Comparison cost of Argon (Canada vs US)

[Mike J]

I thought this would be kind-of fun, but likely depressing for me. I am shopping around for a Argon cylinder/fill here, and had the following offer:

The price on a (T size) (Roughly 330cu/ft) Argon Cylinder fill cost is $92, the rental fee is $8.95/month, or if you want to do a yearly lease, its $89 a year.

What are you guys paying in comparison? This is one consumable that is difficult to order and have shipped...

Cheers,

Mike

[67cudafb]

I have a 125cf airgas charges $40 dollars to refill

[performance]

70.00 bucks a year lease. And fill is between 65-80 bucks as it floats up and down somewhat.

[DaveO]

The best pricing I've found locally is $83 to lease, and a T size 330 cf is $118, for either pure argon or C-25. Cylinder rental is just plain ugly: one place wants a refundable deposit of $65 and $5 per month; another place wants $0.50 a day for rental.

Close by there are only two competitors: one is a regional operation with locations in VA, MD, PA, SC, and FL; the other is Airgas. The regional company has what they call a hazmat fee: they charge $9 on top of the gas in any month you fill a bottle. I haven't figured that one out yet- not sure how they could keep a high-use customer happy. They charge less per fill on the gas but that fee makes them even with Airgas if a low-use customer swapped one bottle in a given month.

Could we expand the topic of this thread a touch: how long does your bottle last for the kind of welding you do?

[zoama]

What do you do when you get home with a bottle thats supposed to be filled to 2640psi and it's only at 2050psi ?

[DaveO]

Good question- does anyone check pressure while they're still at the gas supplier? Too much effort just to catch that 1 in 50 (or whatever it is) shortfill?

[DVA]

Why not just purchase the bottle. Around PHX you can pick up a 225 CF bottle for abound 150 used, sometimes filled. Just bing it in to the gas supplier and they will trade out the bottle rather than wait for the same bottle to be filled. At some of the rental prices it will not take long to pay for the bottle multiple times.

I can get a 225 CF bottle filled for about $40 and my 80 and 60 are $14 each to fill.

[Tinker]

I'm with DVA on this one. I own all four of my bottles (two large, two small, one of each argon & C25). I bought a small one but I got the others as freebees from my neighbor that was a SnapOn guy. Those were really old and out of certification but as I recall I didn't have to pay too much extra in the exchange because of that. My bottles usually last so long between fills that as a hobbyist I sure couldn't justify the kind of rental charges I'm reading in this topic. Here in Southern California the local Airgas guys have always treated me great. Maybe it had something to do with the student discounts they offered while I was taking classes at the community college. Hope I'm just as lucky when I need my next refill :-)

Gary

[DVA]

I'm with DVA on this one. I own all four of my bottles (two large, two small, one of each argon & C25). I bought a small one but I got the others as freebees from my neighbor that was a SnapOn guy. Those were really old and out of certification but as I recall I didn't have to pay too much extra in the exchange because of that. My bottles usually last so long between fills that as a hobbyist I sure couldn't justify the kind of rental charges I'm reading in this topic. Here in Southern California the local Airgas guys have always treated me great. Maybe it had something to do with the student discounts they offered while I was taking classes at the community college. Hope I'm just as lucky when I need my next refill :-)

Gary

With a well equipped gas supplier re-qualifying the tanks not a huge issue. They take the valve off the tank, fill it with water and then pressure test,hydro test not air test. I am not sure the code used but probably around 1.25 the max design pressure of the vessel. Replace the top and they may pop the safety valve when the valve is off to ensure it is within specification.

[Mike J]

I have not asked around about the purchase of a tank - I know some suppliers will refuse to fill larger tanks unless its THEIR tank. I have about a month to get that all sorted out.

As far as consumption goes, I have no clue other than simple math of say 15cf/hr and a tank with 330cf, that is 22hrs of welding. Allowing for say 10% residual in the tank and losses, that is roughly 20 hours.

What will be interesting is to see how the math compares to reality (but not till next January when hopefully the EXT shows up).

Cheers,

Mike

[jerky]

they may pop the safety valve when the valve is off to ensure it is within specification.

most valves have a rupture disk not an actual saftey valve, although this may be different down south there.

[acourtjester]

A different story on Hydro testing the tanks. The local guy told me they test them in a swimming pool and air fill the tank just a big splash if it blows. The other way you may contaminate the tank with water inside is they don’t pull a good vacuum on it before filling.

Have fun
Tom

[redbeard]

I just got a "T" from our regional company, they price-matched airgas at $313 for the bottle, and $88 for fills. They both said no charge to loyal customers for hydro testing. You can also request a tank with a long date when you trade it out.

[jerky]

so i went out and got myself a tank today. small 80cu BOUGHT for 275. came with a free refill so i dont know how much argon is yet. heres the little guy infront of my bandsaw. also i talked with the guy and he said if i find that i do need a bigger tank, they will buy the tank back off me and we can do the lease thing.

[Tinker]

If that bottle ends up being too small you might see if you can trade up to a larger bottle at the supplier. I did that with a couple of my junker bottles that I got freebee from my neighbor (former SnapOn dealer). They (Airgas as I recall) suggested it when I brought one of the little ones in for a refill. Can't recall the price to upgrade with the fill but it didn't strike me as a big deal, even as a hobbyist.

BTW, I've got an Enco version of that bandsaw and I couldn't live without it... It might get less use if I ever spring for a small plasma cutter.

Gary

[DVA]

so i went out and got myself a tank today. small 80cu BOUGHT for 275. came with a free refill so i dont know how much argon is yet. heres the little guy infront of my bandsaw. also i talked with the guy and he said if i find that i do need a bigger tank, they will buy the tank back off me and we can do the lease thing.

You shold be able to purchase 150 or 225 CF for about $220, 80 CF bottles go for about $140 around Arizona.

[jerky]

should note im in canada too eh. also on a kinda different topic, while i was in the store, i was going to pick some tungsten up. i have 3 - 10 packs coming from welding city but i wanted to play now. so i found a 10 pack of 1/8" thoriated and brought it to the counter. the guy was like, you want the whole pack? since the 10 pack from welding city was only 25$ i figured it wasent going to be that much more in store... WRONG... that same 10 pack was $100!!!!!! so i only got one stick.

[DaveO]

Are y'all buying cylinders from the gas supplier directly? I haven't explored that yet but I posted a want-to-buy on Craigs List and another venue, and got zero results.

[DVA]

I have purchased my cylinders from the local supplier with no problems. I laugh at craigslist, sometimes because Blue and Red welders are posted fore more $$ then some new welders are sold for at the local weld store around here. In Arizona there is good deals on craigslist for cylinders, 220 CF cylinders typically go for $140-160 some are full. As I posted before the 220 CF bottles in Arizona from the local stores are about $220 and if you have the good guy price that I did not state earlier they are about $160 (same price for 150 CF bottles currently because they cost my local supplier the same amount). I would look up the local suppliers and call around. Ask for their prices and see who has the best deal. Also, ask for the refill prices. Some of these places are flexible, do not get ripped off like my friend who paid $40 for a refill on a mixed 60 CF bottle.