ITALY/GERMANY...accquiring Welding supplies!?

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I'll be in Germany come march til august when the army will be moving me to Italy for a couple years. Where should i look for supplies, more specifically gas bottles??
Reply:You might take a look at what facilities are available for you on base. I know when my family was stationed out in Washington our base had a fully equipped wood shop and the nearby sub base had a full auto shop very few knew about, that were available to any military personnel and their families. there were all sorts of "hidden" facilities available thru the Rec program. You just had to know who to ask to find then some times.Also "unofficially" many times other tools and equipment was available if you got to know the right people. I know the one maintenance machine shop on base had no issues with military personnel  making use of some of the machine tools as long as the shop wasn't using them and the person using the tools knew how to use them and cleaned up. You just had to ask the chief in charge of the shop if it was ok.I'd probably try and find if there were any welding facilities on base and check where they get their gases from. They can probably clue you into a local supplier, or maybe spot you a cylinder or let you tag your cylinder onto their order. I probably wouldn't try to get one on my own unless there was no other options.Thanks for serving..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by Q_the_welderI'll be in Germany come march til august when the army will be moving me to Italy for a couple years. Where should i look for supplies, more specifically gas bottles??
Reply:I'll be back in Bamberg in March. Ordering a Everlast TIG and MIG so i can some car projects rolling. Before i deployed i asked if i could weld at the hobby shop and the german worker there was like no so i need someplace to work...maybe i can buddy up with one of the mechanics so i can use a spare motorpool bay....
Reply:Ok not familiar with that area. DSW gave the best advice though. My landlord helped me find the place where I get my gas at. It's just some little hardware store that does tank exchange out of the basement. The gas bottles they get come from a larger supplier where I can go if I'm after something more specific. A quick search for schweisstechnik came up with a bunch of hits down in Nuremburg though. I'm sure they would know where to find the gas.And I turned away from Everlast when they told me they would not honor the warranty if I PCS'd back to the states. The warranty is good in Europe only. If you ordered it from the states it may not be an issue though. I was talking to the place up in Finland cause of what it would have cost to ship it from the states.NickESAB CaddyTig 2200iPowermax 45MM140 (Sold)
Reply:talked to my base's welding shop...weren't very helpful. They just told me it's expensive in Germany.So any more guidance folks?
Reply:Q,I bought my tanks from Hornbach.  When empty, I just exchange for full tanks.
Reply:http://www.dasoertliche.de/Themen/Sc...mberg-Bug.htmlList of welding distributors
Reply:Originally Posted by Q_the_weldertalked to my base's welding shop...weren't very helpful. They just told me it's expensive in Germany.So any more guidance folks?
Reply:Originally Posted by GuardrailQ,I bought my tanks from Hornbach.  When empty, I just exchange for full tanks.
Reply:not a bad price at hornbach!10L of Argon is 38EUR + 115EUR for the 40in x 8in Cylinder it comes in. Wonder if i can use a VAT form?
Reply:Q,I bought 1 tank for tig and 1 for mig and used a VAT form.  Also bought a flow meter  while I was there since the tank valves were not compatible with mine.
Reply:Originally Posted by GuardrailQ,I bought 1 tank for tig and 1 for mig and used a VAT form.  Also bought a flow meter  while I was there since the tank valves were not compatible with mine.
Reply:Originally Posted by Q_the_welderWhere you stationed?