What size bottle for easy mobility?

[Jules The Great]

Well the gas price over here on the east coast is high probably mostly evil connecticut taxes and such.

Also over here the gas places won't let you "own" anything bigger than 80cf bottles. They claim this is to prevent theft but it is clearly because they make allot more money of industrial places who all use bigger bottles.

Like I said, better out west.

[Bigwilly01]

Well the gas price over here on the east coast is high probably mostly evil connecticut taxes and such.

Also over here the gas places won't let you "own" anything bigger than 80cf bottles. They claim this is to prevent theft but it is clearly because they make allot more money of industrial places who all use bigger bottles.

Like I said, better out west.

That is insanity. I hate some of these LWS's. But on the other hand could be local or state laws on the size limits.

[Jules The Great]

Unfortunatly it is just them.

Tractor supply apparently lets you own and swap out the big bottles and are/were being sued by the gas companies, airgas, because they swapped out some of theirs.

[Jules The Great]

So I called another airgas that is about 45 minutes away and they sell their argon for $40 for 80 cf which I think is the perfect bottle size for easy mobility. That is opposed to the $75 my local one charges, so unless they are willing to come down I will not use them anymore.

The further away one also told me it was a federal restriction that you could not own bottles over 80cf, he agreed that it did not make sense. It can't however be a law as it would only read that "you can only rent big bottles so gas companies can make more money" I mean you can do all the same things with a bottle you rent as with one you own right! So it makes no sense other than that they are lying.

I don't mind paying a higher price when I have to for certain things under certain cirumstances but I hate when they are plain gouging.

[Brian Ski]

The further away one also told me it was a federal restriction that you could not own bottles over 80cf, he agreed that it did not make sense. It can't however be a law as it would only read that "you can only rent big bottles so gas companies can make more money" I mean you can do all the same things with a bottle you rent as with one you own right! So it makes no sense other than that they are lying.

Well I don't think they are lying... Just miss informed... I even see the cops say stuff like that... When a cops asks you is that legal??? And I have to explain to him.

Back to the post. You can own any size tank. But if it is a certain company (with a LWS stores name) they may not sell their tanks above a certain size. That way they can keep track of their rental tanks. Here the local place only lets you own 125 CF or smaller... Any larger with their name are rentals... You can take in unnamed tanks but you will have to wait to fill not just a swap. Also pay for any retesting since it is not a swapable tank.

BTW if you buy a tank say from Harbor freight... You have the option (since there is no name)of swapping it out at the local place or having it filled so you can keep it... If you swap it then you loose the unnamed tank for good, since they probably put their label on it.

[Brian Ski]

So I called another airgas that is about 45 minutes away and they sell their argon for $40 for 80 cf which I think is the perfect bottle size for easy mobility.

Then you still have to figure in your mileage to get it. Plus if the tank runs out the time to run all the way out their and back.

BTW I don't think it is legal or safe to transport tanks in a car. They have to be outside of a passenger compartment. Some places will turn their back on you doing this. I don't think any will help you load it that way.

The 125s are pretty decent size tanks to handle.

Heads up if you carry a tank do NOT carry it by the cap. Long ago story of a guy carrying a tank and the cap was worn and slipped off... Popped him in the jaw and shattered his jaw. Maybe a one in a million chance... But people still play the lotto.!!!!!!

[Jules The Great]

I hear what you are saying, but even with gas driving it will be cheaper, if you account for my time then no it is not but I should be able to get my local guy to hook me up.

As to carrying in a car I put them in my trunk, if it is illegal it is yet another foolish law written by someone with no understanding of anything. If the bottle leaks there or on my shop or garage or whatever I will be just as dead in the end. I think I may get some sort of low oxegen alarm to be safe.

If they are claiming the danger is from a collision I don't think anyone would sign up to being in a collision if a tank were in the back of a truck.

If they do have a problem I can just drive around with it strapped in the trunk with the trunk open.

That does sound like a freak occurance but thanks for the warning

[Brian Ski]

Oh I follow you too... The problem is if it leaks int he car it is a confined space, In a passenger compartment. If it is in a shop or garage it is not that confined and a lot of time doors are open.

BTW about fuel... My truck gets 8 mpg on a good day... so a 45 min ride is going to cost me some money.

I did some digging and don't show a specific law against transporting in a car just this line... "Transporting cylinders in cars, vans, or in any enclosed vehicle is extremely dangerous, and should be avoided. Never transport flammable gases in the trunk or passenger compartment of a vehicle."

[Jules The Great]

Good point, I have a crown victoria and get around 22mpg going ....the speed limit of course.

I just picked up a big tank has to be around 5 foot, full of mix gas for mig, bought it for $85. I know no one near me will fill it so I will at least get to use the gas and then will have to find a clever way to get it filled. One thought is take it to a big welding shop that rents big tanks and see if I can throw them a little cash to sneak it in with their bottles. I would of course pay if it needs to be tested. We shall have to see, it is so big I can't imagine how long it will take to run down.

[DaveO]

Asphyxiation? The greater danger is probably taking a corner too fast, and the bottle sliding sideways in the truck, denting your quarterpanel outward from the inside. I'd say you're ahead at $85 to own a *full* bottle .

[Brian Ski]

I just picked up a big tank has to be around 5 foot, full of mix gas for mig, bought it for $85. I know no one near me will fill it so I will at least get to use the gas and then will have to find a clever way to get it filled. One thought is take it to a big welding shop that rents big tanks and see if I can throw them a little cash to sneak it in with their bottles. I would of course pay if it needs to be tested. We shall have to see, it is so big I can't imagine how long it will take to run down.

That around here is considered a rental tank. I have one my buddy bought for $30. Problem is it is a Nitrogen tank... WTF do you do with that??? If I can find someone who rents several kinds of tanks maybe they could swap it for an Argon... Or O2 ... Or even an Argon CO2 mix. Problem is I can't find that guy yet.

Yea if you can find a shop and they are cool they shouldn't have a problem swapping it for you. The rental tanks don't care if they are out of date. As long as it has the company they use names on it.

Heads up if you take it to get filled and don't have a rental agreement they will take it from you. Depends on your area but that is what they do here...

[Brian Ski]

Asphyxiation? The greater danger is probably taking a corner too fast, and the bottle sliding sideways in the truck, denting your quarterpanel outward from the inside.

then snapping the valve and shooting like an unguided missile down the road.

[everlastsupport]

For me, it depends on how close you can get the truck to your tanks. If you can backup close to them, go 250, roll them on the job if needed. If you have to carry them or roll them a lot, 150 would be best. Also, you can buy a cheap dolly and keep it in the truck too. The generator is more work than the tank for us.

[Rivets]

... Problem is it is a Nitrogen tank... WTF do you do with that??? ...

For plasma cutting, instead of compressed air.
No moisture issue.

rivets

[Jules The Great]

yeah we shall have to wait and see, not sure what size it is but it has 2000 psi in it a little over. It appears to be 60" tall and 9 or 9.5 inches in diam. I can pick it up and move it around but I am not going to say it is light.

I would call ahead and see if they would fill it. There is no way in h### that I would allow them to "sieze" it I would stick it back in my trunk tell them where to stick it and leave, I mean they can't stop you or touch you the most they can legally do is call the cops.

I actualy do not know if I will even be able to use all the gas up before I hope I can move outwest where it won't be a problem. I have an 80cf tank with mix in it and even with what I feel is quite a bit of welding it is still over half full.

I know what you mean about them lying, and like with cops if you ever ask them if you are allowed to do something they will almost always just say no right away. Most of the time they have no idea.

Here is the tank next to an 80 sitting in a HF welding cart.

[Brian Ski]

I would call ahead and see if they would fill it. There is no way in h### that I would allow them to "sieze" it I would stick it back in my trunk tell them where to stick it and leave, I mean they can't stop you or touch you the most they can legally do is call the cops.

The guy was pretty cool with a buddy of mine a month ago... He said if it hits his dock they have to keep it and he left it in his truck and that was where it was left. I had one I took in to another company many years ago and they told me I had to give it up or they would call the cops... If the cops were called the bottle has their name on the ring... So whose is it???? BTW they are out of biz now or bought out... I guess you call it Karma!!!!

[everlastsupport]

I would guess that is a HP280 or HP330 if that is an 80 next to it. Over 230 for sure.