Been dealing with this for a while and I just wanted to try o2. but want to get it asap. I live in the Bay Area so there are options as far as welding supply companies.   Are there any reasons that someone not into welding might need a tank full of o2. Is there a specific size or kind of tank (new, used) does it matter.  And would they carry the proper regulator that I need?  I know someone on here knows where i'm coming from..Thanks for any help.

They rarely ask but if they do tell them you keep live bait for fishing and need to oxygenate the bait wells. (It's a legitimate use for 02!!!)

New or used tanks it doesn't matter. As to the regulator, harbor freight carries high flow regulators that'll work with the welding rigs.

Joe

Thanks. So I've been doing a lot reading on using o2. It seems that industrial o2 is just as safe to inhale, but I still have a few concerns.

One of them  is I keep reading about tank explosions. It seems like oil is everywhere. How big of a risk is it,  and how do I know the valve or fittings were never lubricated?

As far as tank explosions, oxygen won't explode. By itself, it's not explosive. It's an accelerant. So if you run 02 in an enclosed area for a long period of time, then light something combustible on fire, the oxygen will make the fire burn many times faster and hotter then it otherwise would. That's why oxygen/acetyline (sp?) torches burn so hot.

The biggest danger with 02 is with a smoker, who saturates his clothing with 02 while using it, then immediately lights up, or worse, lights up while they are still running the 02. The clothing ignites like a roman candle. As long as you keep in mind that oxygen accelerates any combustible, especially in an enclosed area, you'll be fine.

If your 02 tank has a major leak, you'll hear it. If it's just a pinhole leak that you can't hear, there won't be enough 02 released to make a noticeable difference in combustion.

That being said, 02 tanks are pressurized at close to 3000 pounds. So knocking a tank over and breaking off the valve could leave you with an uncontrolled rocket that will easily kill. My tanks get delivered in a cute little steel "six-pack" that prevents accidental drops and tip overs.

Chuck, a regal member of this board, rolled his car in a crash leaving one of our CH conventions! Chucky was fine, and the numerous, unsecured, full oxygen tanks also survived. So it apparently takes a LOT to break the valves off!

Hope that helps.

Joe

I have read that about the oxygen sticking to the clothes... I will keep that in mind. Was thinking about keeping  the tank in a shed in the backyard but I'm not sure as to how big of a risk oil is to the oxygen/tank.  I've read that if the valve fitting or regulator is oiled up or lubed,  it can ignite or explode.

Would it be cheaper to get the mask and regulator together?  Feel free to put up any links. Sorry for all the questions..

First, I would highly suggest purchasing the 02ptimask setup available right though this site (click the Store link to your left). It creates a perfect seal, gives you the option of using just a mouthpiece, and most importantly, has a large enough reservoir to effectively abort CH. The regulator is also important, as you would ideally have one that goes at least to 25 lpm. As for explosions, they are almost always blown out of proportion and are a much smaller risk than you might think. Keep the flames out of the same room as your oxygen and you should be fine.

First off, go read this link:

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Secondly, here's what liquid oxygen can do when added to a charcoal grill:

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oil mixed with oxygen can explode, but you will never find a regulator that has been lubricated with oil unless it is one someone is trying to kill you with.  Those in the O2 business are not about to kill off their customers.  On the other hand, be sure you never use WD40 or any other petroleum product on the fittings or the regulator.  I know of no good reason you should. :D  If you are storing gasoline or petroleum in your home I would not suggest you also put O2 tanks in there, but if you are storing gasoline in your home you have far bigger issues than O2.  In short, I would not worry about it.

Jerry

Brew that scared the heck out me.. No I'm just playing thanks for putting it in perspective for me. Guiseppi thats good to hear he  was OK. Crazy luck to have them with him during a rollover. Calico, applenutclusters thanks for the advice.

I was putting off getting everything because the hits seemed to fade. They're coming back so strong now so I think today or tommorrow i'm going to get the tank, mask and regulator.  One question I have since lpm doesn't convert to psi,  is what specifications should I be looking at for the regulator. I've seen some pretty damn expensive ones and some around 50-60?  And if i'm running the o2 at the right pressure 15-25 lpm, how long should a 40 cu ft tank last and cost.. I know its going be kind of expensive,  but if it works good, it'll be a good investment.  I  just dont wanna get caught off guard. 
I'm thinking around 120 for the tank filled  and 50-60 for the regulator. Am I close or far off? Should I look at getting something bigger than 40 cu ft. I appreciate your guys' help.

Read all of this, and all of the info in the two links in the first document. It will take only a couple of minutes and your confidence level on the subject will climb!

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If you have questions - ASK away!

Marc

Good post, Marc.  Nice to see you, by the way!

Harbor Freight sells a cheap Chinese made welding regulator for about $30.  If you are using the O2ptimask (available from the CH.com store (on the left) you can gauge the flow rate you need by whether you keep the bag with enough O2 for you to fully inhale.  If it is not enough, turn it up.  If it is over full and leaking out, turn it down.  Actually, this is a good way for you to save O2, because it allows you to adjust your flow rate as the HA starts to subside.  Just keep using it at a comfortable breathing level for about 5 minutes after the hit is gone to keep it from returning right away.

Jerry

Thanks Marc and Calico..Good info on those links. I've been reading a lot the last few days. The welding shop was closed on the weekend so I had to wait till today to get the Tank. I got a 40 cu ft tank for $125 and a regulator at the same place for $55.  I have a cheap $5 rebreather mask from Ebay that I wouldn't recommend. I'll probably  get the optimask , I just wanted to make sure I like the oxygen enough first. I didn't get a valve to connect the rebreather hose to the regulator so I just held the hose to the regulator as I turned the pressure on the regulator up and tryed to inhale through the mask at the same time. This wasn't working good so disconnected the mask and hose , put the cylinder on  a chair next to me and inhaled right out of the regulator. This time it worked..I did this for about 5 minutes turning the pressure up on each inhale filling up my lungs completely and holding my breath for about 3-5 seconds. I didn't inhale any outside air in between.... I felt a slight pressure for a few minutes after  like a shadow, but  different,  and then the headache, the shadow, the head pressure,  everything faded completely. Crazy. So far so good. I feel like I made a good investment with this, but I don't know for sure yet. Every time in the past I thought I found something that works it end up losing its effectiveness. But I'm really optimistic with this O2.  Sorry for the essay I didn't even realize I typed that much..

Quote:

So far so good. I feel like I made a good investment with this, but I don't know for sure yet. Every time in the past I thought I found something that works it end up losing its effectiveness. But I'm really optimistic with this O2.

I understand what you are feeling. It can be so discouraging when dealing with CHs since so little seems to be effective. That's why when you run into something that is working you feel like you hit the lottery. O2 works. It will work even better with proper setup. You need a big J or M tank at home and several E tanks to bring along with you wherever you go. Thus armed, you can have confidence the Beast will not destroy you or your day. Of course, the imitrex is part of the gear as well. And for me, so is Monster. Let us know how you make out with this. God bless. lance

Great to hear your initial trials are positive. I was in denial after the first few aborts, I just couldn't believe something this simple could take away a curse that had dominated so much of my life.

What Lance was saying about the red bull, my saint of a wife/supporter can hear a hose slapping an E-Tank at a hundred yards. When she hears the 02 fire off she's at my elbow in amatter of seconds with a Sugar Free Red Bull on the rocks. I drink that down between breaths of air. It speeds the abort time, and seems to push the re-attacks many hours down the road.

Joe

wimsey1 wrote on Jan 15^th, 2013 at 7:59am:

Quote: So far so good. I feel like I made a good investment with this, but I don't know for sure yet. Every time in the past I thought I found something that works it end up losing its effectiveness. But I'm really optimistic with this O2. I understand what you are feeling. It can be so discouraging when dealing with CHs since so little seems to be effective. That's why when you run into something that is working you feel like you hit the lottery. O2 works. It will work even better with proper setup. You need a big J or M tank at home and several E tanks to bring along with you wherever you go. Thus armed, you can have confidence the Beast will not destroy you or your day. Of course, the imitrex is part of the gear as well. And for me, so is Monster. Let us know how you make out with this. God bless. lance

Yep.  Spot on.

        Potter

I've been using the Oxygen a lot and i'm happy with it. I only had two bad days since I bought everything ,  but i'm still learning when, how much, how long too hold it in etc..  It seems like when its gonna work it works pretty quick. and its been getting the shadows/pressure too which is what I was hoping for.  I finished a 40 cu ft tank in about a week but i'm sure I wasn't being that conservative with it. I Just exchanged the tank for about 18 bucks.

The only thing I need is the female DISS fitting to connect the regulator to the hose/mask. I couldn't find the right size at home depot.

Guiseppi,  I know what you mean about not believing something so simple could work for something that seems so complicated.  I wished someone told me about oxygen a few years ago

Hey Wimsey thanks.. I definitely feel my confidence growing now.

Bay Area85678,

I just saw your PM - sorry to be so long in answering!

The DSS fitting is specifically designed for 50 PSI devices like demand valves - this is not a mask connection point. (Pressures required to feed a mask are in the range of 5-12 PSI depending on your breathing rate the tubing length)

You simply need a fitting that is threaded to fit the regulator low pressure output, with a barbed type fitting for the tubing leading to your mask! Look at the picture in the previous link and you will see the fitting style.

Many of us discovered that high volume O2 therapy improves with time, AS LONG AS you really know how to push high volumes of O2 in/out of your lungs. For me, it was every-hour-on-the-hour for the first few days. Over time, the hits spread out further and further.

If you have more questions, ask away or feel free to email me at marc@morrobayphotos.com

Marc

Edit to add: Work hard and you will be able to stretch the tubing fitting over the male threads in the picture you sent me. Push, stretch and turn like you are threading it on. It WILL make a tight seal for the pressure range that we need.

I have a thread here on the "Medications and Treatments" page called "Alternative High Flow o2 Setup (With Video)" It tells you everything you need to know about setting up welding o2 and even has a welding tank chart and video. I used it when diving and used a diving regulator which works great. However you can use the opti-mask with this too you just need a hose barb fitting at the tank regulator which is so simple!! I just added a video showing how easy it is to set up a welders tank.....Best of luck....Johnny ;)

I need to get the barb connector. In the meantime inhaling right off the regulator's been working.

I try not to use the o2 too much so it stays effective.