Helium Shortage?
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- concretecowboy71
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Helium Shortage?
Has anybody else had any issues with this?
Airgas almost would not sell me a tank today when I went to buy some.
I cut 5-6 days a week and go through a tank about every 3 months.
Any ideas how to conserve/minimize usage?
Will we be able to find some kind of replacement or are we just up the creek?
Airgas almost would not sell me a tank today when I went to buy some.
I cut 5-6 days a week and go through a tank about every 3 months.
Any ideas how to conserve/minimize usage?
Will we be able to find some kind of replacement or are we just up the creek?
Cutting Masters in Bristol,Virginia, USA
Well Made Music / Gotta Groove Records
Well Made Music / Gotta Groove Records
- dietrich10
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I would not worry to much about it my friend
They are gouging us at present for extra $$$$$
Any way it used to be Collected from the top of the furnace in steel making plants
Blast furnaces so if there is a closing down of a blast furnace such as has taken place in the USA as in other places in the world therefore a shortage
Balloon gas if it is cheaper is fine so check this out
Cheers
They are gouging us at present for extra $$$$$
Any way it used to be Collected from the top of the furnace in steel making plants
Blast furnaces so if there is a closing down of a blast furnace such as has taken place in the USA as in other places in the world therefore a shortage
Balloon gas if it is cheaper is fine so check this out
Cheers
Chris
Praxair delivered. Hard to get the gauge I wanted, since only needed to see around 0 psi. But the Harris shows plenty (0-30?) and they mated the brass elbow connector directly to the gauge.
Interesting factoid (and not that it truly matters...). Seems they don't want us calling the vessels which contained compressed gases, tanks. Preferred is cylinder, and familiar is bottle. The tank is I think an open top vessel, by definition, or sumsing like zis.
Cool runnings,
- S. C. Futperhour
Interesting factoid (and not that it truly matters...). Seems they don't want us calling the vessels which contained compressed gases, tanks. Preferred is cylinder, and familiar is bottle. The tank is I think an open top vessel, by definition, or sumsing like zis.
Cool runnings,
- S. C. Futperhour
- concretecowboy71
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Some people may cringe,...and take this at your own discretion but:
If there's not a a lot of high end energy, (4k and up) and your not cutting
hot levels, then you can save helium by not using it in those cases.
Just be sure your familiar with the material prior to cutting so there's no high frequency surprises.
JJG
If there's not a a lot of high end energy, (4k and up) and your not cutting
hot levels, then you can save helium by not using it in those cases.
Just be sure your familiar with the material prior to cutting so there's no high frequency surprises.
JJG
- concretecowboy71
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The machine was made to cut at levels much lower than we generally cut these days. Thus the statement that Helium is optional. But, when cutting at levels of 0VU to +3VU (barried needle) you seriously want Helium.
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- dietrich10
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- concretecowboy71
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Hi,
In the AES anthology, Hydrogen gas was used in the original Neumann SX series design. Its thermal conductivity is very close to that of helium. I recall reading in the paper that the main problem was the corrosiveness. It wasn't mentioned, but the flammability could be a concern as well. Not sure how the price stacks up to helium, but it might be a short term solution.
Mark
In the AES anthology, Hydrogen gas was used in the original Neumann SX series design. Its thermal conductivity is very close to that of helium. I recall reading in the paper that the main problem was the corrosiveness. It wasn't mentioned, but the flammability could be a concern as well. Not sure how the price stacks up to helium, but it might be a short term solution.
Mark
Not sure about the Neumann heads, but the Ortofon manual says that the DSS can operate with about twice the power using Helium as without. It also states that Hydrogen is the ideal gas, in terms of its thermal-conducting properties, but, due to safety concerns, Helium is preferred. Led Zep, anyone? It also states that other gases can be used, without naming them. Hard to believe there's no Helium in Cleveland when there's some in Cincinnati...
I read that the bottle has to be strapped to the wall or some heavier object to hold it up in case it wants to fall over. The regulator can get knocked off as it hits the ground, or something else, turning the bottle into a projectile ordinance in the cutting room. A belt or chain will do, more than half way up the bottle, but below its shoulders...
- Chip Swarf
I read that the bottle has to be strapped to the wall or some heavier object to hold it up in case it wants to fall over. The regulator can get knocked off as it hits the ground, or something else, turning the bottle into a projectile ordinance in the cutting room. A belt or chain will do, more than half way up the bottle, but below its shoulders...
- Chip Swarf
Last edited by Serif on Sun Jan 20, 2013 9:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I have tank stands. They hold the tanks upright. You would have to tackle it to knock it over. If you want to go overboard you can strap them to the wall.
Cutting, Inventing & Innovating
Groove Graphics, VMS Halfnuts, MIDI Automation, Professional Stereo Feedback Cutterheads, and Pesto 1-D Cutterhead Clones
Cutterhead Repair: Recoiling, Cleaning, Cloning of Screws, Dampers & More
http://mantra.audio
Groove Graphics, VMS Halfnuts, MIDI Automation, Professional Stereo Feedback Cutterheads, and Pesto 1-D Cutterhead Clones
Cutterhead Repair: Recoiling, Cleaning, Cloning of Screws, Dampers & More
http://mantra.audio
Hydrogen as well as Helium will and they do leak through the threads on the neck of the cylinders as well as any connections all the way to the head
They are the smallest atoms known therefore they will escape via the threads as well as miss matched sealing faces or even well matched ones
Our biggest issue is not the lack or cost of the gas but the rental of the bottle which is around the$16 per month
Yes they are dangerous when they fall over and snap the neck they do become projectiles and they are damn dangerous
I have seen it with a bottle of oxygen not a nice sight
The manual also tells all in the 70,s that it is not worth turning the gas on and off as the cost of it was low enough as well as the quantity low enough to let it flow through the head at all times over about 3 months if memory serves me well
I am not aware of any other gas ever being used at present or in the past but if it becomes necessary I am sure there would be some other inert gas that would prove to be good enough for the task
They are the smallest atoms known therefore they will escape via the threads as well as miss matched sealing faces or even well matched ones
Our biggest issue is not the lack or cost of the gas but the rental of the bottle which is around the$16 per month
Yes they are dangerous when they fall over and snap the neck they do become projectiles and they are damn dangerous
I have seen it with a bottle of oxygen not a nice sight
The manual also tells all in the 70,s that it is not worth turning the gas on and off as the cost of it was low enough as well as the quantity low enough to let it flow through the head at all times over about 3 months if memory serves me well
I am not aware of any other gas ever being used at present or in the past but if it becomes necessary I am sure there would be some other inert gas that would prove to be good enough for the task
Chris
- petermontg
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- dietrich10
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