Acetylene Gas Shortage

[Jon-Ohio]

For those of you who use acetylene welding in your 'A' body work or other activities, this might be of interest.

A couple weeks ago I swapped my empty AirGas welding tanks for new filled tanks and was shocked at the price increase from a couple years ago- almost double from what I last paid. Apparently the only carbide plant in N.America (in Louisiville Ky) blew up last spring causing a nationwide shortage of acetylene welding gas. Along with higher prices they're slapping a surcharge on to boot. The price of O2 is up too and I've read where some of the dealers are rationing acetylene to their customers or are out of it. They're importing some carbide now (from china of course) to to help with the shortage but my dealer said the price will probably not come down again - hope he's wrong !

[junk yard kid]

yah and no more helium soon too.

[Seth Swoboda]

My dad is an Airgas dealer and he told me to conserve acetylene this spring. You can use propane but I think it requires a different tip on your torch.

[biggeorge]

propane is not that cheap over $4.00 a gallon here. They are now using propane to make fertilizer for corn (e10)That makes sense to drive the cost one fuel up to make another.

[Roger V]

I was at my dealer yesterday though not for acetylene. Curiously, I asked what the cost would be though I didn't need any. He said what I paid $40 for was now $100. Claims it will be down in November when the plant is back in production. He mentioned another gas, not propane, that was a popular replacement but unfortunately don't recall what it is(CRS).

[28RPU]

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Originally Posted by Jeff/Illinois

I live in NW Illinois, farm country.

The whole Ethanol thing is the biggest scam ever put over on the American people. It's making prices of food go thru the roof. We won't even talk about the 50 cents per gallon of the stuff that your Gov-mint GIVES in subsidies to the producers in the way of your taxes.

If they had to sell this junk for what it actually costs, nobody would buy it at all even the do-gooders. It would dry up and blow away. That would be the best thing to ever happen to these crooks.

I always thought it kind of stupid to make your fuel out of your food source.
I hope this ethanol fad goes away soon and we can get back to producing our own oil and gasoline.

[Seth Swoboda]

Originally Posted by Jeff/Illinois

I live in NW Illinois, farm country.

The whole Ethanol thing is the biggest scam ever put over on the American people. It's making prices of food go thru the roof. We won't even talk about the 50 cents per gallon of the stuff that your Gov-mint GIVES in subsidies to the producers in the way of your taxes.

If they had to sell this junk for what it actually costs, nobody would buy it at all even the do-gooders. It would dry up and blow away. That would be the best thing to ever happen to these crooks.

I work in the agriculture industry originating and merchandising grain in Illinois (southern) and Jeff you are spot on with your analysis. I could not have said it better from my professional opinion. Well done sir.

[FL&WVMIKE]

10% Ethonal saves 10% of oil used in making gasoline.
With Ethonal gasoline, you get 10% fewer miles per gallon.
Where is the savings on oil ?
Plus, it makes our food more expensive.
Hopefully, some new faces in Washington, DC, will fix this.
MIKE

[Wallace]

The last report I have on ethanol production cost analysis is almost 5 years old; at that time Deere research showed it took 1.22 gallons of diesel to produce 1 gallon of ethanol. Even if efficiency has sharply improved and now it is 1 for 1, we are all still losers ...

[Lawrie]

welding rods too,
I bought a 20 pack of comcoat C brazing rods the other day,$80.
Lawrie