going rate for argon and lease rates

[dgarnier]

going to get an argon bottle for my new tig set up. Looking for some input on what the going rates are so I know if I am getting bent or not.

Looking to get a 125 or 180cf bottle

[WILD BILL]

I forget what I paid for the bottle.(I think it was $180 plus the fill) but every time I get it swapped out it only costs my around $28.

This is a 125 CF and I own it. It's the biggest one I could get without going to a leas or rent and is;s about perfect for home use.

[Nikola Tesla]

Hello,

I will tell you this much. I made the mistake of buying two 40 cubic foot tanks. Its about $30 bucks to get refilled. For the 185 cubic foot (whatever the largest size is) that I bought is a little more than $40 to refill. So not difficult math to figure out. Thats almost 5 times more gas for 1/4 more in cost. With gas, as long as you close the main valve its not going anywhere. I went through those 40 cubic footers fast. So I ended up craigslisting the two 40 cubic foot tanks and got some of my money back. Your basicly paying for the energy it takes to bottle it up. Your gonna waist a lot of money with a smaller tank. One piece of good advice? Air/gas has sales every so often on tanks. I think payed $200 for the largest tank filled. I have welded for atleast 6 hours on it so far without it getting low. Though I know its getting close because of that pressure curve. Hope this helps

[Rugar]

My 330cf argon cost me $300 filled to buy outright. Refills are $75 each for both of my 330cf bottles of straight Argon, and C25.

[jakeru]

Pricing seems to vary by region. If there is a place that refills argon cheaply but they are halfway across the country, that doesn't do you any good, can't just ship a big gas bottle out to have it filled, needs to be local. So IMO the only relevant prices to determine if you are getting "jacked" are the other welding supplies that are available to you locally.

In greater seattle area, I get mine at Central Welding, and my 150cf bottle (customer owned) costs thirty something or forty something to exchange for a full one. They are cheaper than Airgas and Praxair, which comprise all the other local welding supplies for me (at least that I'm aware of.)

I gradually upsized my bottle from a 55 to an 80, to a 150. I recall the last bottle upgrade, I figured I'd pay back after 3 or so refills. The 150cf is the biggest size that fits in the back seat of my car.

[stick]

Also ask for multi year lease optionI can lease a 330 for $45 for 1 year or I can lease it for $90 for three years. some lws don't tell you this up front. I live in maine and pay about 80 for a 330 refile its less in New Hampshire but at $4.00 pr. gal. of diesel. I would not be saving any $$.

[everlastsupport]

330 refills here are $75-80. I recommend as large a tank as you can move around. The 150s are $34-38 to fill here. I have talk to guys that get 150 done in the twenties, but that does not happen here.

[performance]

65.00 here on 330's. I wouldn't go with anything less.

But Rugar, I am surprised that they will let you pick it up in a car. They won't let us load in a car here. They don't even like to load it laying down in a truck.

[Rugar]

65.00 here on 330's. I wouldn't go with anything less.

But Rugar, I am surprised that they will let you pick it up in a car. They won't let us load in a car here. They don't even like to load it laying down in a truck.

I don't use a car, I haul them in my truck, and they are laying down. Maybe you meant Jake?

[aaxiss]

I recently priced out a local small shop vs airgas and wow what a difference. small shop quoted me for 150cf bottle and argon $225..... airgas $380 O.o

I try to give my business to the small guys most of the time anyway , gonna look on craigs list for something used with a decent cert date on it also I would like a larger bottle but cant afford it and all the shops around here want to rent by the day or sell you one.

Good luch on your search and hope this helped you

[ryanfull]

At my local welding shop I believe I pay around $150-160 for a five year lease on a 154 cf bottle and the fills are just shy of $50.

[dgarnier]

Armed with some rates, I found the prices were all over the board. 175$ for 5 years for a 150 and 66$ a fill to 54$ a year for a 330 and 40$ a fill. Looks like I am going with the 330 and on top of that they are right by the shop and are open on Saturdays.

Also found out the 330 was better gas...they said its vacuamed?

[A/C Guy]

I recently priced out a local small shop vs airgas and wow what a difference. small shop quoted me for 150cf bottle and argon $225..... airgas $380 O.o

I try to give my business to the small guys most of the time anyway , gonna look on craigs list for something used with a decent cert date on it also I would like a larger bottle but cant afford it and all the shops around here want to rent by the day or sell you one.

Cert dates don't mean squat because when you get a refill, they give you a different bottle; they don't fill your bottle while you wait.

I always rotate my bottles by date to be sure that I don't have an expired cert date. Highway patrol writes tickets if they happen to look at your tanks during a traffic stop and notice an outdated cert. When I do find an expired tank, I work that one through the rotation and then trade it for a full one.

[A/C Guy]

Armed with some rates, I found the prices were all over the board. 175$ for 5 years for a 150 and 66$ a fill to 54$ a year for a 330 and 40$ a fill. Looks like I am going with the 330 and on top of that they are right by the shop and are open on Saturdays.

Also found out the 330 was better gas...they said its vacuamed?

All tanks are supposed to be vacuumed, but many places that lease skip that step. In Az, we buy our tanks, so we can buy the tank from the cheapest source for tank sales, then refill from the cheapest source for refills. $232 for a new 180 (I think) CF tank with c25; refills will be $40

[Robert s]

I refilled my 330 tank on Friday and it was $80.58 at my local Scott Gross. I buy all my tanks so I can shop price. and I go for the large tanks because you can never save to much fuel in the truck at todays price. And the time saved is great also.

[kenwhite]

I pay $17 for my 40cf bottle filled with c25

[dgarnier]

picked up the 330 this weekend - wow it was heavy. Got it home and got it all strapped and chained into the cart. Found there prices for filler rod wasent too bad so I also picked up some mild steel filler rod. So now I pretty much just waiting on my 250ex to show up.

[yotarover]

i think i paid 245 to lease and to fill up is 40 bucks

[dgarnier]

i think i paid 245 to lease and to fill up is 40 bucks

how many years does the 245 cover?

[Salty]

I just upgraded to a 162cu ft tank from a 80cu ft tank my LWS charges $39.64 to fill the 162 cu ft tank I was paying $28.05 to fill the 80cu ft tank so I get twice the gas for an additional $11.59 and less trips to the LWS. The 162 cu ft tank runs $266.33. They call it (user owned) they just exchange the tank when it empty for the $39.64. If you are going to Tig weld you will want the bigger tank. If you have to start with a smaller tank check to see if you can upgrade down the road.