Welding gas supplies

BlazingPenguin · 13-03-2006

As a relative 'noob' to this engineering lark, Im often told that B&Q sell a small welding/burning set that should do nicely for my heat requirements for silver soldering my boilers etc....
Only trouble is B&Q no longer sell this itme and Im now told that if Im not a 'business' then I cant buy gas to weld/burn with! Anyone any ideas on what to use to get something hot enough (Red) for silver soldering?

Phoenix · 13-03-2006

well you dont have to be a buisness to buy gas(not c02 or argon c02 anyway) cos i have bought gas for a mig before

go to your nearest industrial supply and see what they have in that line

is a blow lamp not enough to get your metal red hot?

BlazingPenguin · 13-03-2006

Blow lamps are fine for small joints or wire etc, but I need to silver solder a 3" wide by 8" long copper tube with three end plates, after that I have to solder on some bronze bushes for the fittings.

Best way so far was to have it sit on top of a Primus stove and then 'lift' an area with the torch (MAPP Gas, plumbers torch).

**Bunkerbarge** · 13-03-2006

Blow lamps would do most of the work but if you wanted hotter more controllable source of heat then have a look at what the big tool suppliers have to offer. Most blowlamps have interchangable heads nowadays to help you get a degree of control out of them.

For all my pipework on the Ben Ain I used a combination of a blowlamp and a small gas powered torch, filled with lighter gas.

Screwfix Direct spring to mind as one of the biggest, they would certainly be able to guide you in the right direction if their extreemly comprehensive catalogue does not include anything.

BlazingPenguin · 13-03-2006

I've seen some of those 'twin bottle' setups for sale on Ebay, one bottle for propane/butane and the other for oxygene but was struggling for a local supplier for the oxygene.
However I've since found one that says he does oxygene for mig welders and one with Argon...would the bottles for this fit the Benzomatic type torches you think? They are the tall slim blue/yellow jobs in B&Q.

I had an entertaining half hour with a local equipment supplier who was happy to rack a hefty bill for all sorts of hardware....essentially a roofers torch, but was then trying to sell the whole thing X 2...one for preheating the job and another whole set, with hoses etc to do the brazing/silver soldering!!!

redpiperbob · 17-03-2006

Hi BlazingPenguin

Igot mine from ProopsBros
Heres A link

http://www.proopsbrothers.com/acatal...dering_28.html

Hope this helps

Bob

noobee captain · 17-03-2006

Penguin - local suppliers for O2 - try BOC about 5 mins from the pond.

Just a thought ...

BigJBB · 17-03-2006

Hello all, I now know why it is "BlazinPenguin"

Big Bad Bills Boatyard surely need a big bad gas supply! You could try Fyfe & McGrouther in Kennedy Street, Glasgow. Tel 0141 552 4966 for the products from Rothenberger. As I work for a sister company to them I can supply the type of gas in the required sizes from stock here in Aberdeen. I'm fairly sure they also carry these products.

Good luck hunting

cheers

Jim

BlazingPenguin · 28-03-2006

All sorted now....brother in law dropped off his full size Oxy bottle, full and with hoses etc, first pickle my tank and boiler and hopefully my steam engine wont be long in making an appearance!

Jim....do you know a modeller from Aberdeen area name Willie Woods, he also does grp hulls and I have rake of guys clammering to contact him?
He was at the Scottish Nationals year before last at Kircaldy and he was selling his hulls there...
Any help would be appreciated.

BigJBB · 28-03-2006

Hell there, sorry to say that I do not know Willie Woods but have heard of him. his hulls (predominently Trawlers and similar working vessels) are legendary. He does have a contact on the wwww.modelboats.co.uk forum but I cannot remember his nametag. It may be worth having alook in there.

If I do come across him I'll certainly let you know

cheers

Jim