Possible to get compressed natural gas?

[jahglass]

I just wondering if anyone knows about the possibilities of getting natural gas in a tank, like a propane bbq tank. Im thinking about getting a natural gas herbie, but I dont know that Ill always have a studio with natural gas piped in... Also, does anyone know what the deal is with LNG (liquified natural gas)?

Matt

[somewhere]

Methane can be used in the place of natural gas and can be bought at your welding supply store.

LNG is basically cleaned natural gas that is compressed into a liquid for transport.
Think tanker ships.

[jahglass]

gotcha. have you worked a natural gas torch with methane? how does methane burn in comparison to natural gas? i know it makes up the majority to ng, but is it as clean burning? any worries about combustion byproducts vs. ng? thanks alot.

[kbinkster]

Compressed NG is available, but is very expensive. Can you get propane where you are now? If you think that you will not always have NG available to you, it might be worth it to get the propane version torch and run propane.

[jahglass]

i use propane right now for my mirage. i have a good deal goin that will hopefully materialize for a used ng herbie. also, ive used both the propane and ng herbie and would much rather have the ng one- the flame is not nearly as bright, carbon build up isnt as bad, and its a softer flame... thanks for your input.

[somewhere]

I have not but just like you said ng is mostly methane. I would think if anything a bit cleaner and a bit hotter. Nothing in methane that wouldn't be in ng so no on by-products as well.
I would ask your gas supplier they must have some good info or know who to call.

[Steve Sizelove]

Natural gas is awesome. Ever run a Delta on ng? It's the love.....

I checked into methane. I could only get high pressure bottles, and it was around $70 for 200something cubic feet. Way expensive, and high pressure fuel seemed a bit sketchy.

[Dale M.]

I though "natural gas" as it came out the end of the pipe was methane gas with a odorant added to it so it was detectable by the nose....

With the availability of it in most locations (piped in) I doubt it will be economical to provide it in tanked configuration.

I think propane has more BTU than natural gas, so why not use propane instead of methane...

Here is data on LGN in HIGH Volume supply... Might give you insight to why or why not it may be available in small quantity...

http://www.naturalgas.org/lng/lng.asp

Dale

[Steve Sizelove]

Methane, with no carbon to carbon bonds, burns cleanly - less reduction. The lower temperature means slightly longer heating. That equates to more even heat bases. It's perfect for hollow work.

[kbinkster]

i use propane right now for my mirage. i have a good deal goin that will hopefully materialize for a used ng herbie. also, ive used both the propane and ng herbie and would much rather have the ng one- the flame is not nearly as bright, carbon build up isnt as bad, and its a softer flame... thanks for your input.

I would say to just go ahead and get the NG version and sell it and buy a propane version if you ever move to where NG isn't available, if you don't mind the drawbacks to the propane version too much. Torches hold their value pretty well. If you are getting a good deal on this torch to begin with, you probably won't have anything to lose, jmho.