Plumbing Supply Houses in Crisis an Acetylene Tank Nightmare - Plumbing Zone

DUNBAR PLUMBING · 03-06-2009, 11:44 PM

I can't mention the name of my plumbing supply house...

but times are tough for them.

No saturdays,

I'm having to order up front on my sump pumps that I only use,

3 times, 3 TIMES, 2 of which while I was there and today I called ahead of time, can't get my MC tanks refilled because they're always out.

I'm sitting with no acetylene right now and I'm thinking about the fact I have 2 B-tanks and also a large acetylene tank for my cutting torches, maybe I could move the gas to the smaller tanks, blow myself up trying to save myself the headaches always needing these tanks refilled and relying on someone else to do it.

Anyone tried the trick on moving gas to one bottle to another? I get free delivery on my bigger tanks since I spent 1000's with them last year at a welding products company.

They close up @ 4:30pm every day as well.

It makes it tough, when you have to go more than one place to get your product.

Things are different these days in many ways. When you walk into these places now, they're very attentive to your needs, and they try to upsell more product at times.

I sent a customer to another supply house this week and I told him, "call me when you get there, put them on the phone with me so you get the right product" and I knew the fellow he put me on with.

The word "horrible" was used to describe how business was for them, a supply house I don't spend much money with because of the owner and the fact that they don't sell watts products anymore.

One thing is for sure, a Fergusons is soon to go under in my nearby area. They've been operating in the red for years.

They should of listened when I told them to bring some good looking women into their office.....but OH NO....can't do that.

service guy · 03-06-2009, 11:47 PM

My local supply houses seem to be doing fine. My area has been semi-insulated from the recession so far.

Protech · 03-07-2009, 12:00 AM

They are crashing and burning in my area.

Plumber · 03-07-2009, 12:05 AM

If Ferguson wasn't owned by that British company, they would be history.

The other house is slow, but better positioned.

Nobody's offering good discounts and I can get most things cheaper off the internet and do.

ToUtahNow · 03-07-2009, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roast Duck

I'm sitting with no acetylene right now and I'm thinking about the fact I have 2 B-tanks and also a large acetylene tank for my cutting torches, maybe I could move the gas to the smaller tanks, blow myself up trying to save myself the headaches always needing these tanks refilled and relying on someone else to do it.

Anyone tried the trick on moving gas to one bottle to another? I get free delivery on my bigger tanks since I spent 1000's with them last year at a welding products company.

They close up @ 4:30pm every day as well.

Your local welding supply should be able to fill your tanks. I never cared for exchanging tanks at the supply house anyways. I would always bring in tanks in good shape and get back garbage.

Mark

22rifle · 03-07-2009, 12:24 AM

Don't screw with filling these tanks yourself. PERIOD!

plumb4fun · 03-07-2009, 01:00 AM

Refilling acetylene tanks is a special process that must be done by a welding supply place. Very dangerous and the tanks must sit for period of time during filling. One of the local mechanical contractors owes the Ferguson in my area over $250,000 in unpaid materials, and can't pay because they have not been paid for some of the big jobs they have done!

22rifle · 03-07-2009, 01:38 AM

Do y'all know acetylene tanks are not hollow? It is my understanding that if they were, they would blow up with a slight jar.

Plumber Jim · 03-07-2009, 02:09 AM

really? what are they then? like a honey comb?

PLumber jim

M5Plumb · 03-07-2009, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plumber Jim

really? what are they then? like a honey comb?

PLumber jim

They have balsa wood in them

03-06-2009, 11:44 PM	#1
DUNBAR PLUMBING www.DunbarPlumbing.com Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NORTHERN KENTUCKY - GREATER CINCINNATI AREA Posts: 4,495 My Photos	Plumbing Supply Houses in Crisis an Acetylene Tank Nightmare I can't mention the name of my plumbing supply house... but times are tough for them. No saturdays, I'm having to order up front on my sump pumps that I only use, 3 times, 3 TIMES, 2 of which while I was there and today I called ahead of time, can't get my MC tanks refilled because they're always out. I'm sitting with no acetylene right now and I'm thinking about the fact I have 2 B-tanks and also a large acetylene tank for my cutting torches, maybe I could move the gas to the smaller tanks, blow myself up trying to save myself the headaches always needing these tanks refilled and relying on someone else to do it. Anyone tried the trick on moving gas to one bottle to another? I get free delivery on my bigger tanks since I spent 1000's with them last year at a welding products company. They close up @ 4:30pm every day as well. It makes it tough, when you have to go more than one place to get your product. Things are different these days in many ways. When you walk into these places now, they're very attentive to your needs, and they try to upsell more product at times. I sent a customer to another supply house this week and I told him, "call me when you get there, put them on the phone with me so you get the right product" and I knew the fellow he put me on with. The word "horrible" was used to describe how business was for them, a supply house I don't spend much money with because of the owner and the fact that they don't sell watts products anymore. One thing is for sure, a Fergusons is soon to go under in my nearby area. They've been operating in the red for years. They should of listened when I told them to bring some good looking women into their office.....but OH NO....can't do that. __________________ Northern Kentucky Plumbers *\|YOUTUBE VIDEOS\| Twitter Feed \| DUNBAR PLUMBING FAN PAGE*

03-07-2009, 12:00 AM	#3
Protech ٩(͡๏̯͡๏)۶ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Polk County, Florida Posts: 7,167 My Photos	They are crashing and burning in my area. __________________ Plumber, Repiping, Replumbing, Leak Detection, Solar Water Heater, Drain Cleaner, Pipe Leak, Polk County Plumber, Lakeland Plumber, Winter Haven Plumber, Haines City Plumber, Bartow Plumber

03-07-2009, 01:00 AM	#7
plumb4fun Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SLO County, California Posts: 212 My Photos	Refilling acetylene tanks is a special process that must be done by a welding supply place. Very dangerous and the tanks must sit for period of time during filling. One of the local mechanical contractors owes the Ferguson in my area over $250,000 in unpaid materials, and can't pay because they have not been paid for some of the big jobs they have done! Last edited by plumb4fun; 03-07-2009 at 01:04 AM..

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03-06-2009, 11:47 PM	#2
service guy waterheaterzone.com Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Universe Posts: 2,043 My Photos	My local supply houses seem to be doing fine. My area has been semi-insulated from the recession so far.

03-07-2009, 12:05 AM	#4
Plumber Plumba Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 890 My Photos	If Ferguson wasn't owned by that British company, they would be history. The other house is slow, but better positioned. Nobody's offering good discounts and I can get most things cheaper off the internet and do.

03-07-2009, 12:24 AM	#6
22rifle Master Plumber Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,053 My Photos	Don't screw with filling these tanks yourself. PERIOD!

03-07-2009, 01:38 AM	#8
22rifle Master Plumber Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,053 My Photos	Do y'all know acetylene tanks are not hollow? It is my understanding that if they were, they would blow up with a slight jar.

03-07-2009, 02:09 AM	#9
Plumber Jim Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,803 My Photos	really? what are they then? like a honey comb? PLumber jim