anti leak solution in winter

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Hello. Last saturday I was hooking up my oxy/act tanks to use and I reached for the anti-leak solution bottle I have come to depend on to make sure I am safe to use the tanks and I found it frozen. I was going to take it into the house to warm it up, but I read on the bottle that its only effective to 28 degrees anyway. Is there an alternative that is effective to below zero?i use it because i saw a video where  the guy says that dishwashing and other similar liquids are oil based and it is bad practice to use them. thanks.
Reply:hello, you may want to try Leak Seek by Abbey products. They have a product which is good to -65 F and is certified oxygen safe. Good luck, SailwelderAbbey Group Companies400 East Tioga StreetPhiladelphia, PA 19134Toll Free: (877) 922 - 2399International: 01 - (215) 739 - 9960Fax: (215) 739 - 9963
Reply:I forget the name of what I use, I just get it at a local plumbing supply, but I seem to recall it was propylene glycol based, and it's the only leak solution I've seen locally that is marked as oxygen safe (every other one I've seen locally has warnings about not using with oxygen).Definitely never seen it freeze.
Reply:I got mine at the plumbing supply also. It is called Harvey's leak detector and says it can be used on pressurized air, gas and oxygen systems and cylinders. It is good from -50 to 185 F.Miller Challenger 172Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC 225/150Miller Maxstar 150 STLVictor 100CVictor JourneymanOxweld OAHarris O/ASmith O/A little torchNo, that's not my car.
Reply:Actually, you don't need all that fancy stuff to see if your connections are good and leak proof.Just put pressure to the hoses/torch by cranking the regulators down a bit, while keeping the torch valves closed.Then close the valves on the tanks.Watch your guages, and if pressure holds.......you're good to go.  Pressure dropping indicates a leak in the affected hose/assemblyAnd ya thought we was all just a buncha ignorant hicks down here in the goober patch "Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:farmersamm that might be good for the hoses and stuff but ever since I lost a full cyl of Argon due to a bad valve I have taken to checking the valves and stems as soon as I get them home. I guess your method would work on the valve too if you stuck a reg on it and watched for creep? But not for a leaking stem. Anyhoo I keep a backup argon cyl on hand would hate for it to escape.Last edited by bigb; 12-29-2010 at 12:09 PM.Miller Challenger 172Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC 225/150Miller Maxstar 150 STLVictor 100CVictor JourneymanOxweld OAHarris O/ASmith O/A little torchNo, that's not my car.
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammAnd ya thought we was all just a buncha ignorant hicks down here in the goober patch
Reply:Thanks for all the product tips and suggestions! I have been leaving the hose on instead of taking it on and off after use because I wasn't sure of leakage.
Reply:Originally Posted by bigbfarmersamm that might be good for the hoses and stuff but ever since I lost a full cyl of Argon due to a bad valve I have taken to checking the valves as soon as I get them home. I guess your method would work on the valve too if you stuck a reg on it and watched for creep? Anyhoo I keep a backup argon cyl on hand would hate for it to escape.
Reply:Originally Posted by Fat BastardIf it had a bad cylinder valve how did it have anything in it when when you got it? Confused..
Reply:Originally Posted by bigbIt prolly didn't, it was my backup and when I went to use it it was MT. The supplier said maybe it leaked out, I guess it could've accidentally been sold to me empty, who knows?
Reply:I'd skip the alcohol, and any anything else that can react with oxygen. Older literature such as Purox etc recommends (specifically) Ivory Soap and water.Link to the fancy stuff, which is still cheap:http://www.airgas.com/browse/product...ct=RAD64000136Empty/low cylinders happen. If not near your LWS, put a gauge on them at the LWS when you pick them up.
Reply:Originally Posted by farmallI'd skip the alcohol, and any anything else that can react with oxygen. Older literature such as Purox etc recommends (specifically) Ivory Soap and water.Link to the fancy stuff, which is still cheap:http://www.airgas.com/browse/product...ct=RAD64000136Empty/low cylinders happen. If not near your LWS, put a gauge on them at the LWS when you pick them up.
Reply:I dont see how alcohol would react at all?Have we all gone mad?
Reply:Alcohol, burn, of course not.The scariest idea is soap.  Soap is not much less flammable than grease (which may be hard to set aflame, but in the presence of HP oxygen, all bets are off), and the residue left behind when the water dries isn't something I'd want near an oxygen cylinder valve.
Reply:Originally Posted by rlitmanAlcohol, burn, of course not.The scariest idea is soap.  Soap is not much less flammable than grease (which may be hard to set aflame, but in the presence of HP oxygen, all bets are off), and the residue left behind when the water dries isn't something I'd want near an oxygen cylinder valve.
Reply:Alcohol is low risk when diluted, but also "not bubbly" hence not necessary. Keep thy leak-check warm, which is easy enough.The suggestion by equipment manufacturers over many years to (specifically) use Ivory is likely because it has no listed flashpoint (per the MSDS) and is readily available. In practice I suspect one can get away with quite a bit. Note the Dawn (which is more reactive than Ivory soap) recommendation below;http://billswelderrepair.com/Torch_Reg.htmlIf you get bored, look up alcohol/LOX rocket fuels. Some interesting videos out there, though of course both alcohol and oxygen are pure in that application.Last edited by farmall; 12-30-2010 at 05:24 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by farmallAlcohol is low risk when diluted, but also "not bubbly" hence not necessary. Keep thy leak-check warm, which is easy enough.The suggestion by equipment manufacturers over many years to (specifically) use Ivory is likely because it has no listed flashpoint (per the MSDS) and is readily available. In practice I suspect one can get away with quite a bit. Note the Dawn (which is more reactive than Ivory soap) recommendation below;http://billswelderrepair.com/Torch_Reg.htmlIf you get bored, look up alcohol/LOX rocket fuels. Some interesting videos out there, though of course both alcohol and oxygen are pure in that application.
Reply:Originally Posted by rlitmanAlcohol, burn, of course not.