Get the biggest tank you can....you won't be sorry.

[Steve]

Before I ordered my Powertig 250EX, I had bought from a private party a 125 cubic foot argon tank. It was full and a good deal at $100. 125 cubic foot tanks look kind of big but........it isn't. I highly recommend that if you get a tig welder and do lots of welding, get yourself the 250 cubic foot tanks or larger if available. The 125 lasted me about 1 week and so I checked into trading in the 125 for a 250. The gas dealer said no problem. I just have to pay $125 plus give them my old 125 and the 250 is mine full of argon. Not too bad.

The rumor is that you cannot buy 250 cubic foot tanks and larger any more. Not true. You can buy tanks if they are available from a private owner or a gas dealer that still sells them.
The gas dealers prefer that you lease the tanks as they make some pretty good money off the leases. But if your dealer is a decent dealer, they will sell you a larger tank.

I had to modify my welding cart to hold the 250 but that was easy. What I do like is I get twice the gas at a cheaper rate than if I bought two 125's and had them filled. Next to the 125 I have for the mig (75/25), the 250 looks huge.

So the moral of the story here is get the largest tank you can. As big as a 125 is, it goes quickly when you are welding almost every day. Better to have a 250 or larger.

[zoama]

How much does it cost to get the 250 filled ?

[Jason]

How much welding are you doing during the week? I have a 100 cfm bottle of whatever it is and at first I had my gas too high and burned through it pretty fast. Now it lasts me a little while before I go through the bottle.

[Steve]

How much welding are you doing during the week? I have a 100 cfm bottle of whatever it is and at first I had my gas too high and burned through it pretty fast. Now it lasts me a little while before I go through the bottle.

I weld almost every day with about an hour or two of welding time, sometimes more depending on demand. I found a little niche market for a product I make that caters to a certain market and that product requires welding.

[Steve]

How much does it cost to get the 250 filled ?

Depends on where you get it filled (actually switched out). My cost is $68.00 for a 250 cubic foot tank of argon from my LWS. My 125 cubic foot tank cost me $40 to fill. For $28 more, I get twice the gas with my 250 so it is a no brainer plus I don't have the rental fee to pay as I own the tank. So I save $13 every other fill up which adds up after a while. I was going through a tank every other week with the 125 and now it is once a month with the 250. I was using the argon for my Hobart Handler 210 with spool gun to weld aluminum. Now that I have the Powertig 250EX, that is my main aluminum machine now. I was also using the Cobra 2000 torch for some thin steel welding but now the Powertig 250 is the machine for that too. So my argon use has exploded. Still cheaper though than buying acetylene and oxygen.

[zoama]

Depends on where you get it filled (actually switched out). My cost is $68.00 for a 250 cubic foot tank of argon from my LWS. My 125 cubic foot tank cost me $40 to fill. For $28 more, I get twice the gas with my 250 so it is a no brainer plus I don't have the rental fee to pay as I own the tank. So I save $13 every other fill up which adds up after a while. I was going through a tank every other week with the 125 and now it is once a month with the 250. I was using the argon for my Hobart Handler 210 with spool gun to weld aluminum. Now that I have the Powertig 250EX, that is my main aluminum machine now. I was also using the Cobra 2000 torch for some thin steel welding but now the Powertig 250 is the machine for that too. So my argon use has exploded. Still cheaper though than buying acetylene and oxygen.

Checkout national welders prices http://www.nwsco.com/cgi-bin/nw/WSer...html?id=614188 I feel like I'm getting ripped off.

[Steve]

Oh yeah. I forgot to mention that the larger tanks like a 350 cubic footer weighs in at 189 lbs. full. So if you cant haul that much weight around, then maybe a 150 cubic footer may be the way to go as the 150's weigh in at around 74 lbs. And you will have to make sure your welding cart can handle the extra weight. The larger tanks are huge, so plan accordingly.

[Dne007]

I'm already learning this about the argon going quickly! I probably wasted alot today, but maybe as time goes by I'll be a little more aware of my gas setting. But this bottle is pretty heavy for me, and a bottle larger than this one would really get my attention! My C25 bottle on the larger mig~(it's an fat short aluminum bottle; can't see it behind my welding helmet box) I need to get a larger bottle for that machine too! The welding shop is going to love me when I see them next time! Thanks for this thread! ; )
dne'

[Jason]

Aww my bottle is actually a 150.. Is this product you make too secret to share? I like to see others people work and learn from it what I can.

[DaveO]

Is this product you make too secret to share?

That same question entered my mind: I can see Steve being very proprietary about his niche market, since others could pick up on his idea and run with it, thereby crowding him out of the market. On the other hand, the members of this board are pretty geographically separated so (again depending on the idea) sharing it selectively here would not automatically be a threat to his market share >and< might trigger some useful ideas that expand it and make it better. So I would be interested to know what the product is too- as Jason says, to learn whatever I can.

[Steve]

That same question entered my mind: I can see Steve being very proprietary about his niche market, since others could pick up on his idea and run with it, thereby crowding him out of the market. On the other hand, the members of this board are pretty geographically separated so (again depending on the idea) sharing it selectively here would not automatically be a threat to his market share >and< might trigger some useful ideas that expand it and make it better. So I would be interested to know what the product is too- as Jason says, to learn whatever I can.

Sorry guys. With the advent of E-bay and other methods of marketing, it is no longer a regional situation. (No I'm not on E-bay selling it!) Not only that, but what I make requires a mill and a lathe to make and parts need to be welded together. Lets just say it is in the automotive field and it is a product that no longer is available from the manufacturers.

There are tons of other things that need to be made and or can be made better than what it commercially available. I have a friend who makes garden tools that are way better than what is available. He sells them at local home shows and always sells out. There are literally tons of things that can be made better. The hard part is figuring out what people want and how to make it better.

You guys are smart enough to figure it out. It just takes some effort!

[DaveO]

Alright, I'm sure I can figure this out, let's see... mill, lathe, TIG welding, automotive... it can only be
~ "baby on board" signs, or
~ those classy playboy air fresheners, or
~ Skoal-branded dip cup holders, or
~ mud flap girl silhouettes

Did I get it?

[Jason]

Sorry guys. With the advent of E-bay and other methods of marketing, it is no longer a regional situation. (No I'm not on E-bay selling it!) Not only that, but what I make requires a mill and a lathe to make and parts need to be welded together. Lets just say it is in the automotive field and it is a product that no longer is available from the manufacturers.

There are tons of other things that need to be made and or can be made better than what it commercially available. I have a friend who makes garden tools that are way better than what is available. He sells them at local home shows and always sells out. There are literally tons of things that can be made better. The hard part is figuring out what people want and how to make it better.

You guys are smart enough to figure it out. It just takes some effort!

So if your worried about someone ripping off your idea, I would assume that you are not currently selling these items? If that is something you are extremely worried about, why not get a patent. Also you mentioned that "you can no longer get these from the manufacturers" so does that mean you took the idea from them and are worried about us taking it from you? Also telling us here what it is is no different than if we were potential buyers but in the end I guess it is your choice.