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Going on about Argon
Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2015 6:21 pm
by MosquitoMoto
Received a video from Jody this morning in which he sets off to swap out his gas bottles.
His Argon bottle costs him $US35 to swap out. So taking into account the comparison to the Australian dollar, I can say that conservatively he is paying between a half, close to a third what I'm paying for his gas.
Until I scope his bottle size, which is significantly larger than mine. So guess-o-metrics say he's actually paying more like somewhere between a third and a quarter of what I'm paying for gas.
Having made these calculations, my question is; so precisely what is involved in gaining American citizenship?
Kym
Re: Going on about Argon
Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2015 6:55 pm
by LtBadd
MosquitoMoto wrote:
Having made these calculations, my question is; so precisely what is involved in gaining American citizenship?
Kym
Okay let's not get started on this!!
Re: Going on about Argon
Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2015 8:40 pm
by exnailpounder
MosquitoMoto wrote:Received a video from Jody this morning in which he sets off to swap out his gas bottles.
His Argon bottle costs him $US35 to swap out. So taking into account the comparison to the Australian dollar, I can say that conservatively he is paying between a half, close to a third what I'm paying for his gas.
Until I scope his bottle size, which is significantly larger than mine. So guess-o-metrics say he's actually paying more like somewhere between a third and a quarter of what I'm paying for gas.
Having made these calculations, my question is; so precisely what is involved in gaining American citizenship?
go to mexico and swim over or jump the fence sign up for welfare so you get a steady income and your in...but yagotta vote democratic
Kym
Re: Going on about Argon
Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2015 4:00 am
by MosquitoMoto
I'm not a great swimmer but I was good at high jump in school.
Just need to get some American language lessons under my belt so that no-one suspects I'm from Oz.
And from there I reckon I'll be home free. Harbor Freight, cheap argon, cheaper gasoline, V8's and Wal Mart here I come!
Kym
Re: Going on about Argon
Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2015 6:30 am
by Coldman
Oh yer?
Can you listen to organ music at badeball?
Can you chew gum?
Can you say joisey?
Re: Going on about Argon
Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2015 7:30 am
by Captainbeaky
In the UK, a 10 litre argon costs £35 a refill - but it's a 200bar cylinder
But I just upgraded to 20 litre, which was £43 if memory serves.
So I guess Jody pays about half what it costs in the UK.
Re: Going on about Argon
Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2015 7:36 am
by MosquitoMoto
Captainbeaky wrote:In the UK, a 10 litre argon costs £35 a refill - but it's a 200bar cylinder
But I just upgraded to 20 litre, which was £43 if memory serves.
So I guess Jody pays about half what it costs in the UK.
Yeah, heaps cheaper. That's okay, I'm resigned to the fact that the stuff is like gold dust where I live, just have to deal with it. Just thought I'd poke some gentle fun at the situation after watching that latest video. Welding gas sure costs pocket change stateside!
Kym
Re: Going on about Argon
Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2015 11:50 am
by Boomer63
Hey Kym, don't let one little item get to you! Look at all the things that are less expensive in Aussie Land! Like Kangaroo's! If I were going to purchase a six-pack of kangaroos I would rather do it down under than up here! Or deserts! Lots more and costs less! Dingos!
See, when you look at it, things really do work out!
Gary
Re: Going on about Argon
Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2015 3:43 pm
by mcostello
I have not seen Jodys cylenders but don't get Your hopes up. I pay $100 USD roughly for a "K" cylinder. It's 300CF at 2800 lbs(I think.) You have to do Your own math as I have been thoroughly Imperialized.
Re: Going on about Argon
Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2015 5:13 pm
by MosquitoMoto
Boomer63 wrote:Hey Kym, don't let one little item get to you! Look at all the things that are less expensive in Aussie Land! Like Kangaroo's! If I were going to purchase a six-pack of kangaroos I would rather do it down under than up here! Or deserts! Lots more and costs less! Dingos!
See, when you look at it, things really do work out!
Gary
Galahs are way cheaper, too. My brother picked one up free recently!
Kym
Re: Going on about Argon
Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2015 6:30 pm
by ex framie
Yeah,
The little bastards fly out of their way to commit suicide on your helmet.
Hit one at 120km, that rang my bell a bit.
The only thing in oz with less intelligence is a politician.
Re: Going on about Argon
Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 10:24 am
by Boomer63
[
Galahs are way cheaper, too. My brother picked one up free recently!
Kym[/quote]
"Galahas"??? Isn't that like a big party?
Gary
Re: Going on about Argon
Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 6:39 pm
by WJH
In Tampa, FL, I pay about 40$ to swap out a 125 CF tank
Re: Going on about Argon
Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 11:34 pm
by ex framie
Here about $176 for an E sized cylinder thats 141.2 cuft.
Now you understand the downunder wailing and nashing of teeth re argon prices.
Re: Going on about Argon
Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 7:48 am
by echosixmike
330CF bottle 100% Argon cost me $200 bought outright, $50 refills. A 330CF fill of 75/25 He/Ar was $115. S/F....Ken M
Re: Going on about Argon
Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 8:12 am
by MosquitoMoto
echosixmike wrote:330CF bottle 100% Argon cost me $200 bought outright, $50 refills. A 330CF fill of 75/25 He/Ar was $115. S/F....Ken M
This translates that your cylinder is around eight times the capacity of mine yet cost half as much to buy outright and costs less than half as much to refill.
(Not taking into account differences in U.S. And AU dollars).
I mean, I'm resigned to paying what I pay for argon nowadays - well, almost - but I still can't get over how little you guys pay in the states. Enjoy it!
Kym
Re: Going on about Argon
Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 9:54 am
by mcostello
The $100 I quoted for a 300 cf was also a "business discount."
Re: Going on about Argon
Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 12:41 pm
by Otto Nobedder
I'm going to speculate on the price difference, just for the fun of it.
The U.S. is densely populated and has been very industry-oriented for such a long time that the infrastructure for gas liquefaction is everywhere. In almost every state, there's at least one for every major manufacturer, so no one here is more than 200 miles from the source, except perhaps in the desert southwest. The transportation infrastructure is huge, also (and pays my wages, as those insulated tanker trucks are what I work on; Liquid hydrogen, mainly, but lately we've been doing quite a bit of Oxy, Ar, Ln2, and even some CO2). This keeps competition up and costs down.
Australia, on the other hand, has large population centers separated by hundreds of miles of empty space with small communities scattered in between, making it impractical to build plants local to many because of the relatively small local demand (heavy industry being centered around the major cities, rather than scattered everywhere like they are here). This makes the transport costs high (and product loss, as well, as the vessels are not perfectly insulated).
Additionally, your recent natural gas boom has concentrated demand for argon in those regions, driving up costs in general, and reducing the providers' interest in serving the small communities.
That sucks for every Mike or Sheila living in South Podunk who needs to swap a bottle two or three times a year.
Steve S
Re: Going on about Argon
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 1:00 am
by MosquitoMoto
Otto Nobedder wrote:I'm going to speculate on the price difference, just for the fun of it.
The U.S. is densely populated and has been very industry-oriented for such a long time that the infrastructure for gas liquefaction is everywhere. In almost every state, there's at least one for every major manufacturer, so no one here is more than 200 miles from the source, except perhaps in the desert southwest. The transportation infrastructure is huge, also (and pays my wages, as those insulated tanker trucks are what I work on; Liquid hydrogen, mainly, but lately we've been doing quite a bit of Oxy, Ar, Ln2, and even some CO2). This keeps competition up and costs down.
Australia, on the other hand, has large population centers separated by hundreds of miles of empty space with small communities scattered in between, making it impractical to build plants local to many because of the relatively small local demand (heavy industry being centered around the major cities, rather than scattered everywhere like they are here). This makes the transport costs high (and product loss, as well, as the vessels are not perfectly insulated).
Additionally, your recent natural gas boom has concentrated demand for argon in those regions, driving up costs in general, and reducing the providers' interest in serving the small communities.
That sucks for every Mike or Sheila living in South Podunk who needs to swap a bottle two or three times a year.
Steve S
'South Podunk!' Outstanding.
I think your reasoning is pretty close to how it rolls over here, Steve. But hey, today's good news is that for Fathers Day I received...argon!
My wife understands that my personal motto has always been "Say it with gas..."
Kym
Re: Going on about Argon
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 8:34 am
by weldin mike 27
Dont forget that Linde have the gas market pretty much cornered here in AUS, we'll supply, but we'll demand you pay us more....
Mick
Re: Going on about Argon
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 2:40 pm
by Otto Nobedder
MosquitoMoto wrote:
My wife understands that my personal motto has always been "Say it with gas..."
Kym
I hope that's not how you compliment her cooking...
Steve S
Re: Going on about Argon
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 3:25 pm
by Captainbeaky
The gas situation was bad in the UK until the last few years.
I've always been lucky, as a friend runs a fire extinguisher company, so I got co2 for mig at a very low price (£7 a 10 litre fill), and he gave me a cylinder.
Prior to this, it was £20 a cyl per month, and £40 a fill ( for a small 10 litre mig gas) from BOC, until the smaller companies started to take hold.
Now, with cylinders purchased outright, or a peppercorn £30 per 3 year rental agreement, gas is much more affordable (£30 ish for a mig 20 litre refill).
Now there are several options for affordable suppliers.
Keep pestering your LWS every time you visit - someone might take the business case and make it more affordable.