Acetelyene shortage

I'm not sure where exactly to put this, so here it is, feel free to move it.

Anyone heard of this acetylene shortage, I just got a letter from my gas supplier (Airgas) stating that some plant that makes a chemical that is used in the process of making Acetylene had an explosion and there will be an acetylene shortage.


HUH? are they just tryin to jack up my rates??

the letter said to call them for information about different gas/fuel sources. Anyone know what they could be wanting to sell me? Propane? Butane?

Makes me glad for plasma.
But That's what they say about antifreeze when it goes up...plant exploded.
Acetylene is easy to make. Probably wanting to sell Mapp or its cousin..can't remember what they call it now.
I've received no such letter, and I was in there this week too. No reference or comment about it.
Maybe a regional issue.

Here is what I found:

"A catastrophic explosion occurred on Monday, March 21 at the Louisville, KY plant of Carbide Industries, LLC (CI). CI, which is the nation's primary supplier of calcium carbide. This plant has been forced to cease production at this facility and has declared Force Majeure. The disruption of production is expected to last for a significant and indefinite period of time.

Calcium carbide is the raw material used in the generation of acetylene gas, and therefore the implications for industry-wide availability of acetylene are significant. Currently, the only operable calcium carbide plant in North America is the CI plant in Pryor, OK. It is much smaller than the Louisville plant, and is expected to run at capacity to help mitigate the loss of production at Louisville. Aside from generated acetylene, the other sources of acetylene in North America are chemical plants in Taft, LA and Geismar, LA. These chemical streams are already part of the national supply chain, and Geismar has some available production."

There are alternatives though.

Thurmond

Wow first I heard of this. Thanks for the heads up. I don't use my torch to make a living so the tanks last a long time. Regardless it may be worth while to rent an extra tank to increase my capacity until this is resolved.

Everyone if you have it available switch over to using propane. I use t all the time instead of Acetylene. It works great. Its easy here in Missouri to obtain. I have a 100 pound bottle that I primarily use the most. I can also hook up my BBQ grill bottle when I run out. It does have a few draw backs though.... It does take longer to heat up the material before cutting, you need propane tips for your torch, but they are available from a local welding store. The tips also come in different sizes for the thickness your cutting. The tips are a two piece assembly and are easy to clean. The tips also have more jet holes which allow a cleaner cut.

Yes, Propane works. As mentioned it is not as hot, so it will take longer and you will go through more gas.

The acetylene shortage could be a hit to some heavy industry though.

Just chock it up as a good excuse to justify buying a plasma cutter. ;)

i did a project at an alumina plant last summer and they wouldn't allow the use of acetylene at there refinery so all that was available was propane. took a little bit to get used to but i actually like it better

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Originally Posted by Rugar

Just chock it up as a good excuse to justify buying a plasma cutter. ;)

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That is exactly what I did. I hope it ships Monday.

Thurmond

Most of the cutting I do @ work is 1" plus, and some idiot thought a 30 amp bluebox plasma would cut it...... I'd like to cut him!

so, my torch gets used a bunch more than the tinker toy plasma.

guess I'll try out some propane tips... if it comes to that...

Have you seen the gasoline-oxy cutting system? These folks have been around a few years, I don't know how much traction they're getting, but some cool videos here and on youtube.

http://www.petrogen.com/

you cant weld with that system only cut you need Oxy/acetylene to be able to weld but you can cut with oxy/propane, propylene, natural gas with your current torch set up with a alt fuel cutting tip with your current Oxy/Acetylene torch

I hope no one was killed in that explosion. The thought of an acetylene explosion scares me. I have filled balloons with it and oxygen and it makes one hell of explosion. It wont effect me though because I use those 16.9 oz tanks of propylene called Mapp Gas Pro. I have an adaptor so I can run it through my acetylene regulator. Even though its not technically right, it works great. I used to use a 10 cf acetylene tank until I realized I was withdrawing way too much. Overall, it work almost as good as acetylene and thats with a standard tip and not a propane style tip.

I believe that there were 2 deaths in the explosion. Prayers for their families.

Thurmond

Actullay I have done several things using other gases to weld with. You have to reset regulators depending on the gas and of course add a brazing tip but it can and does work. I use it when welding/brazing cast iron or heavy copper piping. Done lots of silver soldering with it.

Prayer for families is a great idea. God help them and allow them to quickly recover.

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Originally Posted by jsclark4500

Actullay I have done several things using other gases to weld with. You have to reset regulators depending on the gas and of course add a brazing tip but it can and does work. I use it when welding/brazing cast iron or heavy copper piping. Done lots of silver soldering with it.

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you can braze or solder with other fuel gases you can NOT weld without Acetylene as a fuel gas plain and simply cant

Does anyone know how long the shortage is going to last? I wondering if I should rent an extra Acetylene tank ...