Thread: Gas bottle rental

Originally Posted by davo453

I had a D size bottle of Argon sitting in my shed for occasional use with my MIG it was originaly purchsed from CIG (taken over by BOC) so unoccasional that after more than 5 years it was still half full, the annual rental was over $100 so I though this is the year to return it and get a part year refund as per CIG's agreement

But no BOC changed the rules and all rentals are now for a full year in advance so I didn't get me money back (not a happy Davo and they knew it) just beware if you are going to return it make sure it's before the annual payment

I knew this would happen when BOC took over they have similar high prices and inflexible policies in the UK, such is life

Cheers


Dave

I've got a BOC account too but mine is based on a monthly basis. You can have it based on a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly but my understanding is that you need to specify what method you want from the outset.

I've found the head office to be quite reasonable when working out what we would be doing.

BTW did anyone what Mythbusters JAWS edition where they tried to blow up the scuba bottle. The only way they could get it to blow up was with C4 plastic explosive.

Now that BOC sponsor a couple of V8 supercars, they had to put up all their prices.

There is only one reason for BOC's rental policy ($$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$) and it has very little to do with saftey.
Compare the compressed air cylinder policy for scuba diving to BOC's compressed gases cylinder policy.

Anyone can go done the local dive shop and buy a 90 cubic ft aluminium compressed air cylinder for $280, this is about the size of a 'D' size.
Full pressure is 250bar (about 3500psi). Air fill costs $8
The cylinder has to be hydrostatically tested & stamped every year which costs $20.
If the cylinder is out of test date the dive shop will not refill it.
Compressed air is far more dangerous than compressed argon which is an inert gas.

I'd like to see the day BOC goes down this path Haaaaaa Haaaaaa Haaaaaa, not in their wildest dreams.
The reason compressed air is cheaply available in a high pressure storage sytem is because it caters to the recreational consumer mostly.

BOC caters to the commercial industry hence the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.