Welding Tips and Tricks

Fellas -

I'm active duty Army, stationed in Italy. Recently ordered an oxygen and an acetylene tank from the U.S. They came equipped with valves, of course. When I took them to get them filled, the employees first complained that the tanks were the wrong color for the gases that I wanted to fill them with. We got past that.

When the guys looked at the valves, it was like a pig looking at a wristwatch -- they use different valves here and they weren't sure what to do, so they had to consult their boss. He said he could fill all of them, but it would take a while. They were able to fill up my Argon/CO2 tank (shielding gas for my MIG) and the acetylene tank, but no luck on the oxygen tank (about 80 cu ft).

Any idea how to go about filling an oxygen tank here? Figure someone has done this before, right?

FYI - I'm using these torches - https://www.amazon.com/Victor-Technolog ... +0384-2045

Thanks,

Scott

bulletpruf wrote:Fellas -

I'm active duty Army, stationed in Italy. Recently ordered an oxygen and an acetylene tank from the U.S. They came equipped with valves, of course. When I took them to get them filled, the employees first complained that the tanks were the wrong color for the gases that I wanted to fill them with. We got past that.

When the guys looked at the valves, it was like a pig looking at a wristwatch -- they use different valves here and they weren't sure what to do, so they had to consult their boss. He said he could fill all of them, but it would take a while. They were able to fill up my Argon/CO2 tank (shielding gas for my MIG) and the acetylene tank, but no luck on the oxygen tank (about 80 cu ft).

Any idea how to go about filling an oxygen tank here? Figure someone has done this before, right?

FYI - I'm using these torches - https://www.amazon.com/Victor-Technolog ... +0384-2045

Thanks,

Scott

Scott,

If you can figure out what fittings they use to attach to their bottles (we use CGA fittings of some variety for most stuff, CGA-510 is standard for inert, not sure off hand for oxidizers and flammables) then you'd likely be able to figure out what you need for an adapter. It may be worth it to contact Victor/Harris to see if they would be able to help you!

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

bulletpruf wrote:Fellas -

I'm active duty Army, stationed in Italy. Recently ordered an oxygen and an acetylene tank from the U.S. They came equipped with valves, of course. When I took them to get them filled, the employees first complained that the tanks were the wrong color for the gases that I wanted to fill them with. We got past that.

When the guys looked at the valves, it was like a pig looking at a wristwatch -- they use different valves here and they weren't sure what to do, so they had to consult their boss. He said he could fill all of them, but it would take a while. They were able to fill up my Argon/CO2 tank (shielding gas for my MIG) and the acetylene tank, but no luck on the oxygen tank (about 80 cu ft).

Any idea how to go about filling an oxygen tank here? Figure someone has done this before, right?

FYI - I'm using these torches - https://www.amazon.com/Victor-Technolog ... +0384-2045

Thanks,

Scott

Scott,

If you can figure out what fittings they use to attach to their bottles (we use CGA fittings of some variety for most stuff, CGA-510 is standard for inert, not sure off hand for oxidizers and flammables) then you'd likely be able to figure out what you need for an adapter. It may be worth it to contact Victor/Harris to see if they would be able to help you!

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Ok, I have something from the European Victor folks. Can someone help me decipher?

From: Elio Costamagna [mailto:Elio.Costamagna@esab.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2016 10:06 AM
To: Scott
Subject: FW: Oxy/Acetylene Torch Problem

Good morning Mr. Scott,

In order to fit the Oxygen regulator on Italian style cylinder valve, unfortunately, it’s not possible and allowed to use an adapter.
It’s just possible to work with a dedicated Oxygen regulator that provide the following inlet fitting W 21.7 x 1/14RH int.

In Italy, Victor Gas Equipment products are distributed through Esab Company (the products are branded Esab)

Just to inform you about the outlet connection:
The standard outlet fitting is G 3/8” RH, so, in case you decide to buy a new OX regulator you need to change also the flash back flame arrestor, the nut +tail 3/8”

The standard Victor OX regulator proposed by Esab is “EDGE 4 S/S OX 10 Bar IT (part number 0700017650)
The Flash Back flame arrestor is FRT OX (part number 0700018185)

In order to have more details about it, in your Area you can contact the following Company

OXYPLUS S.r.l.
S.S. Sannitica 87 – km 13700 – 80023 Caivano (Na)
Tel.: +39 081 8349590 – Fax: +39 081 8360030
Cell.: +39 3355216285



Best Regards

Elio Costamagna
Regional Sales Manager MED Area
Victor Technologies Europe

Here are my tanks - all new or reconditioned. The orange is shielding gas for my MIG (argon/CO2). The black tank is acetylene; it's been filled. The gray tank is oxygen. Needs to be filled.



And here are some pics of the European tanks. I took the pics a few weeks ago and now I don't recall which ones are which.



And a few different ones - I'm thinking these are oxygen.





And one more.



Anyway, I just need to figure out how to fill my oxygen tank. Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

Scott

I'm familiar with that oxygen valve and it's associated fitting. Unfortunately, my reference book is at work, so I can't look it up for you until tomorrow. This will be a CGA standard fitting, as they are an international body. I have a list of all the standard fitting and valve identifications, and should be able to assist you if I can remember to bring that book home.

If I remember right, one of our U.S. distributers leases their O2 bottles with that European fitting specifically, so no one else can supply you without changing the receiver fitting on your regulator (easy enough to do).

Steve S

Otto Nobedder wrote:I'm familiar with that oxygen valve and it's associated fitting. Unfortunately, my reference book is at work, so I can't look it up for you until tomorrow. This will be a CGA standard fitting, as they are an international body. I have a list of all the standard fitting and valve identifications, and should be able to assist you if I can remember to bring that book home.

If I remember right, one of our U.S. distributers leases their O2 bottles with that European fitting specifically, so no one else can supply you without changing the receiver fitting on your regulator (easy enough to do).

Steve S

Steve -

Please let me know what you find out.

I see you're from the New Orleans area. Where? I grew up on the North Shore (Slidell, Pearl River) but left in 1997 for active duty with the Army.

Thanks,

Scott

bulletpruf wrote: Steve -

Please let me know what you find out.

I see you're from the New Orleans area. Where? I grew up on the North Shore (Slidell, Pearl River) but left in 1997 for active duty with the Army.

Thanks,

Scott

According to my chart, your O2 bottle has the CGA 540 valve. Re-reading your question, this does not help you fill it locally... You can make any regulator fit this bottle with the right adapter, but this does not seem to be your problem. Finding someone to fill it is the issue.

You can have the bottle re-valved at any place that hydro-tests bottles for re-certification, so you can have the local preferred valve fitting, then buy the mating fitting for your regulator, but this may be a bit costly.

I work in Slidell (and have for about 8 years), and live west of Covington near Goodbee.

Steve S

Oh, here's the chart...

Perhaps some more info as various countries in europe use different standards...

https://www.tedpella.com/company_html/C ... ions.htm#7

Bye, Arno.

Ok, I still haven't done this.

In Italy, they use the UNI connections not the more common DIN connections (Germany and most of the EU).

If I'm correct, what I need to do is to find an adapter that fits the outlet of my CGA 540 tank valve which has 0.903" - 14 NGO external threads. I need to adapt it to UNI 4406 valve threads which are W 21.7 x 1/14" external.

So the adapter would have to have internal 0.903" - 14 NGO threads on one side and on the other side it would need external W 21.7 x 1/14". Then I should be able to find a shop that can fill it, since the adapter would mimic the Italian 4406 valve.

Once the tank is full, remove the adapter, replace with regulator and torch and go to work. Right?

Having said that, I'm not finding this adapter anywhere. Am I going to have to get one custom made?

Thanks,

Scott