|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
09-22-2011, 11:54 AM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 191
|
Acetylene Gas Shortage
For those of you who use acetylene welding in your 'A' body work or other activities, this might be of interest.
A couple weeks ago I swapped my empty AirGas welding tanks for new filled tanks and was shocked at the price increase from a couple years ago- almost double from what I last paid. Apparently the only carbide plant in N.America (in Louisiville Ky) blew up last spring causing a nationwide shortage of acetylene welding gas. Along with higher prices they're slapping a surcharge on to boot. The price of O2 is up too and I've read where some of the dealers are rationing acetylene to their customers or are out of it. They're importing some carbide now (from china of course) to to help with the shortage but my dealer said the price will probably not come down again - hope he's wrong ! |
09-22-2011, 11:56 AM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: san diego
Posts: 114
|
Re: Acetylene Gas Shortage
yah and no more helium soon too.
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
09-22-2011, 11:59 AM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southern Illinois
Posts: 3,795
|
Re: Acetylene Gas Shortage
My dad is an Airgas dealer and he told me to conserve acetylene this spring. You can use propane but I think it requires a different tip on your torch.
|
09-22-2011, 12:09 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Merrimac Mass
Posts: 161
|
Re: Acetylene Gas Shortage
propane is not that cheap over $4.00 a gallon here. They are now using propane to make fertilizer for corn (e10)That makes sense to drive the cost one fuel up to make another.
|
09-22-2011, 01:09 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,593
|
Re: Acetylene Gas Shortage
I was at my dealer yesterday though not for acetylene. Curiously, I asked what the cost would be though I didn't need any. He said what I paid $40 for was now $100. Claims it will be down in November when the plant is back in production. He mentioned another gas, not propane, that was a popular replacement but unfortunately don't recall what it is(CRS).
|
09-22-2011, 03:45 PM | #6 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: South central Tenn
Posts: 375
|
Re: Acetylene Gas Shortage
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Quote:
I hope this ethanol fad goes away soon and we can get back to producing our own oil and gasoline. |
|
09-22-2011, 03:53 PM | #7 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southern Illinois
Posts: 3,795
|
Re: Acetylene Gas Shortage
Quote:
|
|
09-22-2011, 04:37 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Daytona Beach, Fl & Spencer, W. Va,
Posts: 4,442
|
Re: Acetylene Gas Shortage
10% Ethonal saves 10% of oil used in making gasoline.
With Ethonal gasoline, you get 10% fewer miles per gallon. Where is the savings on oil ? Plus, it makes our food more expensive. Hopefully, some new faces in Washington, DC, will fix this. MIKE |
09-22-2011, 04:47 PM | #9 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: East Texas
Posts: 77
|
Re: Acetylene Gas Shortage
The last report I have on ethanol production cost analysis is almost 5 years old; at that time Deere research showed it took 1.22 gallons of diesel to produce 1 gallon of ethanol. Even if efficiency has sharply improved and now it is 1 for 1, we are all still losers ...
|
09-22-2011, 05:41 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Qld, Australia
Posts: 4,216
|
Re: Acetylene Gas Shortage
welding rods too,
I bought a 20 pack of comcoat C brazing rods the other day,$80. Lawrie |
|
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|