Member postings for Ajohnw

Thought your cars had high mileages and didn't have problems ?

John

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I had one too. Off MSC. I've bought a few items off them. Rather good prices sometimes when stuff is reduced.

I'll be curious to see if this thread vanishes after I post as some have.

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Well it has from latest posts and also entering this one from the tearoom and then lo it appeared getting it up via the tearoom but still isn't in latest threads. 

John

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Edited By Ajohnw on 11/01/2017 17:16:01

Thanks Jason. Useful. I have a book with loads in but it's falling apart and a pc reference is useful anyway.

There will be a pdf version here for a month maybe. One of the wonders of Linux. Can be done straight from any browser.

**LINK**

I don't think there is any problem doing this providing the credits are left on the end. Not sure that freeserve exists any more either. The original doesn't.

John

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It seems that the deal is not available on X in puresheild. Only Y.

You need to be a hobbyist and establish and account. Much to my amazement the application can be obtained pretty quickly.

Murray will be pleased that I will be going with BOC.

John

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BOC's normal charges are

Y Gas £67.85, Rent £99.40 with 3 and 5 year options that save a bit. Evironment charge £079, Delivery £52.55, Collect £14.40

X Gas £51.30, Rent £77.90 same options. Rest the same.

Pureshield argon taken from their 1 May 2016 price list. VAT to be added to all. They will refund pro rata on rental. One complaint I have heard is deliveries - when they choose to arrive not when it's wanted. For most of us though it looks like a local depot is the best option.

It would be interesting to know what the deal prices are on X cylinders. Muzzer maybe ?

They also offer 300 bar cylinders. E33 for instance seems to be the smallest which is

Gas £82.59, Rent £115.70 no 3 and 5 year rent options.

They also give monthly rentals. X £7.05, Y £8.90 and E33 £10.15

They say that they have re introduced the long term option on small cylinders. As they will refund pro rata and only take part payments on the anniversary it may be a cheaper rental option.

The price for an X on the web is a little bit more. They do have web sales. The price list refers to applications in writing so may need to get the fountain pen out. A laser may not be good enough.

Forgot to mention that going on the list I'll bet Chorley do plenty of business.

John

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Edited By Ajohnw on 11/01/2017 11:57:06

Thanks Andy. I did wonder why. Looking further it's more conductive and also has higher heat conductivity figures so as you mentioned used on aluminium and copper as they conduct heat rather well. Last time I used a tig welder I found aluminium melted way too easily for me at times and didn't for the welder. He got it just right. As then I am more interested in fusing things with tig rather than filler rods. Initially anyway. It's tricky on aluminium. Watching it looks to be a doddle on steel - stitching rather than seams anyway.

JS might like to note that he could weld with hot CO2. People have to excuse him. I believe he used to think he had been knighted but has been ok since he took the pills.

John

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Another in Brum is Energas. Not sure how they sell gas but Smethwick and a trip down the worst long high street in Brum. Google reckons 18min. If t wasn't for the usual 5 to 6 buses going along stopping every 100 yds that might be correct.

I needed a new pump for the boiler a couple of months ago. Same area and took nearly 1hr. Bit quicker coming back.

John

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Edited By Ajohnw on 10/01/2017 23:13:25

Yes my armchair was petty expensive Murray. Way more than the welder. Cintique usually is but they last a long time.

The problem for some is that they may not spend much time in it. Not much time welding either. Which way to go is likely to be a tough call for many.

Thanks for the post. It's interesting.

John

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Anyone come across these bottles. This price if for the bottle outright filled with gas. Refills £60.74

**LINK**

Not sure what 10 lb means. If weight of argon it would be about 7.5m^3 at 20C I suspect that isn't what they mean.

Also found a place that will sell me 240,600 or 950L of liquid argon. Wonder what pressure that is at. Boiling off I would suspect.

**LINK**

John

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SGS are one of the ones I will go and ask. They do have agents all over the place. I have wondered about stock, that's while I'll ask. It's a motor factors but a pretty big one for a local company.

I don't really fancy getting into a mail order supply if I can get it when I want it. Not ruling it out yet. I think some include empty bottle collection with a delivery.

I was going to ask at webbs hire but much to my amazement they have gone in the couple of months since I drove past them. Busy place too. I vaguely remember seeing a bottle store. Seems we need yet another big Tesco's in an area that already can't cope with the traffic that uses the roads around where it will be. Also caused the loss of a salvage yard and a few other useful small businesses.

Then there is another hire shop I have often bought things from rather than hired. He may have something sorted if any of his customers use it. He doesn't mess about so might even keep stock.

My initial thoughts was BOC as it doesn't take long to get to Redditch, B'ham's closer but time to it can vary. Boring drive too. Then I found their price list and noticed the charge for collection. No wonder people moan about them. I've heard moans from users at work a number of times. Lucas of old probably had a much better deal than I could get.

There are a couple of places around where I can ask if they know anyone who does rent free but I suspect they use BOC.

I thought I had seen mention of argon and helium mixes for tig. Not sure were and was really looking for suppliers so may have miss read. If it's about I think I would rather stick with argon,

No interest in mig. I sold my mig welder some time ago. I wont say why as it will lengthen the thread so please leave it at that.

John

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If people want to source gas I think that the best option is to look at the gas content. Some supply from memory 230 bar or even higher so more goes in the same cylinder size.

Taking an example this page

**LINK**

I don't think I would go for the suggested diy option due to the price of the gas per litre. In my view I'd go for the larger one even if it took me n years to empty it.

I suspect the comment about refundable if undamaged is pretty normal.

It seems that gas consumption runs at something like 7l/min so people could choose on the basis of how long they intend to weld for.

Searching rent free welding gas brings up several sources. Some have agents and maps showing where those are. Getting actual prices seems to be more difficult. Then a question I would ask is do they keep stock. Delivery is bound to cost. BOC charge even if it's collected. It's just a case of summing up the cost really and hoping that the paint on the cylinder doesn't get damaged if it's rented. Light weight dive bottles can be damaged ever so easily. Maybe argon bottles use the same sort of paint.

John

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The one I linked to in sutton coldfield states one off and refundable at any time but it could be worth reading the fine print also looking after the bottle. Strange gas charges though as the bottle a lot of diy might go for is under filled. They are to far away to appeal.

I did do some web searches on the BOC deal. I found a post that said not available any more. Could just be for new users. No info at all on price and some mention of argon lite which I assume has helium in it. So came to the conclusion that it would be best to phone and ask. Which I will. I have to go collect my air fittings soon. May call in on possible bottle sources on the way back.

From my point of view I have no idea how often I will use it or really how fast the gas will go. I get the impression that if really rent free the next bottle up from X might be the best bet.

Gas - I needed to mix some plaster this afternoon. A gas person calling sometime this afternoon. Bet he would have turned up if I had started. Just arrived.

John

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Edited By Ajohnw on 10/01/2017 16:59:54

Maybe they have been watching the physics programs they put out at times and some have covered Schrodinger. Bound to have just been on the cat though so they must have read or heard more.

John

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Snap. I use kiddies paste brushes from a pound shop. The one with wooden handles. Usually in packs of 4 or 5. Not much on the brush as I am not trying to use it as a coolant as well - a brush wouldn't be much good for that anyway.

I find that one really well drained brush is enough for several applications. It just needs a smear. When I use it depends on how much material is being turned off.

Some is in a test tube that's lashed to the side of a bottle with more in. I keep the bottle lidded as it definitely absorbs air or seems to to me. Probably evaporates too. Test tube could do with having a larger bore really. Main stock is in 5L can.

John

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LOL Good luck to him. I'll run. I'd better ask for more advanced lesson in Tai Chi. I'm too old now for boxing, judo and karate and to be honest looking back I don't think these did any good at all for my body long term.

One aspect to the the thread though is that I have tried to put some useful info in it. Stupid comments don't help. A lot read it and maybe my progress is not what some may choose. I have several things to do and some need doing before others.

I dealt with the regulator earlier. So no point repeating that. I suspect a single one will be ok. It might be a problem when the bottle gets rather low. If needed I'll include another. Probably the one fitted to the back or the welder.

Biggest problem with useful info is that when I get to do the work I bought it for if I find tig too tough to do the job in a reasonable time I'll use stick as I know I can do that quickly.

John

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From the wiki

Cheat - for weight use a different unit.

Use of the work exactly there is interesting. Sometimes the only way to express things exactly is with fractions. It crops up in software now and again. Twice once at home and once actually on a job at work I've used languages where they have forgotten that there can be a need to work in integer to handle fractions and implement integer in floating point. Once they have done that there is no way to to be 100% sure that the results are correct. In fact it will be pure luck if they are correct. The same thing can happen when decimal gets converted to binary floating point but usually it's far less noticeable.

John

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What a pair of twerps but please do carry on. Most people get their kicks in others ways but others can sometimes be a bit weird. Usually these people are called trolls. The last 2 posts are definitely people who want arguments or at least some sort of reaction and haven't anything better to do. So now they have a reaction - please read it.

I have taken the very limited advice that has been given in this thread. Just ignored one that I also had a pm on - don't buy. It will do this and that 'cause I bought one and it did etc. The cutter is a plus for me so the fact that some will cut 1/2 inch easily isn't relevant to my needs. I asked if anyone had used one more to mention that it's about really. Actually some one else on here has one and has used it. Why not go an pollute that thread.

It was petty obvious that the compressor didn't have a dryer etc when I decided to buy it - big deal. The welder comes with one actually.

What on earth do I need to go out and buy gas for it now as I haven't any intention of using it yet.

Wrong regulator really makes me laugh. It's the type I wanted. No point in a dual reg as the welder came with one but actually I think the one I bought will be fine.

Advice - I haven't asked for it that much at any time anywhere and when I have asked only get any from people who generally do help people.

The welder has 2 sad points so far. The torch - can only get bits for it from China and from getting sparks out of it I know I will prefer a flexible head. The gas input is naff. Not that unusual a style actually but I want to change it so will. It not really suitable for use with 2 different things going through it.

Good points so far. It strikes pretty easily. It's well built inside and out. It does makes sparks so does work. Some of the reports on them some time ago haven't. How long it will work for - no idea.

Next thing for me is if the compressor will provide the air the cutter needs according to the specs on other cutters with the same sort of power levels. It should but with hobby gear things can sometimes be over stated. Do I need to cut to do that - no. If it doesn't provide it I do know what I will do. Oddly I do have a reason for going this way even though the improvement will cost me about £230.

Frankly a very few people on here seem to be in need of a life. I can't see any point what so ever in being ratty because some one thinks something else about some subject or the other or choose to do things in certain ways. I most certainly don't. I just think ok do or think that - either way it makes no difference what so ever to me.

John

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Hi Niels. I didn't know you looked on this site. I tried to find a video of a parting off demo you did on some large diameter aluminium a few months ago, Is it still about ?

John

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Edited By Ajohnw on 09/01/2017 21:07:25

There is a reasonably kitted out Harrison 300 on ebay at the moment maybe £3000. If it's good that would not be a bad price. Looking at the shots gives some idea of the sort of person that used it.

£400 for a truly good ML10 with hardly anything with it would be good too - ebay probably a lot more. Maybe on Gumtree. There is some one trying to sell a speed 10 in classified for £1300 on here. I'd say no chance given what's missing - change wheels.

I looked at a Boxford some time ago N of B'ham. An ME10A, mine is the older ME10. It's pretty good apart from bed wear that causes it to turn some taper and has what I suspect is a 3 phase motor driven from 240v via capacitors. I'd sort that out as it makes start up rather disconcerting. It's in Sale so if you are in N Wales might be an option, I'll PM you his email address just in case it's still about. It's on a cabinet - no way to open the doors so could be bits in it. Finish was good so bearings etc ok. They can be moved pretty easily by removing the headstock, tailstock and drive motor. 2 people could move it that way. Might be possible to force the cabinet doors with a rather large screw driver but an electric drill would be more certain. He goes to S wales regularly but suspect it's on his bike. I bought mine back in the back of a Passat estate. A van might be a better idea to include the cabinet. I would have that even if I didn't use it. On the bench you could just use the tray. Taper - not much but a lot more than mine. Just thou's though. I looked because it is the newer version. I didn't get as far as checking the back gear fully. It would be easy to do a lot worse but there is always some risk with used lathes.

I think Bikepete made a good point. One I always try to make - don't rush and if you do look at something try it and be prepared to walk away. If you think the price is too high discuss it before going.

I don't seem to be able to PM you. Pity as I looked last Sept so it might still be there.

John

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Edited By Ajohnw on 09/01/2017 21:01:36

You would get the weight of the water wrong unless you remembered to correct for the actual weight of water.

Actually I think some aspects of maths at that time were good at training people mind. It's rather like a muscle. Deteriorates with lack of use and can be improved to a huge degree by use / exercise.

John

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