going rate for argon and lease rates

[Zoomie]

Yeah, I know this is an old thread but, 120/125?!? bottle of Argon was 33 bucks to swap at my LWS...

[performance]

Just swapped at my lws (airgas) for a little under 65 for C 18, 330 cu ft.

[nitris223]

Man I envy you guys in the States. I only wish I could get those prices on gas. I just phoned around today checking contracts and such. Here is what I pay in Saskatchewan Canada. 1 yr contract $75 - $80 3yr contract $181 - $191 for a S size tank and $110 - $123.50 for refills which is exchanged tanks for a full one. Only 2 place to pick from and only one place will sell tanks . The one LWS carries Praxair gas and the only size tank the sell is the S size which is 138 CF I think. $220 to buy the tank and $90 for refills. That has been the only real reason from picking up a tig welder was the cost of the extra contract. That and Miller was way to much for a tig welder for hobby use. Now that I found these Everlast welders the itch is on again. I can get away with a Q tank on my mig welder most of the time. About $58 to fill but I am not sure if the S size tank will be enough. I can get a T size tank From Praxair for $191/ 3yr contract and $162 for refills. That might be the most reasonable contract or buy the S tank and hope for the best.

To me the contracts are a money grab. They claim it is for pressure test and purging, blah , blah . If that's the case then I would like to know why I had 3 tanks that leaked after the first time opening them. I always shut my gas off after when I am done. 3 tanks on different occasions. I think there was junk in the tank and after I open it the first time the tank did not seal completely when the valve is off. The gave me full tanks free of charge but the time I wasted bringing them back and one time was on a Saturday when they are closed, needless to say they got a few nasty word thrown their way on Monday.