Bejesus Helium is expensive.

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I wanted to try out this DCEN aluminum bit you guys talk about... $100 for a bottle of 95/5To go to certified 99.999 was $130 o.Odamn it any cheaper way for a new guy to the process to try it out?
Reply:What's this 95/5 you're talking about in reference to helium?And there's no way you need 5 9s pure helium for welding.  That's laboratory grade stuff and a waste of money for welding.Yes, helium is pricey, but it may work a little better.  It's better for overhead work because it rises, not falls like argonBenson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Reply:95% helium/5% argon.
Reply:I use lab grade exclusively and wouldn't use any lesser grade. YMMVTwo turn tables and a microphone.
Reply:The guys around here that DC tig aluminum use industrial grade helium,99.7% I believe,and they have done so for years with no problems at all.
Reply:so...you think helium is expensive now...give it about 10 years and it'll be astronomical...about 10 years after that and it won't be available at any price...seriously, it's a non-renewable resource and it's going to run out.  If there's a process that requires it, I'd start trying to find different processes that will work.  The price will only keep going up.--Wintermute"No man's knowledge here can go beyond his experience." - John Lockewww.improvised-engineering.comManufacturer Agnostic:Blood----------Sweat---------Tears----|------------------|----------------|----Lincoln Red, Miller Blue, Esab Yellow
Reply:Originally Posted by socoj2I wanted to try out this DCEN aluminum bit you guys talk about... $100 for a bottle of 95/5To go to certified 99.999 was $130 o.O...
Reply:Originally Posted by Rick VWhat size bottle are we talking about... how many cubic feet?
Reply:Compared to the value of the welds you'll make with it, isn't the difference trivial?Thank Uncle Sam for dumping the Strategic Helium Reserve because of the blind worship of privatization.
Reply:Originally Posted by wintermuteso...you think helium is expensive now...give it about 10 years and it'll be astronomical...about 10 years after that and it won't be available at any price...seriously, it's a non-renewable resource and it's going to run out.  If there's a process that requires it, I'd start trying to find different processes that will work.  The price will only keep going up.--Wintermute
Reply:Originally Posted by wintermuteso...you think helium is expensive now...give it about 10 years and it'll be astronomical...about 10 years after that and it won't be available at any price...seriously, it's a non-renewable resource and it's going to run out.  If there's a process that requires it, I'd start trying to find different processes that will work.  The price will only keep going up.--Wintermute
Reply:Originally Posted by SovXietdayActually pretty astonishing the reason why. Helium is so light that by the time it raises to the top of the atmosphere is it going fast enough to escape the gravitational pull of earth. Crazy. They are developing a way to create it via fusion. Crafty humans.
Reply:We can always use hydrogen for balloons......what's the worst that can happen?