Is There a shielding gas to do both MIG & TIG...??

No, you misunderstand! We don't want terrorists using potentially unsafe bottles, someone could get hurt

Mark Rand RTFM

Most of the countries where this problem of overpriced gasses and rental bottles exist really don't want the public using industrial gasses or tools at all, after all, tools can be used to make weapons to overthrow the elitist government.

Pete C.

That is the problem with socialism. In the U.S. we have not had to have propane bottles checked except by the guy filling them. If he sees that the bottle is leaking or has bad rust pitting he will refuse to fill it. Our total cost for propane was about $2.50 a gallon. In California, also known as 'The Peoples Republic of Kalifornia' the legislature has passed a new law that propane cylinders must now be fitted with new "safety" valves, and be certified (at a $20 fee) every few years. This is to "reduce" the number of accidents with propane. To a socialist government there is no limit on how much regulation is needed to "protect the people". At some point it becomes like the old Soviet Union and collapse of it own weight.

You can't blame BOC on _socialism_ ! It's a sheer exploitation of a local monopoly position, aided by a cartel amongst the few gas suppliers.

It's good old Capitalism in fact :)

...so good that Air Products do exactly the same thing. No-one has a purchased bottle system, except Ergoflame - and they went out of business years ago.

Steve

Well I own several bottles and get them refilled all the time. I get refills from one national supplier and one regional supplier. I prefer the regional supplier as he is less expensive, but he is located in a nearby city and only picks up or delivers two time a week, so sometimes due to the pickup/delivery days and/or the turnaround time I have to use the local branch of the national supplier or run out of gas. As doing some of my own welding is a convenience, I hate to run out of gas. (If it wasn't such a convenience I would just send the items down the street to a welding shop.)

Of course both suppliers are always trying to get me to lease/rent their bottles. They say then I won't have to worry about hydrostatic testing, leaking valves etc. I have my bottles tested at a Fire Equipment place that test all type of bottles, fire extinguishers, SCUBA tanks, rescue air tanks, aircraft O2 tanks, welding tanks, etc. When they test my bottles every five years I have them rebuild the valves. I haven't had a leaking valve yet. Also the fire equipment place charges about ½ or less depending of the size, for hydrostatic testing and inspecting the bottles and only 10% as much to rebuild the valves.

The fire equipment place is nationwide with shops all over the place, and I wouldn't be surprised if the welding gas suppliers aren't sending their stuff to them for testing. I know every time I go drop my bottles off there to be tested they have truckloads and truckloads of welding bottles that they have tested or are getting ready to test. I haven't looked at the labels on the welding bottles they have around, but some have paint jobs that look suspiciously like the paint job on the bottles that the two suppliers have.

One other thing about having your own bottles filled. Paint your name on them so you can readily ID them from a distance. Also make many copies of your ownership papers, receipts etc. Everytime you have one filled give them a copy of the paperwork with each bottle. Make sure it says on the claim check/receipt that you own the bottle. Don't let them exchange bottles with you, that is a sure way to have problems later on. All you have to do, is loose track of the numbers or misplace a receipt once, and you are screwed.