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With each passing summer, we seem to keep on seeing record high temperatures hit the UK. With a noticeable shift in the number of hot days we experience, it’s fair to say that homeowners and businesses alike are looking for ways to effectively keep cool during any hot spells; this is easier said than done though, with the vast majority of UK homes insulated for the colder months.

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Advantages of Using Nitrogen for Air Conditioning

With each passing summer, we seem to keep on seeing record high temperatures hit the UK. With a noticeable shift in the number of hot days we experience, it’s fair to say that homeowners and businesses alike are looking for ways to effectively keep cool during any hot spells; this is easier said than done though, with the vast majority of UK homes insulated for the colder months.

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Business News Update

Throughout the lockdown, we have continued to offer our services to customers in need of essential gases. We offer Calor gas for heating and cooking, but we also supply important industrial gas needed to keep garages and workshops running. MIG welding gas and TIG welding gas for garages and workshops are essential for keeping couriers and their vehicles on the road.

We are continuing to offer our full range of gas so that you can continue with your life at home or work. The answers that you may be seeking to any further questions regarding our business during the lockdown are answered below:

Are We Still Open for Business?

We are still open for business, although in correlation with government guidelines, we would ask that our customers contact us via our website or telephone systems to reduce physical contact with our staff.

This said, we are still open for individuals to collect their gas from our office, but we would recommend that customers pre-order and pay for goods online so that we can offer a click and collect service. This will also reduce the spread of the disease and we thank all our customers who have changed their usual routine with us to help the country stay safe.

We will not be accepting cash or cheques during the lockdown. This is to reduce physical transmission of the virus.

 

Have Our Business Hours Changed?

Our business hours during the lockdown are as follows:

8.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday

Are Gas Deliveries Affected by the Lockdown?

Our delivery service has changed to be a doorstop delivery only. Our drivers will deposit your required gas at your door and collect any empty bottles to return. We are operating on no-contact delivery services to reduce the spread of the virus.

 

What Are We Doing to Follow Government Guidelines?

We have followed government guidelines to enable our business to fight the coronavirus appropriately.

• We are following 2m social distancing in our office and warehouse.
• Our click and collect service enables customers to collect equipment with minimal contact.
• The counter is currently closed to customers, but in the coming weeks we will be erecting screens on the counter. This will provide our staff and customers with greater safety and peace of mind when we re-open in the future.

Keeping You Updated

Adams Gas plans to follow the government guidelines as closely as possible whilst continuing to supply gas. We will continue to keep our customers updated as best we can through our social media channels and website.

Thank you for your patience, we look forward to returning to normal soon.

Gas Cylinder Storage Rules

Gas canisters can be incredibly volatile if treated incorrectly, especially if they contain highly pressurised gas such as nitrogen or a flammable gas such as butane gas and propane gas. Therefore, if you have some gas canisters, make sure you know how to store them correctly and the situations that you need to avoid putting them in.

Keep Them Away from Heat Sources

One of the most important things when storing gas canisters is to make sure that they are kept away from sources of heat. This is because all gases undergo a phenomenon that is governed by a physical law known as Gay-Lussac’s (or Amonton’s) law. It essentially states that as the temperature of a gas increases, its pressure increases. This is because the molecules of the gas are getting more energetic and further apart, which means that they will be pressing against the walls of the canister with greater force the more they heat up.

If a gas canister is near a heat source, the pressure inside will increase and this could cause a devastating explosion, especially if the contents are flammable. With this in mind, it is very important to make sure that your gas is stored in a cool place.

Keep Your Storage Well Ventilated

Now that you know that your gas needs to be stored somewhere cool, your first thought might be that your basement or cellar will act as a great place for your gas storage; however, there are some elements that you need to be aware of before you start stashing your gas underground.

For propane and butane gas bottles, never, under any circumstance, store them below ground. This is because, if there is a leak and there is no ventilation, the gas will sit at floor level and slowly build up in the room. This can be fatal to small children and pets as they won’t be able to breathe properly and that can lead to a sudden death.

If the basement is well ventilated, this is less of an issue. In a well-ventilated room, the leak will be vented out and your air will be kept clean and safe. You are also less likely to suffer a leak if you keep your gas canisters upright, and it is best practice to keep them away from building entrances, exits and drains.

 

Store Them Upright and Securely

Make sure that all canisters and bottles are stored upright and securely. This is to prevent the canisters from toppling and leaking into the surroundings. If you’re worried about theft and don’t want to keep them outside because of this, you can invest in a cage to protect your gas without causing a hazard to your safety.

Negligence is also a great theft of gas, so make sure to check your gas canister fixtures and fittings regularly to ensure that everything is working as you expect it to. A poor regulator might not warn you that a leak is occurring, so it is important to do a manual check every now and then.

When using gas canisters, always remember that your safety is a priority, so follow the correct rules and be safe with whatever you are doing. Here at Adams Gas, we offer a variety of products, from petroleum gases like propane and butane to nitrogen and CO² bottles.

We make safety our number one priority, which is why our bottles and equipment undergo regular safety checks. If you would like to know more about our products and services, you can contact us.

 

Caravan Cooking Equipment

In light of the current lockdown, we anticipate that many individuals will be looking forward to making plans for weekends out once this is all over. Some of these individuals may be updating their caravans and campervans during their newfound free time and will be excited for a chance to use them in the future.

We recommend that you check the latest government guidelines before exiting your property, but in the meantime, we’re going to look at the type of caravan cooking equipment that you might want to consider installing in your van if you’re using this time to prepare for an amazing self-sufficient camping holiday in the future.

Caravan Cooking Equipment

The size of your van is going to dictate the size of your cooker significantly, so when it comes to choice your main question is likely going to depend on what type of fuel you want to be carrying to power your van’s appliances.

For camping cookers that can run off-grid, there are typically two types; butane cookers and propane cookers. These refer to the type of fuel consumed by the cookers. If you already have other appliances installed using one of these types of fuel, then you should choose a cooker that matches your preferred fuel type so that you don’t have to waste space on extra fuel storage.

It may also be cheaper for you to buy one type of fuel in greater bulk, than two types of fuel in smaller portions, but there are benefits to each type that you may not have previously considered. We’ll talk about these in the next section.

 

Propane vs Butane

Both are popular choices for camping fuel, but they each have setbacks and advantages. Knowing how each type of gas works will help you to choose a camping gas that most suits your camping style.

If you like to camp during cold weather and the winter months, propane is the better choice for your caravan. When it gets cold, butane can compress too much and so it becomes difficult to get the gas to flow correctly. This may mean that butane appliances will have notably worse output during colder months than propane.

On the other hand, if you love the warm weather and only camp during the summer, you should consider a butane cooker because butane burns more efficiently and therefore will save you money and time whilst cooking.

Don’t forget to check what type of fuel your camping stove officially supports before you order anything or try to use it.

Once you’ve decided what type of fuel you will be using in your van, here are some extra tips to help you to find the perfect appliance:

• Always check the fuel-to-boil speed. This will tell you how efficient the cooker will be using the fuel you buy and will save you money in the long run.
• It’s important to put the size of the cooker first. Don’t buy a huge cooker if you rarely go camping with more than four people or you might regret the space it takes up in your van.
• A second-hand cooker might be cheaper but be careful to check the warranty on it.

 

Camping Breakfast

A stereotypical camping breakfast will include a lot of tinned ingredients, especially if you’re on a long stint away from the local shops. Here are some popular ingredients used in a camping breakfast:

• Tinned beans
• Pre-made pancakes
• Spam
• Bread
• Oil
• Eggs
• Cheese
• Black pudding
• Tea bags and milk
• Cereals
• Fruit Salad

It’s important to eat a hearty breakfast when you’re preparing for a long day of physical exercise.

 

National Garden Camp Out

If you can’t wait to try your newly fitted out campervan then don’t worry – you don’t have to wait! Plenty of avid campers are enjoying their vehicles without leaving their property, and their raising money while doing it, too.

There have even been competitions challenging campers to show their best set-up from their gardens, encouraging people to get outside and enjoy nature without impacting on current government health regulations and social distancing.

You can learn more about how the campervan community is supporting the NHS during the coronavirus crisis at Out&AboutLive. The latest national garden camp-out was April 11^th, but there may be more in the future if the lockdown continues into the summer months.

You can read more about other appliances in your caravan which might require gas and how we can help to supply you with the gas that you need on our blog: Uses for Calor Gas in Caravans. Our camping gas bottles are refillable, and we stock both propane gas and butane gas.

How to Recycle Your Gas Cylinders

Recycling gas cylinders is an important but often dangerous job. It’s not enough to leave your gas cylinder in your general waste in case there is any leftover gas that could cause an accident. You need to think carefully about the right way to dispose of your unwanted cylinders, and we can help you with this blog.

 

NOT IN THE BIN

It can be very dangerous to put your unwanted gas canister in normal waste disposal, because they are pressurised, which could lead to an explosion if crushed. There’s a new story every year about some unsuspecting family losing a loved-one due to improper disposal of their gas cylinders, so it’s important that these items are recognised for the potential danger they represent.

WHEN SHOULD I DISPOSE OF MY CYLINDER?

You will want to dispose of your cylinder if it’s empty or you no longer need any gas. If your cylinder is showing faults, such as leakage from the canister or valve, you should also consider getting rid of it. Some gas leakages can be more harmful to the environment than others, but it is important that all leakages are taken very seriously.

 

RECYCLE

Your gas canister is likely made from either aluminium or steel which are two of the most highly recycled metals in the recycling industry. However, recycling companies may have reservations about receiving empty gas cylinders.

 

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

Because gases are marked as dangerous goods they have to go through various strict regulations in their sale, transportation and disposal. Even if you think your canister is empty, you can’t be sure that the pressure guage isn’t broken or inaccurate. Consequently, recycling companies may not want to take your empty cylinders.

WHAT NEXT?

This doesn’t mean that your cylinders shouldn’t be recycled; aluminium and steel are important metals for recyclers. We should therefore avoid its waste as much as possible. Here’s a checklist to get your canister ready:

1 – Check your canister; is it suitable for recycling? If yes, then check your local regulations to be sure.

2 – We know gas can be dangerous because it is combustible. Because of this, it is extremely important that your canister is completely empty before recycling it. You can check if a canister is empty by rocking the cylinder; if you feel liquid movement within the cylinder, then you know it isn’t empty.

• To be sure, it is recommended that you drill a hole in the container. Some recycling companies even require empty canisters to be cut in half.
• Always take the appropriate safety precautions when dealing with dangerous products. Use safety goggles and work outdoors or under a fume hood, if available.

3 – Another aspect that makes a canister dangerous is the valve, which signals that the bottle is pressurised. In order to get your canister ready for recycling, you may be asked to remove the valve. You will need a special tool to do this safely, and it can be very difficult, which is why in most situations you should see if your supplier will take the canister back.

ECO-FRIENDLY SOLUTIONS

At Adams Gas, we put heavy emphasis on environmentally friendly practices. As such, we like to sell refills. This is far better than disposing of a canister every time you need gas, but what do you do if you’re gas requirements drop and you need fewer bottles? The British Compressed Gas Association asks that you return empty or finished cylinders to bottled gas suppliers for further use or safe and efficient recycling.

If you buy helium canisters from us, your gas may be stored in a disposable gas cylinder. Once you’re finished with your cylinder, we ask that you return it to our company for its safe disposal. You can always trust Adams Gas to take care of your unwanted gas products, and you can also trust us to give you the best advice on any of your gas-related queries.

How to Detect Gas Leaks

Learning how to detect a gas leak could be very important knowledge that prevents an accident from occurring in your household or business premises. In this blog, we’re going to talk about different types of gas leaks and how to recognise them, as well as what to do if you find one in your home.

Liquid Nitrogen Leak

Liquid nitrogen gas leaks can be deadly; being odourless and invisible, it is easily missed. Luckily, liquid nitrogen is not combustible, so you aren’t going to need to worry about a sudden explosion occurring as a result of a liquid nitrogen leak; however, it is an asphyxiant.

Trying to breathe in an environment flooded with liquid nitrogen will effectively strangle an individual. A surplus of nitrogen in the air displaces the amount of oxygen available to the individual and breathing in this substance in large amounts can cause dizziness, confusion, lack of consciousness, and even death. Fatality can occur in seconds.

Liquid nitrogen is typically stored in a cryogenic container with a temperature and pressure control system. In order to prevent a leak, it is vital that your controls are functioning properly and undergo regular checks. The best place to store your gas is always outside, as any leaks will disperse into the atmosphere where they aren’t going to cause harm to nearby people.

If you MUST store this gas indoors, the recommended minimum ventilation for the room in which it is stored is six air changes per hour (airproducts.com). If you suspect that your nitrogen has already leaked into a room without adequate ventilation, the best course of action is to call a higher authority.

Here are some of the steps that a professional might take to identify your leak:

• Leak Detection Spray

This works by spraying the solution from a distance. If bubbles occur on the gas canister, a leak is present.

• Electronic Leak Detector

An electronic leak detector must be checked once a year, but best practice states that it should be checked within a day following each use.

If you’re worried about gas leaks occurring in your storage area, you could also think about purchasing an oxygen detection alarm which can inform you if the breathable oxygen available in the area drops below a sustainable percentage. Such alarms can help to save lives against leaks of undetectable gases.

Argon Gas Leak

Much like nitrogen, argon is a colourless and odourless gas that regularly defies detection but can cause a significant amount of harm if it leaks undetected. Like nitrogen, argon gas leaks can cause asphyxiation by displacing the percentage of oxygen available for humans to breath.

To prevent an argon gas leak from occurring, it is important that you regularly check your gas canister’s regulators to ensure that there are no malfunctions. You might suspect a leak if you hear a hissing noise emanating from one of your containers. To avoid hazard to human life, it is also best if you store your gas outside where any leaks can quickly disperse into the atmosphere. If this isn’t possible, your storage room must have adequate ventilation to sustain human life in the event of a leak.

If you are concerned about the possibility of a leak occurring and harming a friend, family-member or co-worker, you may also consider installing an oxygen alarm in your storage room. These alarms work by monitoring the amount of oxygen present in the air, and ringing if the oxygen falls below acceptable percentages, giving you the opportunity to call a higher authority to ventilate your property safely.

When you take the proper precautions with your argon gas bottles storage system, you should not have undue cause to worry.

Propane Gas Leak

Unlike nitrogen, propane is highly flammable so a propane gas leak that isn’t quickly ventilated could pose a risk of explosion. Unlike nitrogen, however, propane has a distinct smell of rotten eggs and thus is difficult to miss. If you suspect that you have a propane leak in your premises, it is vital that you don’t start any electrical equipment that might spark and catch light, and especially avoid naked flames.

You may also be able to detect a gas leak using your sense of hearing. If you hear a hissing noise emanating from a fitting using propane, it may be that there is a leak. It is best to get away from the leak as quickly as possible and call an authority if you suspect one. Do not use a telephone near the leak, as the sparks within the phone could ignite it.

If you are worried about the event of a propane gas leak, you can take extra precautions against them by buying an electronic propane gas detector, and by checking the functionality of the gas’ fittings and regulators often. You can also seek to store the gas outside or in a well-ventilated area.

We sell propane gas as well as propane gas bottle regulators. If you have any questions about our equipment, products or services, we are happy to speak to you about how our services can help you.

Butane Gas Leak

Like propane, butane is heavier than air and will sink. This means that if you’re storing butane gas at home, the youngest members of your family and pets are at the most risk from breathing in a butane gas leak.

Like all gas, butane is very safe if the right storage precautions are taken. You should try to store your gas outside where possible or provide adequate ventilation that meets lawful regulations if not. If you’re worried about a butane gas leak and want to take extra precautions then you can buy oxygen alarms, butane detectors, and to some extent rely on your own senses.

Butane should smell of rotten eggs because, like propane, most merchants mix butane with a bad-smelling substance that will indicate a leak to the owners without affecting the quality of the gas when it is applied as a fuel.

As a supplier of gas and gas-related equipment, we know a lot about keeping gas safe. If you have any concerns about how you’re storing your gas currently, you can get in touch with us for some advice. Alternatively, if you’re looking to purchase any of our products, you can browse our online store or visit us in Kent.

Fun Facts About Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide is vital to our planet, from the air we breathe to the beer and construction industry, carbon dioxide is used in many wondrous ways. Below, we’ve summarised some of the most interesting and important facts about CO₂.

 

What Does CO₂ Taste Like?

The CO₂ in our atmosphere is odourless and tasteless. This is because it is at such a low concentration that we are accustomed to it; but if you were to increase the amount of CO₂ available in the air, you would notice a sharp acidic smell and taste. CO₂ is also colourless, but pure is heavier than air so if you had a leak from a CO₂ gas bottle, the gas would rest at floor level if it is undisturbed.

 

It’s Used to Make Tasty Beverages

Carbon dioxide is used to produce carbonated soft drinks and sparkling water, such as Coca-Cola. As beer gas, carbon dioxide is typically used to transfer beer from kegs to dispensing taps via pressurised carbon dioxide.

In wine making, a different type of carbon dioxide is used – dry ice. Dry ice is condensed carbon dioxide and it is used to cool down bunches of grapes to prevent spontaneous fermentation. Dry ice is typically used because, compared to water, it doesn’t affect the sugar concentration of the grapes themselves.

When CO₂ is used to create such beverages, sometimes it can leave behind the acidic or sour taste that is experienced if one inhales the gas in high concentrations (this is not recommended). This is an important part of the taste of some drinks and counterbalances the sweetness in some.

You can read more about how gas is used in pubs and brewing on our blog; Carbon Dioxide or Nitrogen: Which Do I Need?

What Would a World of CO₂ Be Like?

Carbon dioxide is known as a greenhouse gas and this means that it can ‘trap’ and retain heat. If the Earth’s entire atmosphere consisted of carbon dioxide our planet’s habitat and atmosphere would closely mimic that of the planet Venus.

Venus’ atmosphere consists of roughly 96 – 97% carbon dioxide. Because of the sheer amount of carbon dioxide present, the surface of Venus continually retains heat and, as such, the surface temperature is roughly 467°C, making it the hottest planet in our solar system.

 

How Much CO₂ is Present in Our Atmosphere?

Unlike oxygen and nitrogen, carbon dioxide is a trace gas within our atmosphere – there are roughly 500 parts per million, meaning that 0.05% of the Earth’s atmosphere is carbon dioxide. Although we don’t have much carbon dioxide on our planet, the balance that we do have is very important and so it is important that everyone seeks to reduce their CO₂ production to avoid making the Earth more like Venus – trapped in greenhouse gases.

How Does Photosynthesis Work?

Photosynthesis is a process that occurs primarily in plants, but there are a few organisms that also use this technique to attain energy. Through photosynthesis, it is possible to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose (sugars and energy), and oxygen is released as a by-product. Most of the oxygen present in Earth’s atmosphere is a result of photosynthesis, so it is also important that everyone supports keeping our planet’s forests and oceans clean if we want our planet to stay healthy.

 

It Can Be Used as a Laser

Carbon dioxide is the shielding gas for a CO₂ laser. These lasers tend to be quite large which makes them difficult to use for precision, but they are very powerful, which can be useful for cutting through thick metal. Since carbon dioxide has multiple vibrational modes, it means that it can emit high-powered light which can be used to etch metal. Lasers are also used in welding, cutting, and surgery.

There are a lot of uses and applications for carbon dioxide, and it is tailored in specific ways to ensure that its purpose is fulfilled. At Adams Gas, we are able to provide carbon dioxide gas bottles for any project that you may be involved in. If you would like to know more information, then please get in touch today.

How to Choose Your Welding Accessories

To be a great welder, the individual needs both skills, experience, and great equipment. We can provide useful hints and tips to help you with your welding on our blog, but we are most experienced when it comes to helping you understand the importance of the welding equipment and tools that we stock instore.

Here’s our guide to our welding accessories and how they can benefit you.

Welding Pliers

Welding pliers have a number of uses and are a must-have for any professional welder. If you need to adjust your welding nozzle while it’s hot, you’ll want to be using these welding pliers. Proper welding pliers are also simultaneously wire cutters – offering you two tools in one! Welding pliers can also be used to remove spatter from the inside of the nozzle, so you really shouldn’t have to go without this useful tool in the workplace.

 

Welding Chemicals

If you regularly struggle with splatter during your welding attempts, then you might be having an issue with setting the pressure of shielding gas correctly for the type of gas and environment that you’re in. It’s important to learn to regulate your shield gas properly, but you can also use welding chemicals to prevent against splatter. We offer a choice of anti-splatter spray or paste. Many welders use a form of anti-spatter chemicals on their workpieces, but they’re also incredibly important for your welding torches, too. Don’t let spatter build up in your welding nozzle, pre-empt it by using anti-spatter spray on your torch and weld with better results.

Welding Regulator

Our MIG Welding Regulator is used to moderate the flow of your shielding gas. We supply MIG welding gas and TIG welding gas for your welding torches, but without a fully functioning welding regulator, your weld might not come out the way you want it to and you may even be putting yourself in danger.

You need a regulator that can give you the appropriate amount of pressure for the gas you’re using and your workpiece. For example, Acetylene can be explosive if it’s compressed too much, therefore you’re going to need a regulator that allows a fairly loose flow of gas, that still allows you to have some control over the amount of shielding gas for use on different materials.

Welding Fume Extraction Equipment

For any welder worrying about breathing any noxious fumes from welding, we recommend our Parweld Safety Helmets, which purify the air as well as providing protection for the wearer’s eyesight. It is battery powered so you won’t have to worry about tripping over wires while you weld, and the filter is easily replaceable, ensuring that your purchase of this helmet is a secure and long-term investment.

Safety should always be at the forefront of any business, especially in high-risk situations. For other helmets and general safety equipment – such as clothes, gloves and googles – check out our welding safety equipment page.

Gas Trolly

You don’t want to ruin a day of work by putting your back out in the morning, trying to carry a canister of gas to your workstation. Don’t risk your work, use our gas cylinder handling equipment instead. We offer small and large sizes to accommodate your business’ needs.

 

Toolbox

Organisation of all your different pieces of equipment can be just as important as owning the tools in the first place. After all, there’s little point in owning the tools if you can’t keep track of them or find them when you need them! We sell Weldability Toolbox Cases to help you keep everything together and safe from weathering.

 

Ready to Go Welding Sets

Alternatively, if you’re tired of sifting through pages of products, you might be interested in one of these sets. They offer all the basic equipment that you might need, and we have two types at present:

• Oxy Acetlyene Welding Set
• Oxygen Propane Welding Kit

There are multiple choices depending on your gas-mix of choice, and depending on how your workshop is already stocked, some options may be more useful to you than others. These sets are here to make your life easier when trying to choose the optimal accessories for your welding needs and are especially useful for start-ups and hobbyists.

We supply a range of welding gases and accessories that will help you to achieve your best welds. Whether you’re welding for a client or for a hobby, we’re here to support you. We offer gas bottle delivery, as well as refills and safe gas canister disposal.

Safety: How to Store BBQ Gas Bottles Safely

At this time of year, many people are thinking about getting the barbecue out of the garage or shed and setting it up on the few days of sunshine that we may be treated to during the spring and summer months!

So, as people start to bring their barbecue and equipment out of storage, they may be wondering how best to keep their equipment, and more specifically, the gas canisters, safe. This is incredibly important, so we have put together a few hints detailing how and where to store BBQ gas bottles safely and responsibly.

Store Gas Bottles Outdoors

It’s important that any gas cylinders you have are stored outdoors. If you don’t have an outdoor space, then ensure that they are stored in a place that is extremely well ventilated. If you don’t have a space that is suitable, you should think about other options for fuel or storage such as asking a relative or neighbour to store your gas bottles responsibly.

If you fail to store your gas bottles appropriately, then you risk incurring an accident or fatality as a result of a gas leak.

If a gas bottle leaks whilst it is stored outdoors, the gas will easily disperse into the atmosphere. If the bottle is kept indoors with poor ventilation, however, the gas will have nowhere to escape and will fill the room. This can cause suffocation, poisoning, or – in the event of a stray spark or fire – explosions.

Safety for Transporting Gas

If you are going camping and will be taking a gas bottle with you in your car or van, there are some steps that you can take to maximise the safety of you and your travelling companions:

• Keep your bottles upright
• Ensure that they are secure
• Keep the vehicle well ventilated
• A 2kg fire extinguisher is required on all vehicles carrying gas
• Ensure the cylinder valve is closed
• Remove any extraneous equipment attached to the cylinder
• No smoking in the vehicle
• No open sources of ignition near the gas
• Fit a blanking cap to the outlet connection

Camping should be fun – so you shouldn’t have to worry about your gas whilst you drive. Take the proper precautions and drive with confidence. If you are ever concerned about travelling with gas – stop and park if you’re already in the car, turn off the engine and get out – speak to us and we’ll try to answer any immediate worries you have about your current gas storage.

Store Away from Lowered Areas

Propane and butane are heavier than air, so when released, the gas will sink. This can present a serious danger, especially if the gas bottles are kept near a lowered area. When the gas enters this area, the oxygen is displaced, effectively creating a chamber of air that has little to no oxygen. This creates a high possibility of suffocation.

Store Gas Bottles Away from Heat

It should go without saying that gas cannisters should not be stored near a source of heat or ignition. The type of gas used for barbecues is a propellant, and one aspect of propellant is that it is also highly flammable.

The flammable nature of BBQ gas is why it makes such a great tool for outdoor cooking, but owners of BBQs should also keep this quality in mind when they store their bottles. Keep your bottles in a place where they aren’t going to be in contact with a source of heat or ignition.

Store Gas Bottles in an Upright Position

Handling gas bottles with care is essential. You should ensure to always store them in an upright position. One reason for this is the positioning of the pressure relief valve which is there as a safety measure to let a little of the gas out if the pressure inside the bottle reaches a dangerous level. If the bottle is not kept in an upright position, this can affect the way this valve works.

When storing BBQ and patio gas, it is essential that you do so in a safe and responsible way. As bottled gas suppliers, we want to make sure that you stay safe when you are handling gas, whether it is for a barbecue, filling balloons with helium or to keep the beer flowing!

You can find out more about how to handle and store gas safely on our safety and storage page, and make sure to carry on checking our blog for more updates about our products and how to use them safely.

In the meantime, if you have any questions about any of our products, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team who will be more than happy to help.

Pipe Welding FAQ

If you’ve ever wondered how to weld a pipe, this is your ultimate guide and FAQ. Here you can find tips for exhaust pipes, pipeline, and what butt fusion welding really means.

 

How to: Exhaust Welding

As with any welding, it is paramount that you clean the workpieces before you begin. Neglecting to clean your workpieces can interfere with the quality of the weld, which means that you are risking your weld’s integrity from the beginning.

First, you will need to cut the exhaust pipe where you will be welding it. If you are welding your exhaust pipe because your vehicle has suffered issues with rust, you should grind away the corrosion as part of the cleaning process. Any remaining rust that is present at the end of your weld could spread to the new metal and cause you to have to repeat the job.

You should also grind down the edges where you have cut away the pipe to remove any imperfections.

It is also important that you thoroughly understand the metals that you are working with before you begin, as this will determine the type of welding rod you should be using, as well as temperature. Different welds require different shielding gases, too. We provide MIG welding gas and TIG welding gas for hobbyists and businesses.

You’ll need to clamp the tubing together because you’ll need both hands free for welding. Take care when you clamp them together because there’s no going back once you start welding.

Do some spot welds around the seam that you’re going to be welding. These spot welds will further help to keep the piping together during the weld. Without the spot welds, the pipe may warp under the intense heat of your welding torch, so this is a good precaution to take.

Finally, complete your weld. Take care not to leave any gaps as this could lead to leaks in the exhaust.

How to: Pipeline Welding

Pipeline welding is incredibly important – failure to properly weld the pipe could result in leaks and depending on what is leaking, there could be serious effects on the surrounding habitat.

Mistakes happen to everyone, but there are some common mistakes made by welders everywhere that can be avoided. One of the most common and easily fixable mistakes is the lack of care taken to prep the workpieces. The pipe edges must be clean, smooth and uniform before the welding begins.  Without proper preparation, the weld may defect.

Cutting away any issues and grinding down the surface is a very important first step to take in pipeline welding. Next is the cleaning of the pipe to remove any and all contaminants which could interfere with the shielding gases, create hydrogen or cause spatter.

Care must also be taken to align the parts of the pipe. Rushing the process can cause defects later on, so it is very important to take your time and concentrate on the set-up, almost as much as the welding itself.

If you or a fellow welder is experiencing frequent porosity in their welds, don’t let the equipment become the scapegoat for these mistakes. Routine equipment checks should be carried out to ensure that every weld has the possibility of being your best weld yet.

How to: Butt Fusion Welding

Butt welding, fusion, or heat welding are all names given to the process that joins two pieces of thermoplastic. Unlike metal welding, no torches or gases are required. Similar to welding an exhaust pipe, a straight cut across the joint and the cleanliness of the surfaces being welded together are extremely important for ensuring a secure weld. Generally, machines are used to achieve heat fusion, so there is very little input from workers. You can watch the entire process in the video below:

‘Pipe welding’ means different things to different workers. Welding an exhaust pipe is far different to journeying miles to weld an underground pipeline in urgent need of repair, but these have more in common with each other than they do with HDPE plastic pipe fusion.

If your pipe welding requires shielding gas, we can supply you with it. Contact us for more information regarding our industrial welding supplies and gas.

How to Weld Zinc

Before welding any metal that you’re a stranger to, you should always do lots of research to ensure that you’re not putting yourself or your workers at risk. Zinc-fumes can be extremely dangerous if inhaled, but as home and car designers alike are requesting more zinc in their services – the welder who can work with zinc becomes an important figure on the market.

How to Weld Zinc

Zinc has a relatively low boiling point for a metal, and this can cause trouble for welders. If your welding temperature is too high, you could vaporise the zinc – causing a release of dangerous and toxic gas that produces severe, flu-like symptoms when inhaled. This makes it extremely important to wear a respirator if you’re going to weld zinc, ensure the workshop is extremely well ventilated and that all workers are aware of the dangers and how to handle and minimise risks.

Once you’re aware of the dangers of zinc and its poisonous fumes, you’ll need a TIG machine, zinc filler rods and oxy-acetylene fuel. After this, welders online claim that the process is very similar to welding aluminium. Oxy-acetylene is recommended because it works at lower temperatures than other popular welding gases, and zinc requires lower temperatures than the metals that welders are typically used to.

We sell oxy acetylene welding sets that are perfect for your welding projects – zinc or otherwise. If you’re looking for something else, we recommend perusing our MIG welding gas and TIG welding gas pages.

 

How to Weld Zinc Coated Steel

Steel is a metal with a lot of very useful qualities, so it is also one of the most frequently welded metals, alongside aluminium. By coating steel with zinc, however, you add properties to the steel that enhance it further – such as higher resistance to corrosion – but when it comes to welding this strange fusion of metals, some welders can be left scratching their heads.

Understanding how to weld zinc-coated steel can be very important too, as the need for this fusion in modern appliances increases. For example, if you read our Car Chassis Welding Tips guide, this section will be important for you because there is an increasing conversion of automotive chassis components to galvanised steels (zinc-coated steels).

The Lincoln Electric Company have reported that the GMAW process typically used for welding chassis components has had inconsistent results for coated steels. To understand how to weld zinc, you need to understand how and why it behaves in particular ways in welding situations.

Zinc has a relatively low boiling temperature compared to steel, but to weld a coated steel your welding torch will need to meet the required higher temperature for steel welding. The effect of this in practice is that when welders start work on these materials, the zinc is vaporized and becomes trapped in the steels.

This vaporised steel creates bubbles along and inside the weld, known as porosity, and this compromises the strength of the weld – making it more brittle and fragile.

The vaporised zinc also causes disturbances to the welding environment, increasing the likelihood of spatter and disrupting the arc – and therefore, the flow of the welding bead. This can further affect the structural integrity of the weld.

• If you’re struggling with any of the terminologies in this guide, we recommend that you take a quick look at our Welding Terminology

This means that you should be looking towards common welding techniques for reducing porosity, such as reducing the welding speed. This is a good solution if you’re a hobby welder, but in a business where every minute counts towards profit – you might not be too keen on advising your workers to lower their weld speeds for galvanised steels.

If you’re worried about the dangers of vaporising the zinc coating, you could also grind the zinc away in the area surrounding the welding zone. This means that the coating will need to be reapplied afterwards if those anti-corrosion qualities are important for the end product.

If you are planning to grind off the coating and re-dip the part, you will need to be especially wary of spatter and plan methods for cleaning this off before the coating is reapplied. Spatter and slag can disrupt the coating, and if there’s a flaw in the coat corrosion could sneak in and spread below the surface.

For further tips and tricks on welding, come back to our blog. For more information on our products and services, contact us directly and our customer service team will handle your enquiry.

 

How to Do Thermite Welding

Thermite welding, sometimes written ‘thermit welding’, ‘the Goldschmidt process’ or ‘exothermic welding’, is the process of creating a welded joint by pouring molten metal between two or more workpieces. It was officially developed in 1895 and still has its uses on railroads today.

How to Do Thermite Welding

It is important that only qualified and supervised individuals attempt thermite welding as it can be very dangerous. Thermite welding is known for causing minor eruptions around the workpiece. Before you can even begin thermite welding, you’ll need to cast moulds to direct the metal mixture that you’ll be pouring into the gap. You’ll also need a special cauldron in which the metal will be melted, with side dishes for catching any excess flows. You will also need a blow torch for preparing the workpiece, as the workpiece needs to be hot before you start melting the mixture and applying it to the workpiece.

Thermite welding is a very specific manner of welding, but it is still used to fix railroad issues today. To fix an issue on a railroad, such as a dangerous imperfection caused by rust, you would first need to cut away the infected area.

The next step is to create the mould in which you will pour the heated metallic mixture. Next, you will secure the mould in place with high-heat-resistant clamps. Next, you will need to use a gas torch to heat the workpieces through the mould.

Now that the work area is prepared and ready, it is time to prepare the thermite itself. This may involve pouring a metallic mixture into a cauldron or it may involve using a pre-prepared bin of thermite that has the prescribed amounts of metals and metal oxides already balanced.

Once the thermite is in place with the workpiece and mould, it is lit. The metal-oxides catch light and the temperature rises until the metal inside the cauldron begins to melt and pour down into the mould. Excess metal escapes into two trays carefully positioned on the side.

It can take around five minutes for this process to finish, and during this time eruptions and sparks are not unusual. This is one of the most dangerous parts of the process, and if the mould is improperly clamped, or if the cauldron falls, you could find yourself with a very difficult metal mess to clear up.

Once the metal has settled in the mould, the cauldron is removed, and the excess dishes are also removed. Care must be taken as these items will still be extremely hot. Next, the mould is removed, sometimes by a hammer that simultaneously removes some of the excess metal around the edges. Some of this metal is still burning white-hot, so it is important not to swing your hammer wildly at the mould as you will need to control your swings and where you knock the metal to – you don’t want to hurt yourself or a co-worker.

Once the majority of the excess is broken off, you will need to use a metal grinder to ensure that the workpiece is smooth and ready for use. If you don’t use a metal grinder, you risk injury to people or things caused by a rough surface.

After the grinding, the workpiece should be finished. All that’s left now is to carefully clear away any remaining materials left over from the welding. Below is a video where you can watch examples of thermite welding on railroads in real life.

 

Why Would I Use Thermite Welding Techniques?

Thermite welding doesn’t demand the same level of skill as an electric arc, so while it has its own dangers that workers need to be aware of, it can be used by those with less skill. Thermite welding is also very effective for welding cross-sections. If you’re securing equipment for some thermite welding, we can help to supply you with equipment and fuel for your gas cutting and heating of the workpiece. Typically, oxy-fuel welding and cutting equipment is used in the preparation stages before the thermite mixture is released into the mould.

You can read more about the science and history of this process at ScienceDirect. Alternatively, if you’re realising that thermite welding isn’t the correct process for completing your current project, then we recommend that you take a look at our welding equipment for hobbyists and businesses. We have plenty of TIG welding gas and MIG welding gas for all of your projects, whichever gas solution they require.

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