.

 

[sandman2234]

I helped dismantle an acetylene plant here a few years ago. Wasn't that much to it that I would think it to be a big deal to build another, so a shortage is probably an EPA/etc effect or a shortage of the raw materials, or just finding somebody willing to work at one.
David from jax

Acetylene Plants are probably like cars, that at one time you could build one from scratch in your garage and start driving it. No way can that happen today due to all the requirements sanctioned by our government.
David from jax

 

[Car Doc]

Back in the old days (and thats really not that far back) every welder made his own acetylene they had no choice.

They all had what they called acetylene generators they didn't amount to much and carbide and water is all it takes that and no fear of death by fire and explosion.

 

[JDdude]

When we were kids we would fill ballons with acetylene out them in a paper bag and light the bag...You better run very fast the other way and cover your ears..Boy was that stupid..

I got all of ours traded in today for full tanks..Hope we can wait it out..

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

I think it is being blown out of proportion by opportunists. There may be some lack of supply, but I have just talked with my local welding supplier and it does not seem to have affected them or their prices, besides an overall 5% increase on all products that was planned anyway.

Sending out flyers and announcements, is a sure fire way of guaranteeing a shortage by creating a panic. Someone posted this information he received about it from AirGas about it from the Everlast forum on our site today.

 

[JDdude]

Ill-Mo here has been out for 1 1/2 weeks(The Deere dealers are drop off points for alot of them and planting season is about to start) and been trying to buy from airgas..Of course Airgas will not sell to them or take any new accounts at this time..

Time will tell..

 

[lostcause]

i haven't needed to swap bottles for a while, but if in fact your local dealer cannot fill your needs, at the least i'd be asking for a rebate of any lease fees for the duration that it cannot be supplied.