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Does anyone know of a carbide supplier in the VA/WV/NC area? I have an Autolite lamp and love using it, but Karstsports.com sell 12 lbs for $80 and I am a broke VMI cadet. Inner Mountain Outfitters used to be just down the road from Lexington in Steele's Tavern, but they have since relocated to Georgia I believe.

NSS 58645
VMI Outdoors Club President '07-'08

Brad, it depends on how much you plan to use. I've had good luck finding 1 to 3 pound cans in Army/Navy surplus stores and the cost was no where near what you paid for 12 pounds. I started with carbide and used it for years but after switching to LEDs I would never go back.

The standard response seems to be to go around your local welding shops / workshops etc and see if any of them will sell you any.

As recommended in these threads:
http://forums.caves.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4590
http://forums.caves.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6093

alright- there is a welding supply shop close by- I'll check it out tomorrow... thanks guys

I'll second the "check with the local welding shop" motion... There are fill stations that generate acetylene with carbide. Not all welding shops have this capability; in fact many do not. BUT they will know what shop fills tanks, so contact them. Most modern acetylene generators use nut grade, a.k.a. quarter carbide. If that's all they have, a few minutes with a hammer will produce miners grade carbide. Good luck!! Despite feable attempts at electric lighting, carbide still out-shines even the best LED's Long live the carbide lamp!!

Adam Craig wrote:Despite feable attempts at electric lighting, carbide still out-shines even the best LED's

Carbide out-shining LEDs?? What rock have you been hiding under for the last 5 years?

But seriously, I've always found that nut grade stuff runs better in both caplamps and generators.

I thought I'd get a rise out of someone

I agree with the carbide lovers out there. The only downside is finding the carbide!!! I ve been having trouble getting some locally in Indy. The people that do have it wont sell it to "the public". I love the wide soft light the cap lamps give off.

Well I went by Arcet Welding Supply in Richmond, VA and the guy gave me a number of the plant where their acetylene generator is. I called them up and they said something about national security something or another.... I don't know. Does anyone know of another acetylene plant nearby? I won't be able to go until the summer as we are not allowed to have cars here until we're seniors

brad81286 wrote:I called them up and they said something about national security something or another....

Carbide - a threat to national security since 1888...

Perhaps some folks saw this on the wikipedia page and got scared:

[Carbide] is still used in the Netherlands and Belgium for a traditional custom called Carbidschieten (Shooting Carbide). To create an explosion, carbide and water are put in a milk churn with a lid. Ignition is usually done with a torch. Some villages in the Netherlands fire multiple milk churns in a row as a New Year's Eve tradition. The old tradition comes from the old pagan religion to chase off spirits.

Yeah, It sucks that we get screwed because "Somebody might use it in the wrong way"!!!! I heard the same thing in my area. Now we have to jump throught hoops just to try and get some. It depresses me that the world has come to that There are some people who might actually use it for what it was intened.

Well, after looking at the wikipedia page, I saw that carbide is made by smelting coke and lime... Next time I am at home I believe I will have to try a science experiment with my arc welder-hahaha

hoosiercaver1 wrote:Yeah, It sucks that we get screwed because "Somebody might use it in the wrong way"!!!! I heard the same thing in my area. Now we have to jump throught hoops just to try and get some. It depresses me that the world has come to that There are some people who might actually use it for what it was intened.

Carbidschieten is not a misuse any more than any other safe pyrotechnic display is a "misuse"!

Throwing "carbide bombs" into campfires, on the other hand....

ek wrote:Throwing "carbide bombs" into campfires, on the other hand....

... is good clean caving entertainment.

In fact, I remember it was practically a right-of-passage for new cavers not that long ago. Seriously.

Now that's something you can't really do with LED's, eh?

Hey you sure cant beat the warmth coming off the lamp when you take a break. I know some of you cave in shorts and t-shirt, but the caves can get chilly and wet up here in Indiana. My mom always tries to steal my dads to warm up when we take breaks!!! I know leds dont do that!!!