Access to tech gases

[Eoin OBeara]

Re: Blending cert...
I did the course in 1999 or 2000 with an IANTD Instructor who was running a dive shop near me (you probably all know who it is). I still haven't got my cert card, despite the fact that I was working for him for over two years (IANTD Facility). So I did the course but can't actually prove it. But then, BOC never asked, welders don't have to do blending courses 

[Graham Cowley]

I got mine after 3 years of doing the course, hounding IANTD with emails worked!

[Grifmike]

Hi Phil,

Can I ask if you were using BOC before you rolled up looking for diving gases?

I am going in there tomorrow (Kilkenny) and see how I get on with asking for welding Oxygen (i would prefer Medical but dont want to push it with my first order!), He (is cp grade best for diving? - will be on OC so using a fair bit of it!) and argon...

If anyone wants to advise me on how best to place that order - other than "this gun is loaded so just hand over the gas and none of these little orphans gets hurt!!" - answers on a post card please...

At the moment I am looking for Welding gases for maintenance; Welding Oxygen, He (cp grade?) for Aluminum weld shielding and Argon for

Mike.

P.S. Hopefully in three months time I will look back at this post and laugh at what all the fuss was about... but I was asked for perscriptions, name of my GP, I was asked what regulator I was using with what flow rate and what trolly I had when I made a simple enquiry about getting my hands on medical oxygen!! Thus the angst.

[Peter M]

Argon for sheilding gas for Tig welding ! it can do more but this would suffice !

[scuba steve]

RE: Medical gases

COPD/COAD patients are on home therapy O2 and the does is between 2 and 6 lts per min throught a nasual cannuala

Asthmatics  use O2 at 15 liters per min through Nebuliser masks with perscriptions such as salbutamol

all these pts would be perscribed O2 as a drug .

just in case any1 wants to try risk it in the BOC office

[Stephen McMullan]

Is it really that hard? Our account is in the name of our SAC so they know exactly what its used for. 02 and He no problemo. Ok we've been using them for years. Maybe there's hassle if setting up for the first time.

Michael, ring up BOC:

"Hi my name is Stephen McMullan from GUE, Kilkenny branch and gimme all the 02 and He you have. I need it for diving....."

and if that doesn't work:

"Hi, name is Michael Griffin.....I'm a welder"

 

[Scubadec / Dec Hanniffy]

I get O2 from Caufields in Galway, who are a BOC agent, The account has been set up for years, so I dont know if there was any hassle when it was first set up, but we get W cells of industrial O2 and J cells of medical O2 every few months off them, without any hassle.
The Account is in the name of the diving club, and the lads serving me, usually ask loads of questions about diving, but never about what we use the O2 for. We dont have trolleys or regulators with us when we change cells, we just arrive in a transit, roll out the old cell, and roll in the new cell, hold it in place with a weight belt, and drive off.
No Problems!

[Graham Cowley]

Is it really that hard? Our account is in the name of our SAC so they know exactly what its used for. 02 and He no problemo. Ok we've been using them for years. Maybe there's hassle if setting up for the first time.

Michael, ring up BOC:

"Hi my name is Stephen McMullan from GUE, Kilkenny branch and gimme all the 02 and He you have. I need it for diving....."

and if that doesn't work:

"Hi, name is Michael Griffin.....I'm a welder"

 

Walk into BOC and say "Hello My name is Doctor G, well respected surgeon, Im also an amateur weilding enthusiest and combine my professional role with that of my pastime and enjoy welding medical grade stainless steel while I perform intricate detailed surgery", BOC representative replies "Sure thats no problem, do you have any ID, perhaps a passport?"...Doctor G "f**k, I forget it, give me 12 hours, 2 flights and an 8 hour train journey and Ill be back!"

[Stephen McMullan]

"Hello My name is Doctor G, well respected surgeon"

In Haiti perhaps. You have no permit to practice your witchcraft here Dr G 

[Graham Cowley]

"Hello My name is Doctor G, well respected surgeon"

In Haiti perhaps. You have no permit to practice your witchcraft here Dr G 

Sorry in replying late to you Mr McMullen, I was busy making minature counter lungs for your...I mean my voodoo....eh, replica Inspo diver doll....now wears those pins I had lying around?

PS: Can you send me a sample of hair and an item of clothing, no particular reason

[Grifmike]

Well this tread certainly has upped the pace on the entertainment front at least!!

Will keep you posted on my success or otherwise tomorrow in getting my gases - lets hope I don't have to hurt any orphans - that would be bad!

Mike
AKA the diving Welder...

[phil]

Hi Mike.
The Club has an A/c with Boc so there is very little dought about what we are using it for and also there are a number of us who have our own a/c's for various reasons,most of these were set up for the purpose of diving, again no problem there.I think he just didn't like the look of you.I don't think I mentioned to him that you where DIR  ,

[Grifmike]

Well - I promised an update... Success was achieved!!

Just got my hands on:

a L cylinder of CP grade helium
a X cylinder of Pureshield Argon
and a W cylinder of technical Oxygen (welding grade)...

All from BOC Kilkenny - so all is forgiven... I was asked a few questions but managed to fumble my way through - but did not feel it would have been too well received to look for Medical O2..

However finally and at last I have got the gases I need. Thanks to everyone for their help and advice and sharing their stories - clearly not all BOC centres are the same and not all the guys handing over the gases take the same attitude about giving out Medical O2... but who knows after a few months I may try my luck and shoot for medical grade!

Mike.

[Peter M]

Welding grade o2 has to be pure, otherwise it will affect the intergrity of the weld, so to be honest thats what i am going to use ! It might contain a little less moisture but i think its really splitting hairs