Lowes has oxygen

teksimple

Welding or medical grade oxygen should be equally free from solid contaminants, and if not, solid contaminants are generally not what would kill since they would have oxidized already. It is the gaseous contaminants that I would be worried about. How would a filter get a contaminant out like acetylene?

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jmhardingjr

It probably wouldn't . . . but then, it wouldn't need to. The acetylene would have self combusted during the tank filling process. As far as I know, the real issue would be gaseous contaminants such as argon (which has been known to be found in small amounts in welding oxy). Would it be enough to be a problem? Dunno. I guess only a gas analysis could tell us that.

The other real issue may be carbon monoxide from the flash combustion of impurities during the tank filling process. I'm not up to date on welding oxy standards, but if there are particulates that pass into the gas stream, then any adiabatic combustion could produce CO. Just a thought.

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diverklondike

Gang,

I am confused why people continue to play with fire so to speak...

If it's welding grade they do not vacume the bottle. That means what ever nasty stuff is in the bottle will stay in the bottle when they fill it back up. You can go through all of the justification you like. Back in my OC days there was a group of us that typically bought welding grade O2 to us for deco. There were several situations where we could taste that there was something funky with the gas. After the second time I said no more welding grade for me. So regardless of what filters you add... what you believe about the small risk of a problem, you are taking a risk.

I look at this conversation the same way as the conversations around saving Sorb from week to week and seeing how far you can press the envelop on that side... Most of the time you probably are going to be ok... but what about the time when dice roll against you....

Ok.. I will get off my soap box...

Dive Safe...

Mark

eanxdiver

I have called 2 Lowes here locally, and they state they are not carrying O2 yet. Maybe regional, or a slow start?

Not2Deep

Right on diverklondike , I know that after talking to the guys at the local gas supplier here, people have filled tanks with air, argon etc so that would pay less for turn in etc based on total pressure.

Playing with your life.

bgpartri

My Dad worked for Air Liquide for about 50 years, so many of my early experiences were around gas plants around North America. I was probably one of the few 10 year olds around who knew how to make oxygen and acetylene. ( I once made acetylene at a party, but that's another story. Think about handing someone a pail of water to put out the fire.)

My summer jobs during school were working on the oxygen fill ramp. We did a sniff test for acetylene, then filled everything the same way - medical and welding. It was just easier to make everything the same. I can't find a reference at the moment, but I think welding grade is the highest purity standard.

In any case, there was no differentiation.

The only tanks they vacuumed were hydrogen. Hydrogen will explode if mixed with oxygen, and you can't smell oxygen.

I have been on countless tours of gas plants and I have found that the practice varies from plant to plant and over time.

If its a big issue, go to the plant and ask for a tour. I've never been refused.

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Not2Deep

Here the O2 is identical, it comes out of the same source. They do however pull a vacuum on the cylinder to ensure it is contamination free for what is called medical grade. Your local supplier, such as airgas can verify for you.

The question is do you want to take the chance? If we spend big money on a unit, training, maintenance etc. Why try to shortcut on the gas?
Its about as critical a "component" as you can get dont you think?

bgpartri

I was thinking more about availability.

I'm not trying to talk anybody into it, but humans actually tolerate most impurities better than welding torches.

If I were in a remote place, or somewhere where they wouldn't sell it without a prescription, I would go to the plant, ask some questions, and go from there.

I should add that this isn't an issue in Canada. Its readily available in medical grade.

Bruce

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rigdiver

Just went to Lowe's in Port Arthur, TX. They did not have any Oxygen that I could see. I asked and no one knew anything about getting it now or in the future.
I went to a 2 day DAN diving physiology seminar way back in the 80's. Kelly Hill M.D. Hyperbaric specialist stated if anyone was bent to give them any kind of Oxygen available even if it's welding grade. The DAN staff R.N. disagreed. I know this is different than breathing it UW. I've had a rust taste from Oxygen in countries outside the US. I did not see "Medical" on the labels in Mexico or Honduras or Egypt. My last trip to Cayman Divetech was using LOX. That could not be anything but 100% pure O2.

diverreb

They pull a vacuum on the GMP O2 from Roberts and they treat tanks the same way they do Medical O2. They don't do that for Welding O2.

You never know what some idiot put back in the bottle....

I agree with Mark 100% on this one... Why take the chance....

Richie