Any one know of an alternative (preferably cheaper) to BOC Argoshield I dont really want to go back to CO2,but since I changed jobs I`ve lost my subsidised supply of gas and BOC are quoting prices Dick Turpin would find unreasonable.I`ve been told Air Products do something similar anyone know anything about it ?

Energas do as well.
http://www.energas.co.uk/location.asp


[Edited on 27/12/04 by Peteff]

If you can find an Argoshield bottle, you can get it filled by some companies cheap enough. I get mine filled by a company called SIP (might be more of them around the country). They filled mine for £45 and it's a big bottle, so should last a long time. But you have to own the bottle.

Anyway, it's much better than £70+ a year for a rental bottle.

If you don't mind using neat CO2, your frendly local pub owner might be able to give you a cylinder. CO2 is used to pressurise bear barrels. Mine lasted months, also, you tell the wife that you're off to the pub to get more gas. Its a bomb proof cover story for some uninterupted drinking time !

where can you get your own bottle from?

Oficially, outlets like BOC will rent you a cylinder for about £35 per year, with fills being on top of that. And, to counter a popular myth, you don't need a license of any kind.

you can get the little disposable bottles which is what i plan to do now as I've run out of gas and only have a tiny amount of welding left to do and can't see the point in paying for another top up, can then return the bottle to my dad and he can start paying the rent on it that I've been subsidising!

Ned.