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     Mike,
     A standard bottle would be preferable to a medical O2 bottle.  It 
     would eliminate the need for an adapter.
     
     I use an E bottle because I couldn't find a gas supplier that would 
     put O2 in a scuba tank. 
     
     I could buy a couple of large welding tanks of O2 and decant the gas 
     into my cylinder. That would require additional investment of money 
     and space.
      
     With the E cylinder, I simply swap my empty tank for a full one at the 
     gas supplier outlet.  The disadvantages of my system are 1. I'm 
     limited to medical O2 because of the valve (more expensive than the 
     welding grade I'd rather buy). 2.I need an adapter to attach my 
     regulator to the tank.

    I build my adapter for $17.00 using a medical O2 yoke attached to a brass 
scuba post. (National pipe thread on both). You can find the yoke at a medical 
supply house, and the scuba post at any store that sells diving compressor 
parts. Also, GMC sells identical adapters, but I don't know the price.  (Rich 
Pyle has an adapter like mine on his O2 pony. Where did you get yours' Rich?)

Incidentally, the threads on an E cylinder are the same as those on an old half 
inch pipe thread scuba valve. So, you can use an E bottle as a pony with a scuba
valve, if:
1. you prepare the scuba valve for O2 service.
2. you find someone willing to pump O2 into the tank via a scuba valve.
Of course, if you have a supplier who'll put O2 through a scuba valve, then you 
are not limited to using an E cylinder!

As far as the safety issue goes, using a medical E bottle has eliminated the 
need for me to prepare a tank and valve for O2 service. My adapter and first 
stage are 02 compatible.  On the down side, I think that the use of an adapter 
is never fail-safe. The adapter is the weak link in the system.

I'm satisfied with my system, as it seems to be a good balance between bulk, 
safety, and cost.  Given unlimited funds, storage space, gas and time, I'd buy 
large O2 storage tanks, a deticated O2 scuba tank with a DIN valve and a nice 
new pickup truck to haul it home.

Andy Cohen 

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: independent doubles and ponies
Author:  mike-h@di*.co*.uk* (Mike Holmes) at ~INTERNET
     
I'm looking into a similiar set-up but using a standard 3 or 4 litre pony, 
cleaned for oxygen service. I hadn't thought of using an E bottle. Is this 
considered suitable ie safe? Also were did you get the scuba block/vavle 
adapter from?
     

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