The price increase has arrived !

[PTsideshow]

While I was picking up some back order items at my Local Airgas I was informed that the price increase for acetylene has arrived they have double approximately. For all sizes and they are going to have a limited number of assorted sized cylinders available.

[aametalmaster]

I am convinced that this increase is just Airgas. My local dist says no increase is comming and the prices have been the since last fall. I talked to a few other dealers and they said the same thing. But the Airgas guy said increase and at least 2 years until its normal again. One guy said his gas comes from Europe so the explosion in Ky didn't hurt his supply. Just my thoughts...Bob

[Country Metals]

The next day of the explosion, I got an email from my supplier that said we don't get our gas from Ky, and our price will remain unchanged and still have large quantities in stock.

[shovelon]

Oh yeah, standard Airgas tactic.

Time to review your contracts.

[Burnt hands]

PTsideshow,

I suspect you are being taken advantage of.

Last week, I swapped out my 330 cu ft argon tank for $36 and just asked about the acetylene issue and was told "no problem - no increase from us".

Very interesting as I don't buy acetylene from them although I have been an argon customer for 30 years.
Told my counter guy that I switched to MAPP about 25 years ago as I was getting clobbered with the demurrage fees since I didn't use enough to swap out a tank within the 30 day period. Then I had to switch to propane when MAPP was discontinued.

He told me, "If you want to switch to acetylene from propane, just say the word and I'll set you up with none of that baloney."

Plus he said, we are back to April pricing on acetylene.

Wow - talk about customer service!
Time to turn back the clock and go back to acetylene.

I suspect that those distributors who try to take advantage of the "shortage" will be like the gas station crooks. We will go elsewhere.

My supplier is in NJ about 4 miles east of center city Philly.

http://superiorweld.com/

[PTsideshow]

PTsideshow,

I suspect you are being taken advantage of.


http://superiorweld.com/

I wasn't buying any acetylene

While I was picking up some back order items at my Local Airgas I was informed that the price increase for acetylene has arrived

As there was a notice on the counter about the price increase, and they mentioned it in conversation.
They can only do what the corporate office hands down, It seems to vary as to the amount of the new price and where you live and where and how the acetylene is generated.
In the SE Michigan area, it is generated by the use of calcium carbide.

[Country Metals]

Speaking of different gases, is anyone using propylene (sp)? I was wondering how it is.

[tigguy]

That explains why it took an $80 bill to fill a #4 bottle of acetylene and an 80 bottle of oxygen 3 weeks ago. If only I'd heard of it then, I'd have visited Pacific 2 blocks away.

[tigguy]

Speaking of different gases, is anyone using propylene (sp)? I was wondering how it is.

Used propylene 12 years ago in the railcar business. They had to buy all different tips back then to burn it. Haven't used or seen it since 2001.

[PTsideshow]

Speaking of different gases, is anyone using propylene (sp)? I was wondering how it is.

Here is Victors new section on other fuel gases Downloadable PDF's Covers most of what one needs to know.
I bought a tip for propane since I had a regulator for propane/acetylene(marked as a fuel gas regulator) and some new T grade hose I set up a second cutting station on an extra cart.


Propane tip on Rego KX-6 torch body

Two piece propane tip

Business end of tip

[Rizz01]

Funny how they are increasing their prices and blaming the illusion of a shortage.
Airgas makes their own acetylene.
What really sucks is that Airgas is buying up ALL the local companies in my state.

[PTsideshow]

Airgas and Praxair are buying up all the small timers they can every where.

Since they do use calcium carbide in their production of acetylene, and the largest producer of calcium carbide in the US was take out of production loop.

Since welding use of acetylene only makes up about 20% of the end use of acetylene. And plastics and chemical formulations use the rest.

blaming the illusion of a shortage

If they don't have the raw material to make it, then there will be a shortage.

And the can charge what the want or what the customers are willing to pay for it.

There are plenty of choices of alternate fuels for cutting and heating other than acetylene.!

[1930case]

Propane works great and cutting tips are cheap so there's no reason not to grab a few.

You can slosh propane jugs (I use the BBQ variety) around and not have to wait for it to settle like acetylene. A BBQ jug is lighter and easier to carry than an acetylene cylinder.

I've read (in this forum) that propylene works even better, but I haven't had an excuse to try it yet.