Argon bottle Lift

[epanzella]

I got my TIG with an 80cf ARGON bottle. Having done MIG and stick welding (not professionally) for over 50 years I had no idea I was gonna suck so bad at TIG welding. The bottom line is that I have a LOT of practicing to do and an 80cf bottle ain't gonna cut it. I leased a 325cf bottle of ARGON and needed a way to pick it up onto the bottle tray of my welder cart. I wanted something that was not size critical because my MIG, acetylene and oxygen bottle caps are not all the same size. I came up with a kind of floating pincer thing that attaches to my shop crane with welded on bolts that go into the holes in the bottle cap. Worked great.

 

[sdelivery]

That's great. Hadn't thought about listing that big bottle until it's empty

 

[brino]

Nice idea and implementation!
Thanks for posting.
Brian

 

[Provincial]

Basically, a set of logging tongs. Excellent adaptation of a well-proven design!

 

[Firebrick43]

What a wonderful idea. I used to bearhug bottles and lift them with ease. I still can but last few times I have done so I started to think this sucks and I probably wont be able to do this in 10 years. What a good solution!

 

[epanzella]

What a wonderful idea. I used to bearhug bottles and lift them with ease. I still can but last few times I have done so I started to think this sucks and I probably wont be able to do this in 10 years. What a good solution!

Well I'll be 74 next month and I'm well past the bear huggin' argon bottle stage!

 

[GunsOfNavarone]

I purchased a full-sized bottle of Argon outright. I was burning through the 80CF's too quickly. I tell ya, I about blew out an o-ring bear hugging that thing onto my cart. Where were you then @epanzella ??! I have a cherry picker just for moving all the machines in my shop around, why I didn't think to use it?? I guess because I didn't have your handy tongs. I'll have to remember this when it comes time for a refill.

 

[snoopdog]

Yep, good thinking, bought a tig machine a couple years ago, with a 125 bottle and realized I sucked too, traded it in for a 325. I used to sell the stuff, and roll 2 across the shop floors at a time, my rotator cuff suffered though, no more. Easier, slower,now.

 

[epanzella]

I purchased a full-sized bottle of Argon outright. I was burning through the 80CF's too quickly. I tell ya, I about blew out an o-ring bear hugging that thing onto my cart. Where were you then @epanzella ??! I have a cherry picker just for moving all the machines in my shop around, why I didn't think to use it?? I guess because I didn't have your handy tongs. I'll have to remember this when it comes time for a refill.

Ha!. At my supply house the largest bottle you can buy out right is 80CF. Everything larger is a yearly lease. I still kept the 80 in case I want to make my TIG some what mobile. My machines are in the basement while the welders are out in the garage with a 10 inch step in between. In the past there have been occasions when it would have been handy to have the TIG at my lathe or mill. The 80 cf bottle will make that possible (but not fun)

 

[aliva]

Just a note of caution, be sure the cap is all the way on and tight. 'I've seen a couple of bottles lifted this way and the cap let go, fortunately the valve did not hit floor. Personally I would choke a nylon sling around the bottle with a wooden wedge and lift. The wedge is to tighten the sling around the bottle.