Welding gas cylinder prices

[Bill G]

I picked up an oxy/acetylene tank set for free at an estate sale a few years ago, oxy tank was a K size and out of date. Talked to 'my guy' at the local welding supply about converting to argon and he was amenable to it, took a while but only cost me around $80 for test, new valve and fill.
For some reason no one wants anything to do with the big acetylene tank though, not that I really need it...
Around here most companies won't sell you anything over an 80cf, though I've heard some will do 120's.
Never get a straight answer as to why, just cuz...

Earlier this year I ran across a nice deal on an idealarc sp-200 mig, big beast for what it is but for $400 came with two partway filled 120's, one 75/25 and the other straight argon. Also came with a nice spoolgun, regulator, tips, helmets, etc in addition to a pile of unrelated misc stuff, tools/tooling.
I'm due to fill the 120 argon so I'll soon find out what the $'s are these days, goes up a bit every time it seems.
Have a 60 with 75/25 and an 80 argon and just fill them myself off the 120 and/or K tank as the bigger tanks have always been a much better deal to fill.

View attachment 435277

You got a helluva good deal there.

 

[thompsoncustom]

I've been to cheap to buy gas here in Iowa I don't remember what C25 was time you bought a tank but it seemed way to expensive for my use.

I've been thinking about picking up a 20lb co2 tank lately instead of running c25 doesn't seem to be a whole lot of difference between the two except cost.

 

[Bill G]

Our K and T size oxygen cylinders used to be exchanged for $9.........not now

 

[whitesnake]

This thread reminds me I need to fill my argon and my oxy/acetylene tanks. Not empty yet but not far…and I’ve got a bunch of big projects soon. It’s been a while…I guess I’ll be able to chime in for northeast prices soon. I’m sure I’ll be surprised.

 

[LoneOak]

150cf bottle, $200 / $75 to fill.

Conroe, TX.

 

[Bill G]

150cf bottle, $200 / $75 to fill.

Conroe, TX.

That is very cheap on a new cylinder.

 

[Al Smith]

In my case I don't have the need very often to weld aluminum or stainless and as such I know people .Owners of fab and repair shops .Good welders with all the equipment but pizz poor electricians .Which is what I did for over 50 years .Tit for tat butter for fat kind of thing . As far as gas and owning four sets of bottles for oxy/acetylene I was flabergasted at the price of acetylene these days .Gotta have it ,bite the bullet .The amount of rusty old junk I work on I just about have to have the good old smoke wrench along with a collection of big hammers .Come or bleed . .

 

[LoneOak]

That is very cheap on a new cylinder.

I got the bottle on amazon. Now, I don't even see 150 cu/ft available. but there are some 125 cu/ft for $269

 

[Al Smith]

I suppose it might have something to do with the price depending on where you live .Often times depending on the crowd at local auctions you can fetch gas cylinders very reasonable .In my case for the torch sets I inherited the one set of large bottles,bought one set of the smaller and were gifted the other two .One a b-bottle turbo I've had for over 20 years and have yet to run out of gas .It has it's place like soldering a radiator or sweating copper tubing but not hot enough for silver brazing .That thing cost me all of 12 dollars full of gas to boot .It's also a good option as a smoke wrench because it doesn't get hot enough to melt much more than lead .A little heat often times works much better than all the PB blaster and WD-40 in the world .

 

[dangerousatom]

If you have the ability to get a cylinder through a larger purchaser, like your own work or friends work it will always be cheaper.

Where I work we do a lot of welding 90% aluminum 10% steel, not much torch cutting, maybe a set of 300cf Oxy tanks twice a year. We probably get 300cf argon tanks at 2-3 a month and a 300cf 75-25 every 6 months. We also get a 3-4 forklift propane tanks a month. Than being said I can get a 300cf CO2 swapped for $18 and a 300cf argon for like $40ish if I swap out when there is a pick-up. I have not filled my 200cf 75-25 since before I started working there but cant imagine it be much more then a straight argon. I did pay $60 to start the 125cf argon tank rental.

 

[Bill G]

Do you mean 100 cu/ft?

 

[dangerousatom]

sorry no Ive always called the big ones 100lbers, bad habit form long time ago.

I mean:
I have 300cfm CO2
I have a 200cfm 75-25mix never swapped yet
I have a 125cfm argon, my work gets the 300cfms

I even question the lady who does our supply ordering because the prices seemed too cheap compared to how much I was quoted over the phone at 3 local welding supply places.

^EDITEDed ABOVE^

 

[lehman live edge slab]

Buying a little tiny argon bottle at where my wife works is like 175$ then having it filled again is like 50$ locally for a 20 cu ft bottle.

 

[Mad Professor]

Looked over this thread.

Is anybody still using ox/act torches?

 

[Lnk]

Looked over this thread.

Is anybody still using ox/act torches?

I have a small set, they get exchanged when empty. Though it has been so long now they may charge me for a hydro test. No idea, will cross that bridge someday.

 

[Mad Professor]

I have a small set, they get exchanged when empty. Though it has been so long now they may charge me for a hydro test. No idea, will cross that bridge someday.

Same with me. Not the real tiny tanks, but can carry them or a small cart, with full size torches.

Works out good unless you are cutting using that tip a lot to heat with.

 

[Lnk]

Same with me. Not the real tiny tanks, but can carry them or a small cart, with full size torches.

Works out good unless you are cutting using that tip a lot to heat with.

These were the largest I could buy, larger and you have to rent them, at least around here. I have had this set since 2017. May take them in yo exchange just to make sure I have it when I need it. Mostly just use to braze. Occasionally I have to cut something apart.

Come to think of it, my argon bottle is the same thing. I don't tig too often, but it is nice to have handy.

 

[Mad Professor]

These were the largest I could buy, larger and you have to rent them, at least around here. I have had this set since 2017. May take them in yo exchange just to make sure I have it when I need it. Mostly just use to braze. Occasionally I have to cut something apart.

Come to think of it, my argon bottle is the same thing. I don't tig too often, but it is nice to have handy.

I bought my tanks early 1980s. Think how much "rent" I've saved! You can own and get the full sized tanks refilled here.

 

[gorilla]

Being sometimes a cheap ass, I used bottles of co2 from my mates pub for free...when welding steel etc. , also worked reasonably with stainless, but bought the tiny bottles of argon? for aluminium. But the pub shut now I bought a bottle for £70 quid, fill ups about £25 a pop.

 

[thompsoncustom]

I bought a 20lb bottle of C02 the other day on facebook for 50 bucks was full to so I don't know what refills cost around here yet.