Does welding gas go bad?

[woodlandfarms]

I realized that I am no where near burning through any of my tanks of gas (Acetlynene and propane, as well as my CO2 and O). and when I say getthing through them, meaning they are now creaping up on 4 years old, with this pace meaning another 4 years before refill.

 

[4570Man]

I don't think it goes bad, but leakage is always a possibility.

 

[Rock knocker]

Does not go bad.

 

[k0ua]

I have never heard of any of the welding gasses deteriorating. I have heard of them leaking though.

 

[ultrarunner]

The problem is not the gas... it's the container/cylinder and for most of us there should never be a problem.

I've had cylinders come through from the 1920's.... even a couple with **** swastikas stamped on the neck... who knows what stories they could tell.

Medical Oxygen, Nitrous Oxide and Nitrogen no longer come with an out date.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I don't think any welding gases will go bad but I have heard tales of the 75/25 blends (and other blends) that if allowed to set for long periods of time MIGHT separate the blends which I consider that a possibility when you consider that some gases are heavier than others and could segregate over time.
I do know that many places will lay a bottle on its side and roll it over and over to "remix" the gasses prior to putting on a fresh tank. I DONT know if this is just an old wive's tale or not.

 

[ovrszd]

I'm no professional or constant user like Shield Arc, but I'll go thru 2 sets of bottles on the torch and MIG a year. I worry WAYYYYYY more about my forgetfulness and leaving the bottles on than the product going bad.....

 

[MossRoad]

I've filled my oxy/acetylene tanks exactly 3 times in the last 25 years. So, on average, 8 years and still goes WOOF! when I light it. Your mileage may vary.

 

[ovrszd]

I've filled my oxy/acetylene tanks exactly 3 times in the last 25 years. So, on average, 8 years and still goes WOOF! when I light it. Your mileage may vary.

You must have extremely large bottles!!!!!

 

[MossRoad]

You must have extremely large bottles!!!!!

That's a personal question...

Nope. Just not much to do anymore. I only use it to rough cut some steel here and there, and heating things once in a while. Last kid leaves for college in 8 months. Things will pick up again.

 

[2458n]

Only time I heard of gas going bad was from the guy behind the counter trying to sell me some ,"new".

 

[Jim Timber]

Just swapped out tanks on my c25 that was last filled in 2005. So 10 years on one 125cf of mixed and it went bad when the tank pressure was too low to keep up with the flow meter. There was about 3 years where my feeder was broken I didn't use or move the welder at all. Never affected anything when I brought it back in service.

They don't come out of solution. Someone's trying to get another fill out of you.

My O/A tanks haven't been filled since 2007. I only use the rosebud for getting bolts unstuck these days, and that's few and far between anymore.

 

[MillWeld]

Acetylene is not a blend of gasses. It is a pure compound that polymerizes under high pressure and forms an explosive material that is sensitive to shock. To make it safe in bottles the bottles contain calcium carbonate as a porous filler and acetone (liquid) in which acetylene is very soluble. When you open the tank you are drawing off the gas phase of acetylene which is at a safe low pressure. Opening a bottle that is laying down could draw off the liquid acetone. Correct me if any parts of this is incorrect.

 

[ultrarunner]

In welding school... the teacher has a display of what happens drawing acetylene from a cylinder lying flat... it exploded.

 

[vulcancowboy]

I have never heard of any of the welding gasses deteriorating. I have heard of them leaking though.

Kinda like me, except I'm deteriorating too!

 

[bigdeano]

I have a tank of Mapp gas I bought in the 1970's. It still burns just fine. I never used it much because it sucks compared to acetylene for cutting. It works good for heating though.

 

[joefromga]

They quit selling Mapp gas, didn't they?

 

[Jim Timber]

Did they? I thought you could still get it in the little 1#er's?

 

[MossRoad]

According to this WIKI article, they stopped selling true MAPP gas in 2008, but still sell something called MAPP gas, but its not the same thing....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAPP_gas

Interesting read.

 

[ultrarunner]

Back in welding school in the late 70's MAPP was very popular... come to think about it... it's been years since I've heard anyone talk about it.