Buying Welding Gas

[Gary WoodingParticipant @garywooding25363]

Some years ago I purchased a large (for me) gas cylinder filled with Argon from Nuneaton Welding Supplies (NWS). Since I only do welding for very infrequent Remap jobs, the gas lasts a very long time. Over the weekend the gas ran out and I need to refill the cylinder, but NWS say they don’t recognise the cylinder. Does anyone know where I can get a refill? I live in Leamington Spa.

The data stamped on the cylinder is…

HOAL4 TP 247 BAR 6/87 SER NO P227OK 4035C

CP 150 BAR TARE 9 85 KG WC D 40L

[Peter Cook 6Participant @petercook6]

Judging by this web page ,what you have is an old Scuba cylinder made by Luxfer from 6351 alloy. These are considered risky and need testing and visually inspecting see HSE bulletin here. I suspect you will find it hard to get it refilled – and you may not want to!!

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Try hobby weld or contact MPD who supply gas.  Noel.

[Grindstone CowboyParticipant @grindstonecowboy]

If you do find anywhere, you’ll be doing better than I have 🙂

Similar situation, I had a cylinder fitted with a proper valve by a local welding supply store, who happily filled it for years with no issues, but they have now closed down and nobody else will touch it. So will be very interested to see if your search is successful.

Good luck!

Rob

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

The date of 6/ 87 and no sign of a new test date would stop this being refilled ! It’s way out of test.The days of cheap gas from various places is gone. BOC do half sized bottles and charge rental per month ALL bottles are coded now and questions will be asked if the return bottle has a different code to the one you were issued with. Another system you pay a hefty deposit on the bottle and the gas is not cheap. Good luck. Noel.

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

The issue with AA6351 cylinders is not the usual fatigue failure but  SUSTAINED load cracking in the neck area. So if yours has been sitting for years (probably decades) under pressure it could have serious problems.

See https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026412752500958X

Note that the Luxfer notice is over 25 years old so presumably it has not had a competent inspection in a least that long. It may not have had the same pressure as a SCUBA cylinder but who knows.

Personally I’d open the valve and cut the neck off the cylinder or otherwise render it unusable.

robert

[Martin King 2Participant @martinking2]

Many, many years ago I was a Dive Instructor in the British Virgin Islands and we used Luxfer Aluminium cylinders almost exclusively. There were very rigorous ANNUAL hydrostatic tests carried out on them and as Robert correctly states above the failures were ALWAYS in the neck area.

These were cylinders that were charged and recharged daily not left standing charged for years which would certainly increase the danger. They were, however often left out in the hot sun…

just my 2 cents worth….

Cheers, Martin

[OldironParticipant @oldiron]

I get mine locally from a car parts supplier who is a stockist for SGS gases.

Find a Distributor

Always in stock rent free bottles. Most gases supplied.  No frills good value.

[JohnFParticipant @johnf59703]

I use Albee Gas part of Air Liquide you will probably find a stockist local to you, not cheap when buying the bottle but refills are not too bad and I like you use it infrequently plus they also supply Acetylene if you need this

John

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Air Liquide, BOC all part of the Linde group.  Noel.

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Your nearest rent free gas stockist is probably Jawel Paints Coventry or Bromsgrove

I’ve changed bottles after 15 years at Coventry

[PackmuleParticipant @packmule]

Hobby Gas every time.

You buy the bottle which is dearer the first time . Next refill you only pay for the gas.

Keep receipt and you can sell the bottle back.

 

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

I have just picked up a July 2025 price list and the term ” rent free” is put into context below. SGS Gases, 30 litre bottle – Argon, £112, bottle deposit £130 (refundable) BOTH plus VAT at 20%, so you need to find £ 290.40 . These figures are still current.   Noel.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

for infrequent users hobby weld comes out as best, this is from a awakened 45 year user of BOC!!!!

[Gary WoodingParticipant @garywooding25363]

Thanks for all the responses. Peter was right about the 6351 alloy.

I found a supplier of rent-free welding gas in Rugby, but after driving there it turned out to be a waste of time – they only dealt with the very large cylinders from another company.

As it happens, I managed to find the original agreement invoice for the bottle from NWS – it was dated 1998! It appears that NWS are now agents for HobbyWeld. I took the invoice and bottle to them yesterday and met a really nice and helpful woman who went out of her way to help me and I ended up with a HobbyWeld cylinder and a new agreement at a very competitive and acceptable price.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Thanks Gary, it’s always good to know the end of the story, the more so when it’s a happy ending ! Noel.

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