. . . a buddy just gave me a huge bottle of oxygen. Welding oxygen. I can dump it, have the bottle hydro'd, and get it refilled with medical or aviator. But it is oxygen, right? It's analyzing 99.9. I know that medical is dry, and aviator is DRYER, but it's still oxygen, right? i'm a purist, and I won't breath it, but i'd really like to know why not.
OK guys, O2 question . . .
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H2Andy
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this is an interesting question ... i'd like to see the answer
A lot of oxygen comes from the same source/tank when the bottles are filled.
The difference between grades are the way the end user tanks are handled for contaminants.
Some good information regarding this can be gleaned from Oxyhackers book.
The difference between grades are the way the end user tanks are handled for contaminants.
Some good information regarding this can be gleaned from Oxyhackers book.
My understanding,and this will vary with supplier,so ask. Welder's and medical are from the same source,the only difference is they will pull a vacuum on the medical cylinder to completely empty the tank,and then fill it with oxygen. Aviator's grade gets filtered for any remaining moisture since freezing at altitude is catastrophic. Oxyhacker book is good,but variability in the gas supplier business is bizarre;I always make it a point to ask the supplier about their procedures because it is amazing what you find. One supplier I know of treats all 3 grades the same (pull vacuum,and filter the gas),but charges 3 different prices,even though the welder's grade is the same as everything else.
The only way to know is to find out who supplied the O2 and get the specs on it. They may not be willing to give the info out, but it's worth a shot. I'd hate to dump a whole bottle of O2...
Persoanally, I'd just get ABO... O2 is *very* cheap in any of the grades. Not sure what welders grade costs but lets say it's $8 for 300 cuft. I'm paying $18 for 300 cuft of ABO. 300 cuft will give you a lot of 32 or deco gas so saving $10 on the O2 would translate to say saving $0.50/fill or something trivial like that. For me, I'd rather pay the extra $0.50 and get the good stuff.
Now, on He, there is a big difference between the costs of welders, HP and UHP. UHP would cost me $98 for 300 cuft while HP costs me $48 for 300 cuft. After talking to the gas supplier about how they handle their helium, I decided HP gave me enough nine's for the dollar. Makes more sense for me to save there anyway since a mix fill (even triox) will require far more He than O2.
Now, on He, there is a big difference between the costs of welders, HP and UHP. UHP would cost me $98 for 300 cuft while HP costs me $48 for 300 cuft. After talking to the gas supplier about how they handle their helium, I decided HP gave me enough nine's for the dollar. Makes more sense for me to save there anyway since a mix fill (even triox) will require far more He than O2.
tgiscuba:
The vast majority of oxygen (welding, aviator, medical) comes from the same big cryo tank. And whatever that last 0.1% is in the tank, it's not going to hurt you. Personally, I'd breathe it without giving it a second thought. And my welding supplier pulls a vacuum on all oxy refills, FWIW. Yours might not, but it's worth asking.
pescador775
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Welder oxygen is satisfactory and that is what I use. The oxygen (all grades) are produced at the same time, delivered in the same container, and are all flat out dry. Moisture drops out during the cryo process. Oxygen cylinders received from a welding supply house are as clean or cleaner inside than your scuba tank. They have to be, or else.
My supplier sells the same thing that's just got different labels on it. So, you can pay $8.00 for welding grade, $16.00 for Aviators grade, or $32.00 for medical grade. It's all the same D@&* thing as Janis Joplin would sing. I'm in for $8.00 for 337 cu ft of welding grade myself. Is a label rally worth the extra money? Now, go read Oxyhackers book and ask yourself the simple questions. What could be in an oxygen cylinder? Probably as Cale states "only acetylene." Who would have the problem----the guy/gal filling the cylinder. And the one I liked best was "has a tank ever failed a lab test?" The answer was "NO."
My O2 cents worth;
Bill
My O2 cents worth;
Bill
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