BOC contract or Air Products deposit?

[Grandad Pig]

Just picked up a nice regulator and torch welding/cutting set.

can not choose between BOC bottles on annual contract or Air Products on a one-off deposit system. BOC gas seems cheaper, but...
Which do others go with

steve

 

[milkloss]

Always used to be 3 big bottles of oxy a year was cheaper with BOC. 1 or 2 and it worked out s cheaper on the deposit bottle.

 

[Bobthebuilder]

Been BOC for years changed on air products about 4yrs ago for oxy/acet and argoshield as dealer was very local and could drop off/pick up bottle after a quick phone call, as it happens he’s given up the gas bottles as he wasn’t making much on it, nearest dealer is an hours drive away now, had a problem with a faulty valve on acetylene bottle a few months ago called air products direct and they were very unhelpful on the phone but eventually after a few heated words and half a dozen phone calls they decided to give us a refund on faulty bottle, called dealer to see if they had replacement but didn’t and weren’t sure when they’d be getting them in so went to BOC dealer 25mins away and got 1 as still had the regulators, needless to say as soon as oxy and argoshield bottles are empty they’ll be getting replaced with BOC ones again and cancelling account with air products

 

[startinghandle]

There is a firm that does nationwide delivery

 

[pail of ale]

Any star gas over there? After a lifetime with BOC ,I recently changed to star gas and I would rather naw steel with my gums than go back

 

[Fendtbro]

Do not under any circumstances use air products!!! Absolute thieving robbing baswards.. after years with them it came to light that they had been charging us for 4 bottles on hire when I only had two, Oxy + welder. When I phoned them the head customer help woman told me that it’s all my fault as I never noticed the bottles on holding number go from 2 to 4..(Tiny writing on the back of the invoice) and I don’t see the bills as mother does that paperwork. of course I never had 4 bottles. She assured me that they were dumped round the back of the shed! Cheek!! After weeks of phoning and pestering them she finally admitted a computer error had added the 4th bottle and she refunded the £400 odd. They still had an overpayment of over £1000 that I wanted back but refused. I got hold of the top man who promised the earth but ended back at the same impossible woman. They still owe me that £1000 but I just had to write it off. The mistake on the 3rd bottle was made in a change of dealers and some yards man never signed my return bottle in properly.
I was told in the dealer I was not the first! They could have given my money back and kept a happy customer but no.. No disrespect to the dealer, they are excellent. Air products might as well have stolen that money off me.., scumbags..

 

[nick...]

I had a bottle of mig gas and some oxygen from air products.2 bottles and got charged £250 a year for bottle rental along with all those other charges that no one knows what they are.sent both bottles back4 years ago and no oxy propane here now and not missed it.can allways get someone if needs be.as for welder I paid a one of charge for small bottle and pay for refill only when needed.air products were a pile of sh!t.very very unhelpfull when phoned and sent out threatening letters as bill time approached saying dept collectors would be after money if payment was late,which it never was.arseholes.having mentioned that a large grain buying company recently emailed me nearly a week before seed payment was due asking why bill had not been paid.cheque was in the post.
nick...

 

[Grandad Pig]

Thanks chaps. Back to BOC I think

 

[startinghandle]

Why not try firm that delivers??

 

[john432]

I've a full size Ocy and mig gas bottle on rental with BOC but using a lot less now than I used to, but have had 3 free refill vouchers in the last two years.

 

[PSQ]

For anyone in the NE of England or SE of Scotland, google Dixons of Westerhope. They’re about half the price of BOC or Air Products for welding gasses, and a pleasure to deal with.

 

[betternextyear]

I use hobby weld. Cheap and cheerful. No rental but probably only works for occasional welders etc.

 

[the-mad-welder]

Air products here. £420 rent for 2 full size welding gas for 3 years.

A 'fill' is £49.20 per bottle with £1.85 energy surcharge and £30 delivery. I always have two bottles delivered at the same time for one charge.

If I went and picked them up I'd still have to pay £15 handling charge and I can't drive to and from my nearest place for £15 so the delivery makes sense. Prices are all fixed for the 3 year contract, apart from the energy surcharge.

Based on my average consumption over the last three years of 12x bottles per year this works out cheaper than 'rent free' bottles.

 

[rob h]

I use hobby weld. Cheap and cheerful. No rental but probably only works for occasional welders etc.

We have boc for the oxygen and mig. But only use probably 1 or 2 of each a year.we also have a hobby weld ultra for the tig.we might be better off with hobby weld for every thing.

 

[roscoe erf]

Thanks chaps. Back to BOC I think

If you don’t use a lot get on the volkszone deal it’s a bit cheaper

 

[dannewhouse]

What about energas?

Everyone has gone from boc to them around here as boc just so dear for bottles

 

[MrNoo]

BOC here for Mig/Oxy/Tig, it is what it is and sometimes better the devil you know, local dealer is 5 mins away so a no brainer really as you always seem to run out of gas at the most inopportune moment!!