Decanting Argon

[Special K]

I have access to welding argon and would like to fill my 1.5l bottle, the argon bottles have a `bull nose` type fitting which is standard.
Has anyone made a hose up for doing this and can advise me on how to do it.
I have seen a well priced standard din-din hose with gauge but I don`t think this will be right.
Can anyone advise??
Ken

[Rob Evans]

AP Valves do a good whip with an adaptable bull-nose/DIN at one end and a DIN at the other. I use it for all my dodgy Heliair fills & it's a treat. Not desperately cheap though, £80 IIRC. If they're doing it, it stands to reason someone else is doing it cheaper

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by Special K

I have access to welding argon and would like to fill my 1.5l bottle, the argon bottles have a `bull nose` type fitting which is standard.

I bought a bullnose male and and a DIN female from Subaqua Products and made an adapter for my standard decant system. I also boost it as I have a pump so I can always have 200 bar.

Lots of people say it make no difference but although I don't feel warmer I seem to be less trashed after the same dive. I don't bother to flush the suit unless I'm only diving shallow.

nigelH

[Special K]

Definitely not cheap mate, however, some dive shops asking £7 for 1.5l of gas and then rarely 200 bar.

Thanks a lot.

Ken

[Paul Evans]

Originally Posted by Special K

I have access to welding argon and would like to fill my 1.5l bottle, the argon bottles have a `bull nose` type fitting which is standard.
Has anyone made a hose up for doing this and can advise me on how to do it.
I have seen a well priced standard din-din hose with gauge but I don`t think this will be right.
Can anyone advise??
Ken

We have a Din to Din at work But nobody knows where it came from, and it has a adaptor on the end for the welding gas?????? Go figure!!!!

Anyway, Special K, Which gas are you planning on useing, Pure Argon or Argon/CO2 mix?................

And what are you going to use to purge?

Sorry...............Just being nosey

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by Paul Evans

Pure Argon or Argon/CO2 mix?................

Some people react very badly to that as under pressure CO2 gets together with water (sweat?) and makes H2CO3 - Carbonic acid. We buy Coogar (mix)from AP but I've never been temped to put it in a suit as I can get 100%.

nigelH

[Special K]

Originally Posted by Paul Evans

We have a Din to Din at work But nobody knows where it came from, and it has a adaptor on the end for the welding gas?????? Go figure!!!!

Sorry you`ve confused me Paul

Originally Posted by Paul Evans

Anyway, Special K, Which gas are you planning on useing, Pure Argon or Argon/CO2 mix?................

Pure argon and lots of it

Originally Posted by Paul Evans

And what are you going to use to purge?

Can you explain?

Cheers
Ken

[Special K]

Originally Posted by nigelH

I bought a bullnose male and and a DIN female from Subaqua Products and made an adapter for my standard decant system.
nigelH

This seems like a good solution Nigel, can you remember how much they cost?

[Paul Evans]

Right, for some obscure reason we seem to have a din - din whip at work, Nobody knows were it came from. Not only that, but somebody has put an adaptor on one end, Again nobody knows why????? There arn't, to my knowlage any divers working there.

Reason I asked about which welding gas was the same reason that Nigel stated, However Argoshield does,nt effect most people, the amount of CO2 is quite low, But if you have a bad reaction you will know all about it.

If you don't purge you suit at least three times before the dive the Argon is not worth the cost of the rig, it is to dillute in the suit to do any good, A 1.5l tank isn't enough for this. IMHO

[Mdemon]

I bought the AP decanting whip as Rob mentioned. Bullnose to din, button gauge, valve etc. I couldn't find one cheaper to be honest.

If you talk to AP nicely, they also sell the DIN end plug. You undo the bullnose using a spanner. Then you screw in the din bit with an allen key. Din to din. And vice versa for bullnose to bullnose.