Acetylene on its way out?

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I was a my local welding supply store the other day and inquired about getting a refill/exchange for my 75 cu ft acetylene bottle.  He told me the price would be about $100! and that they were phasing out acetlyene.  Has anyone else heard this?
Reply:"They" may be...but no one else is.QamuIs Heg qaq law' lorvIs yInqaq puS
Reply:Local where?City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:What???HH187Hobart 500i plasma cutterClark 4.5" GrinderDewalt 14" chop saw30 gallom 1.6 hp compressor10 gallon pressure pot sand blasterlots of hand tools
Reply:Sounds like it's time for you to "phase out" your business with that placeDynasty200DX w/coolmate1MM210MM VintageESAB miniarc161ltsLincoln AC225Victor O/A, Smith AW1ACutmaster 81IR 2475N7.5FPRage3Jancy USA1019" SBAEAD-200LE
Reply:i know the new generation's here..........when there's kids at the LWS Counter try'n to sell you a plasma cutter instead of filling your bottle.        thermal arc 252i  -  millermatic 350P -   miller XMT, cp300ts, 30a 22a feeders, buttload of other millers, handfull of lincolns, couple of esabs  -   Hypertherm 1250 G3
Reply:You never know; it might be that the local fire marshall-not told them it is too dangerous (he has his 'jaw-of-life', you know...) so they can't have it on the premises anymore.Some years ago, the inspectors of the F.M's office in one peninsula city of the San Francisco Bay area told the LWS that they couldn't store acetylene bottles in the sun; it "gets too hot and they might explode". I ain't kidding! The 'inspectors' were told about the bottle yard in the middle of Texas where it really does get HOT, but where there has never been a problem...and asked to do a little research/thinking about it before they came back.
Reply:maybe they don't see enough sales at that branch and all the equipment is getting expensive.still used all the time in industry, for heating and cutting. We don't plan on phasing it out at our factory (but we never weld with it either)
Reply:While a plasma cutter can replace a oxy acetylene torch, nothing yet, even propane can take the place of acetylene for heating and bending.  100 bucks?   His excuse was one he invented to convince you that you weren't getting screwed.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:I was told once by my gas man that I had been using synthetic acetylene  for a good while, which he explained was why the price had gone up. But not to $100. He said Katrina had damaged the acetylene plant in Texas and that was why the synthetic:EthynyltributyltinSA200,Ranger8,Trailblazer251NT,MM250,Dayton225AC,T  D-XL75,SpoolMate3545SGA100C,HF-15-1  RFCS-14 When I stick it, it stays stuck!
Reply:If your LWS thinks a bottle of acetylene is worth a C-note as him who many bottles he needs.Tough as nails and damn near as smart
Reply:Hey guys,I've never heard of anything regarding acetylene being discontinued here in my region. Sounds like a "doobie" remark from the LWS counter airhead. I did get a notification from my LWS that MAPP gas is the victim & I would not be able to get it anymore after his supply is depleted. I stocked up on some additional since I use it for very small sil-sol/brazing applications.DennyComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:Thats san fran sico for ya. Ever notice all the dumb a$$ $hit comes from places like this. Look at every post and you will see, if its about infringing on your rights or is it legal to own o/a tanks in your own home it comes from kaly or sico. Hahaha, i guess ive lived in the country so much i take it for granted and dont give it a second thought. Hahaha, Im glad im a country boy.The mind can only absorb what the a$$ can bear.                                                                                             Equipment: Snap-on mig, Airco stick, Harris torch, Thermo Dynamic plasma
Reply:My LWS said something about MAPP  being replaced by something else. Can't remember the exact name. I want to say propeliene or something like that, I'm not sure. They still carry the MAPP but threw a whole bunch of technical data at me for why the other stuff was better. I don't recall there being a big price difference. I was just trying to find something with a little more oomph than propane for my forge.
Reply:ACETYLENE IS BEING PHASED OUT !!Don't kid yourself !  It's nowhere near as bad in the USA as it is in many other countries but yes, it's going bye-bye eventually.Up here we had our ONLY ACETYLENE plant shut down and we get everything from you guys down South now.  The reason it is being phased out is mostly because of the 'COST' and the 'INSTABILITY' of the gas right from the PLANT to the End-User.  Not to mention the 'COST of Production' as the difference between an Acetylene plant and an LPG plant is one of EFFICIACY !  Much, much cheaper to run the LPG plant.LPG and HYDROGEN is definitely the new gas and PROPYLENE which has replaced MAPP is almost just as hot as Acetylene (Actually HOTTER in some parts of the flame..)  It also uses FAR less Volume (3-1 and 4-1) than Acetylene and is of course MUCH, MUCH cleaner without the additive.  Don't forget too that you can go and simply exchange a PROPYLENE tank much like a PROPANE tank.  You don't have to transport it in the bed of a truck or trailer either....  You can sling that Bit ch in the back seat and you're good to go !  A 40lb'er goes a LOOOOOOONG way.....How about Hydrogen,...Anyone ever used Hydrogen ?  That stuff is like MAGIC!  No CARBON and it leaves virtually no firescale behind...  It's truly amazing stuff and burns incredibly HOT.  Best of all, you can still use your ACETYLENE torches and Tips !My guess is that you guys in the US will likely be using Acetylene for awhile and that is simply because you still have a half-decent production plant, but don't be surprised when you see that the price starts to get Waaaaay outta' hand in the next year or two....LPG gas is here to stay....and WILL replace Acetylene, ...whether we like it or not.BTW, a 125/cube bottle of ACETYLENE here, is over a Hundred Bucks  Cheers,/Jman...Miller Diversion 165120 amp Buzz BoxVictor Oxy/Ace Oxy/LPGSmith "Little" Oxy/LPGHypertherm Powermax 30Lot's of Misc. tools n' crap....
Reply:I could care less, I have been running propylene for over 5 years now. Cheaper, and more convenient for me. All I do is cut and run a rosebud, and if I run out all my tips work just as well off the BBQ tank of propane.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:So is the popylene is good for cutting and heating. Is it just as good for welding? I use my O/A set up for welding more than I do cutting. I don't mind changing fuel if the new stuff runs decent, but if worse comes to worse, I know how to make my own acetylene. I've done it befor and I can do it again.
Reply:Originally Posted by Grimm1 fuel if the new stuff runs decent, but if worse comes to worse, I know how to make my own acetylene. I've done it befor and I can do it again.
Reply:Just exchanged my #5 acetylene, $50.Peter
Reply:is'nt hydrogen gas the gas used to ignite "hydrogen bombs" .?        thermal arc 252i  -  millermatic 350P -   miller XMT, cp300ts, 30a 22a feeders, buttload of other millers, handfull of lincolns, couple of esabs  -   Hypertherm 1250 G3
Reply:is'nt hydrogen gas the gas used to ignite "hydrogen bombs" .?
Reply:Jman, I hear you, just abit north of you and paying the same price.Cost you would think would be in the handling of the acetylene, cost of transport.Perhaps it is being phased out regionally and kept where their is abundant coke and cheap electricty.
Reply:Originally Posted by pistolnoonJman, I hear you, just abit north of you and paying the same price.Cost you would think would be in the handling of the acetylene, cost of transport.Perhaps it is being phased out regionally and kept where their is abundant coke and cheap electricty.
Reply:Originally Posted by TozziWeldingI could care less, I have been running propylene for over 5 years now. Cheaper, and more convenient for me. All I do is cut and run a rosebud, and if I run out all my tips work just as well off the BBQ tank of propane.
Reply:Acetylene is a raw material in many chemical syntheses; some compounds can't easily be made with any other starting materials.It is itself also mostly made from hydrocarbons, particularly Methane by partial oxidation; the production of Calcium Carbide requires the high temperatures of an electric arc, and is a more expensive way to produce the alkyne. Besides reacting with water to produce Acetylene, the Calcium Carbide can be reacted with Nitrogen to produce Calcium Cyanamide which is used as a fertilizer, or can further be used in reactions to produce other compounds, one being  Sodium Cyanide. I don't think the production and use of Acetylene in this setting will probably do anything but increase over time. Diverting some for welding seems reasonable and just as likely to continue, at least to me.Can anyone find any reports of serious problems with the use of the gas in torches, at least above the dangers that any other gas would present?Maybe I should rephrase that to read "serious reports of real problems"  just to make it more useful. Let me further define "problems" as "occurrences", not 'theoretical possibilities'.Well, based on what I read here I'm definitely going to check around.  Trouble is in my area, 20 miles east of Seattle, there aren't a lot of choices,.  My LWS has most of the welding supply outlets, and a recent merger with one of the gas suppliers will probably make finding a reasonable alternative difficult.  The companies recently purchased two additional competitors in the area.
Reply:Acetylene isnt going anywhere, part of the increase in price is that demand is greater than supply, mostly in non-combustion related uses. Especially with the increased production of things such as carbon nano-tubes ( which are "grown" in acetylene ) and other carbon filaments. Its a fuel gas that cannot be directly replaced due to the nature of the secondary flame envelope. Around here my 150 cylinders cost about $40 to fill.
Reply:please don't take my acetylene... everything else out there blows..if you're not livin on the edge, you're takin up too much room..
Reply:I can get acetylene here for about 30$. not bad.The mind can only absorb what the a$$ can bear.                                                                                             Equipment: Snap-on mig, Airco stick, Harris torch, Thermo Dynamic plasma
Reply:Originally Posted by Oldiron2Not quite. A standard atomic bomb is needed to start the reaction whereby 'heavy' hydrogen (deuterium) in the bomb combines to form helium, and releases heat.    Lots of heat.
Reply:Originally Posted by Grimm1So is the popylene is good for cutting and heating. Is it just as good for welding? I use my O/A set up for welding more than I do cutting. I don't mind changing fuel if the new stuff runs decent, but if worse comes to worse, I know how to make my own acetylene. I've done it befor and I can do it again.