Cylinder options... (in NE Florida)

So, I'm kind of stuck between Tractor Supply and Airgas.

Both have purchasable cylinders up to 125 (#4), Airgas wants $270 and TSC wants $320. Airgas is $37 a fill and TSC is $50 an exchange.

The big difference is TSC is about 5 minutes from here and is open on the weekends, Airgas is a 45 minute drive, and I'm not sure if they'll let me load it in the car (TSC is close enough I can get any of 5 neighbors to run it in a truck if I need).

Airgas rents/leases larger, but they want $35 to deliver and approved credit (the last year's issues have destroyed my credit).

So a practical question for those who do moderate weekend welding, couple hours of 'on time' a weekend let's say. How long does a bottle last? Does the math work out if it's 10-15cfh and a 125 bottle does that mean I'd get about 10 hours of runtime?

I'm trying to factor in gas, convenience, etc. $13 a fill plus $50 up front difference to stay close to home, how often will I be filling/swapping?

The difference at TSC between an 80 and a 125 is $40 cheaper on the bottle and 8 cheaper on the fill. I don't really see that being worth it, though an 80 would be easier to haul out to some jobs (like the trailer repair, which hopefully won't be the last) I was thinking maybe a 40 or 80 and then another 80 or larger down the road to get in cheap now and have something portable.

Thoughts (besides just 'get the biggest bottle you can', I already realize that part :) )

Tractor Supply has owner bottles, Airgas no longer has owner bottles it's a lease that you have to re-up $50.00 a year. If you Airgas will sell you a bottle then you need to go for it. Airgas can set you up as a cash only customer, I have two bottles with Airgas.

Sometimes locally owned welding supply stores have better deals on bottles. Some have long term leases where you pay one time and you might pay $5.00 or $10.00 per re-fill.

I have two 80 argon bottles and they will cost you more. Get the absolute largest bottle you can afford. This will save you money in the long run.

Check craigslist sometimes you can find bottles.

Indiana Oxygen's ebay store has bottles cheaper. You can take that bottle to Tractor Supply or Northern Tool (any Gas Pony outlet) and pay $35.00 once and change your bottle over.

A@b gas who i use charges 181.99 for a 80cf cylinder and 36.96 for fill with tax and everything 238.33 not to bad like it since they deliver

Slightly off-topic:

Is the hydro-test date really that important when buying a bottle? It seems like most places just hand you another bottle that is already filled to save time.

Hydro date is important they check . my gas supplier color bands there tanks to know how new they are and when ready fro a hydro test

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Originally Posted by hokiefd

Slightly off-topic:

Is the hydro-test date really that important when buying a bottle? It seems like most places just hand you another bottle that is already filled to save time.

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I have only had one bottle filled and that what at a local machine shop who had a gas depot for my supplier. I doubt local Airgas branches have a pump to make sure your bottles are full. They basicly swap bottles so the date is not all that important, I get mine swapped once a month.

Indiana has an 80 for 187, almost a hundred cheaper than TSC... but they told me today they had changed policies. I was going to trade in my c25 40' towards a 125 argon for an upgrade of the difference. They told me they would last fall, but told me they can't today. I figured I could run the MIG with flux core if needed till I bought a new bottle for it.

Anyhow, yes, Airgas will sell up to 125's, the price isn't stellar, the problem is what they'll let me haul in my car. Neighbor has no issue running 5 minutes, but 45 is a problem. They said I'd need a credit check to lease a bottle, which is what I'd want, but my credit is in the toilet right now, not sure what it would have to be to qualify, but I doubt I would. 35 for delivery pushes the price about even. No one has another source around here (partly why I was posting). Northern is farther away than either.

Shame my dive tanks are out of hydro or I'd sell them to raise the money.

Sean, how long does one of the 80's last you? I'm thinking about both to get up and running and also something I can take with me to a repair. Once I get my financials fixed, picking up a bigger bottle.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/80-CF-WELDIN...-/130480046587 bought 2 bottles here 80cf . bottle add up quick i have like 10 or so bottles since use a lot of gas

No they will not let you haul it in a car. No LWS will. State and federal hazmat laws. If you can build a small carrier to mount on the outside of your car that will hold them secure you can haul it that way. But never drop it in the trunk. If you have a pick-up it is a mute point.

Airgas let me haul argon, but I never tried Oxygen or Acetylene. Got to Harbor Freight and get one of those small kit trailers and your problem is solved! If your welding you need some way of hauling stuff.

if you have the haz mat signs and legal tank racks you can haul any tank . when in California i had to have haz mat signs on my mobile welding truck and approved tank racks to hold the bottles . the racks was not cheap http://www.usasafety.com/gas-cylinder-stand-p-100.html they wouldn't allow home made tank racks had to have a dot number on them . also was not allowed to have any gauges on tanks and had to have metal screw on safety caps on tanks when being transported .

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Originally Posted by Rodsmachineshop

if you have the haz mat signs and legal tank racks you can haul any tank . when in California i had to have haz mat signs on my mobile welding truck and approved tank racks to hold the bottles . the racks was not cheap http://www.usasafety.com/gas-cylinder-stand-p-100.html they wouldn't allow home made tank racks had to have a dot number on them .

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Well we in the trucking industry call California a communist country. All the BS out there is insane. I have to have gasoline to fill up the pony motors on my trailer and they wont let me haul it in a plastic gas can. As you noted has to be metal and have the DOT stamp on it.

Meh, TSC doesn't pay attention... and I can have a friend run me over there if they did. I was actually just talking to a friend about that tonight... I'm thinking about building a trailer for my Roadking to haul a couple welders, couple tanks and a generator (eventually, not right now).

I was just talking with the wife, I think I'm going to get an 80, from the link y'all provided if TSC will cooperate,or from TSC if they won't. It'll be small enough to haul around, and I'll buy a bigger bottle later. It may cost me more up front in gas exchange, but it gets me up and running a month sooner and gives me a portable tank. Not sure who all was around in the fall, but I mentioned a few times before my absence, my back is trashed. So trashed I couldn't get a job as a welder after I got out of the Navy (as a welder). So wrestling larger tanks may not be wise after-all.

lol California is a pain they have to many rules that's why i close my shop in Palm springs ca and moved to Parker AZ.. in California just my license and permits a year was over 2500 and being a smog inspection station i got the bar in my shop at least once a month checking stuff .lol that why California is going broke from all there stupid rules

Yea if weight was an issue I would stick to the 80cf. The trailer for the RoadKing is a great idea. I would like to build one for my FatBoy so I can haul my golf clubs. LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11TS-9vVAXcshoot just pull a golf cart with a tow bar behind your bike lol these are cool http://www.ironhorsecaddybag.com/photos.html

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Originally Posted by Rodsmachineshop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11TS-9vVAXcshoot just pull a golf cart with a tow bar behind your bike lol these are cool http://www.ironhorsecaddybag.com/photos.html

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OOOOH God, They work for guns too!!!!!? I think I am gonna be a little lighter in the pocketbook.

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Originally Posted by hokiefd

Slightly off-topic:

Is the hydro-test date really that important when buying a bottle? It seems like most places just hand you another bottle that is already filled to save time.

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If it is your bottle... You take it in and have it filled... You have to pay to have it re certified about $20-40 depends on the place. Now if it has your gas places name on it and you just swap them they don't care.

I just picked up a used tank and digging in the garage found another bottle of Argon in the corner. Well now I have 2. Nice to have a spare. Tanks will last quite a while using them unless you are have quite a long welding session going on. I guess my problem if I had one tank, is if it was less than half full on a Friday would I fill it or risk running out on the weekend. Nice to have a spare.

BTW if you lws fills tanks. They should fill any tanks if they are in date. Mine will. But they won't swap any tanks but their own.

to me the long bars sticking out from bike would be a hazard . some dork would for sure get spired on them lol

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Originally Posted by Rodsmachineshop

to me the long bars sticking out from bike would be a hazard . some dork would for sure get spired on them lol

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Yea probably me. LOL

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Originally Posted by Brian Ski

If it is your bottle... You take it in and have it filled... You have to pay to have it re certified about $20-40 depends on the place. Now if it has your gas places name on it and you just swap them they don't care.

I just picked up a used tank and digging in the garage found another bottle of Argon in the corner. Well now I have 2. Nice to have a spare. Tanks will last quite a while using them unless you are have quite a long welding session going on. I guess my problem if I had one tank, is if it was less than half full on a Friday would I fill it or risk running out on the weekend. Nice to have a spare.

BTW if you lws fills tanks. They should fill any tanks if they are in date. Mine will. But they won't swap any tanks but their own.

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Thanks, good info.

Perseverance pays off... found another supplier in the other direction. $175 for full 80's, exchanges for less than TSC and AirGas. Half hour drive, but it ain't that bad.

At that price, will be picking one up shortly and will just add tanks later.

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Originally Posted by Trip59

Perseverance pays off... found another supplier in the other direction. $175 for full 80's, exchanges for less than TSC and AirGas. Half hour drive, but it ain't that bad.

At that price, will be picking one up shortly and will just add tanks later.

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TSC did seem pretty pricey. Glad you did some shopping and came up with a good price. Found a cylinder at a junk yard this morning was an oxygen. It was a medical cylinder. It had a home medical tag on it. The only thing that was different was it had a chrome valve not brass. Not sure if they swap them or not. Was told they don't sell their scrap, but I may have been able to wheel n deal. I past. Like I need another right now.