Old Oxygen Bottles Use

[ScrimParticipant @scrim]

If I buy an old oxygen bottle, will I be able to get it tested and refilled? If so, where could I take it and what sort of price would it cost?

 

Also, what sort of valves would I need to add to it? I’m hoping to put together a small oxy-propane brazing set that doesn’t cost a fortune to buy or run.

[ScrimParticipant @scrim]

Are old oxygen bottles reusable?

[Gray62Participant @gray62]

Compressed gas cylinders are generally rented from the gas supplier such as BOC or Air Products. Invariably they will not refill a bottle which is not registered with them.

 

I use Adams Gas for my Mig Argon bottles, they do not charge bottle rental, their range includes hobby gas bottles which are reasonably priced.

 

regards

 

Graeme

[Anonymous]

There are companies that will test gas cylinders, but they are few and far between. I have two oxygen cylinders, one is part of an oxy-acelylene set and the other is in my glider.

 

I own the cylinder in my glider. It needs testing every five years. I take it to a place at Oxford airport, who then send it on to a specialist supplier. It comes back tested, stamped and filled with aviation oxygen, which is supposed to be specially dried. The cost 3 years ago was about £80.

 

The oxy-acelylene cylinder is owned by the gas company, and testing is their responsibility. I think this is pretty common for industrial gas cylinders, in the UK at least. I pay a rental for the cylinder, and a fee when I exchange it for a full cylinder.

 

When I bought the glider cylinder it came with an on/off valve fitted, and I also purchased a constant flow regulator and mask. I’m not sure that the valves are generally available, as they normally come fitted to the bottles. I have bought a new regulator for the oxy-acelylene set, about £60 if I remember correctly. When I started renting an argon cylinder it came with the valve and regulator all built in. I believe this is quite common in the EU, so you can bet your pants it’ll be forced on us here too. The rental for the argon cylinder is a bit less than the plain bottle, the refill cost is a bit more, but the bottle runs at 3000psi rather than 2000psi, so you get more gas for the money.

 

In short I think you’ll have problems trying to sort your own bottle. Many years ago we did get some old military oxygen bottles checked and modified for use in gliders, but it was difficult then, probably damn near impossible now!

 

Regards,

 

Andrew

[jomacParticipant @jomac]

Hi. Same problem in OZ, BOC has the bottled gas tied up, 8 years ago I was being charged $45 for bottle hire, (the smallest ie D size, cause I dont use much) now its $171 per year. Its a RIP OFF, only in Melbourne can you get bottles filled by non BOC suppliers, The government does nothing about it. Here and over there. Why is it that you can get off E/bay, a certified bottle direct from Asia or America, for less than $30.but cannot get them filled. Im’e sure that the manufacture of bottles dont cost $171. BOC also stopped supplying very small bottles, which are needed by sick, but mobile oldies, I think it costs them over $1000 per year ???. Is there any thing we can do about it !!!!!!!!!!!!. I dont like being exploited.

John Holloway

[SpurryParticipant @spurry]

In the UK, this might be a useful alternative to BOC. ALBee cylinders from Air Liquide. Hope the link works and does not jam up the works.

Pete

http://www.wecs-ltd.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_
id=6931&category_id=23&manufacturer_
id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26

 

Hers’s another link:

http://www.albeegascylinders.com/

Edited By Spurry on 23/08/2011 12:32:58

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

Some years back I used to buy Nitrogen to purge the optical instruments and we had to set up a rental system and then we payed just for the gas. Empty bottle and money for the full bottle.

Now I understand that if you have Oxy/Acet. kit you have to have special storage facilities and again it is a rental system.

The storage facilities are made to be remote from working spaces and free to air so that gas escapes are dissapated without danger. I also believe the Fire Brigade do a check and keep record of the facility in case of an incident. It may not be you but an adjacent place that causes the problem.

Again BOC would want a contract and their bottles have a colour coded test plate attached around the collar which identifies their bottles and they will only replace their own kit.

I dont think that you will be able to use it in a domestic situation such as a house garage or garden shed as there are regulations existing about such things.

Beware H&S from the Council!

 

Regarding a good use for the Oxy. bottle is to turn it into a safe. Cut a groove inside the edge and make a lid that is below the edge so it cannot be levered out. Find a good five or even six lever lock and make a three stud lock to fit the groove in the body.

I have done this, I used the last 20″ from the bottom and drilled through the base to fix it to a wall or floor.

Other than that I cannot think of any other use at all!

 

Clive

[JonParticipant @jon]

Andrew wouldnt that be classed as breathing air?

Around £30 for a full IDAS test lasting 5 years.

 

Could use the cylinder as a mister, i have my eyes on a propane cylinder left by the car booters.

 

[ScrimParticipant @scrim]

Thanks for the advice folks.

 

Adams Gas looks like my best bet.

Albee only seem to do Argon:

http://www.albeegascylinders.com/cylinder-specification.html

 

Cheers,

 

Alan

 

 

 

[Anonymous]

Posted by Jon on 23/08/2011 15:11:32:

Andrew wouldnt that be classed as breathing air?

 

 

Probably, but not breathing air can be a problem!

 

There used to be two types of oxygen system for gliders, the constant flow and diluter demand. The constant flow is what it says, 2 litres or 4 litres a minute. The diluter demand system adds oxygen to the surrounding air as required to maintain an adequate supply of oxygen. The diluter demand system is much more expensive and much bulkier, but much more economical with the oxygen. The rule of thumb is to use oxygen above 10000 feet, with a constant flow system set at 2 litres/min, switching to about 4 litres/min above 17000 feet, where the air pressure is about half that at sea level. Above 35000 feet or so you really need a pressure system, as at those heights the ambient air pressure is lower than the partial pressure of oxygen at lower altitudes. In other words, even if you’re breathing pure oxygen you will still not get enough.

 

There is now a third system available from the US, which uses a canula, identical to those seen in hospitals, and an electronic meter systems. I have flown with these as we have said system in one of my two seat gliders, but if you don’t have your own personal canula it can be a bit yukky!

 

Since I don’t smoke and am moderately fit I find no problem up to about 14000 feet without oxygen, but it does vary widely from person to person. If you look in my odds ‘n’ sods album you’ll see a photo of Mt. Pelvoux taken at about 13500 feet; I didn’t bother with oxygen during that flight.

 

Regards,

 

Andrew

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

They are a good source of thick walled tubing

 

And gets you from this –

 

 

To this. –

 

 

John S.

 

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

When Steve Fossett was in New Zealand trying for altitude records, he borrowed a couple of pressure suits from NASA, along with the oxygen system in his glider. One of his machines in my album. Ian S C

BOC control the field as far as gas cylinders go out here.

[Steve WithnellParticipant @stevewithnell34426]

Does anyone know the costs of BOC mini-paks?

 

Full size now too heavy and expensive for an 81 year old I know…

[Author]

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