Securing Oxy/Act Bottles

   / Securing Oxy/Act Bottles #1  

TBAR

Gold Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2004
Messages
250
Location
Texas
Tractor
IH2444 & 1949 Farmall Cub
I need to secure my oxy/act gas bottles to prevent theft. Do ya'll have any ideas on how to do this?


TBAR
 
   / Securing Oxy/Act Bottles #2  
The only thing I can think of is to extend the frame of the cart, truck mount, or whatever you are using so it reaches the neck of each bottle individually. Then, add fingers to the frame so that the fingers pass on either side of the narrowest part of the neck -- smaller than the diameter of both the bottles and the valves above the neck. then, close the gap in front of the fingers with a strap, chain, or such that could be locked with a small padlock. The problem with that solution is that the safety caps could not be screwed on. The only other solution I can think of is a lockable cabinet or cage. This would also protect the regulators if they are left on. The cage door(s) would have to remain open while you are using the bottles in order to adjust pressures or quickly turn off the valves in an emergency.
 
   / Securing Oxy/Act Bottles #3  
First question is where you are securing them. In the truck or in the shop?

I've found using my torch mostly for cutting I use two large bottles of oxygen for every large acetylene. So I carry two large oxygen bottles hidden under the Trailblazer on the truck.

If you have access to an old telephone truck you might find a couple of trays will roller bearings for carrying their nitrogen bottles. The nitrogen bottles are the same size as the large oxygen ones.

I have my oxygen bottles on a set of those trays. It means I don't have to wrestle those hundred and sixty pound puppies.

The acetylene bottle has to be kept vertical! Mine stands in front of the welder but below it. The three bottles follow the number one theory for security. Out of sight, out of mind. No one knows they're in the box unless they're around when I open it up.

If I was carrying the oxygen bottles exposed I would have a sliding lockable bar that when in place would capture the bottles. You might consider doing the lock in such a manner that that you can use a deadbolt instead of a padlock.

Most thieves are forced to be quick and not spend much time figuring things out. So just a couple of unexpected hiccups and they have to give up and go on to something easier.
 
   / Securing Oxy/Act Bottles
  • Thread Starter
#4  
Bottles are in the shop and the shop was broken into. Regs, hoses and torch was taken along with a bunch of welding supplies.

I want to be able to secure the bottles so they cannot be removed. One is a large oxygen and one smaller acteleyne.


TBAR
 
   / Securing Oxy/Act Bottles #5  
Um... shotgun loaded with rocksalt? Guess the thief would have a hard time explaining that one to the ER doctor...

Too bad you can't hang people like that from the trees anymore..

Soundguy
 
   / Securing Oxy/Act Bottles #6  
Soundguy,
Nope cant shoot or hang them unless you live in Texas.

On the origional problem... I would think I would take steps to secure the shop better, there must be other things in there to steal as well.

Maybe you could sit the Oxy bottle on a handgrenade with the pin pulled... of coures you might forget it was there and do yourself in.
 
   / Securing Oxy/Act Bottles
  • Thread Starter
#7  
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Maybe you could sit the Oxy bottle on a handgrenade with the pin pulled... of coures you might forget it was there and do yourself in. )</font>

LOL, Your cracking me up..............If only I could.

Metal buildings are not very secure. 3 minutes with a crow bar and your in. With a cordless drill and the right socket bit you can be in in 1 minute.

With that being said I want to try to secure what is in there.


TBAR
 
   / Securing Oxy/Act Bottles #8  
Wood buildings aren't muct better!

A couple of years ago, in the city, a thief took a cordless circular saw (probably stolen) and sawed a hole in the siding on a garage, between two studs, and crawled in. Gained access to the house, and stole stuff. PLUS the owner had to patch the hole left behind.

Neighbors heard the saw, but figured someone was doing some remodeling................

Ron
 
   / Securing Oxy/Act Bottles #9  
I have a monitored security system on my house and shop. It only took one break in to convince me of it's value. In my area we get an insurance discount also. So mine is rigged for smoke/heat sensors, motion, and door sensors. I think the signs they give for the windows and doors are quite good at making the perp find an easier target.
 
   / Securing Oxy/Act Bottles #10  
I used to have what I called the "safe". All it was a six by four by eight feet high steel walled room. The door was two by two tubing with a deadbolt lock. The sheeting was all eighth inch plate.

One of the things that always bothers me is how thieves are looking for the quick pawnable stuff, saws, drills, grinders, etc. Of course if it wasn't for so many short sighted idiots that don't care or want to know if their bargain is hot we wouldn't have so many thieves.

Of course the only justice is the thief now knows where there's some stuff if he--she is in a bind for bucks down the line, due to whom doo is due you might say.

The room doesn't have to welded up solid. Heck you could use a wood frame and carriage bolts to put it together. What you're after is getting in is going to take time and hopefully effort. Thieves are not much on hard work, remember that.

I've also had some pleasure not using conventional locks to slow down the thief. Stuff like push then pull catches etc.

I used to have a compartment on a truck that had a slide latch that looked like a twist type. For fun I'd point the compartment out to a newbie and then tell them it was an IQ test. I told them everyone started off with a hundred and fifty seconds to open it and I could usually be right on with their IQ with the actual seconds it took.

One time I had a job in my hand when the doctor was admiring the truck. I pointed out the compartment and gave him my spiel. He went for it.

He was a bald man with fair skin. As he fought the latch I watched the red come up from his collar, past his ears, until his pate was like the advertisement in front of a house of ill repute. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I didn't get that job. But I'm not entirely stupid. I only pulled that on nonpaying types after that. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 

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