ARGON and ARGON/CO2 TANK SIZES

[Steve]

The very best and cheapest place to get any tanks is..........Craigslist

I found a guy up near Detroit that buys tanks from bankrupt companies and then re-sells them.

For $150, a 125 cft argon or any other tank full of gas. I've bought 5 tanks off him and saved a ton of cash. All almost brand new with recent testings.

Check out Craigslist. It's full of tools and other stuff that weldors use!

PS...don't think you will find any used Everlast welders on Craigslist. There does not seem to be too many people that want to sell theirs.

[everlastsupport]

My last 2 150s were $100 each with gas (both argon). My last 250 was picked up via a $100 deal on and O/A set of tanks and I still have a spare Acetylene tank from that deal to get rid of. Most of my deals are knowing other guys that weld and know they no other guys that want to get out of town and no take the heavy stuff.

And Craigslist, I admit I've bought a welder and tank, then sold the welder off in the past

[Jason]

You can find tanks at auctions for decent prices also. My girlfriends great grandfather has tons of tanks he picked up from actions.

[performance]

Just remember, because you find it on Ebay, or craig's list or its sold at public auction doesn't mean its not a company owned tank or outright stolen. IF you buy a tank like this and it turns out to be a "rental" then you have lost at the very least some money, and possibly could be charged with possession of stolen property. A lot of guys "grind" the name off the neck, but there are ways to identify a rental cylinder... If I bought from some place like this, I'd do my homework.

[jakeru]

Take heed with what Mark says above. I had a craigslist deal turn sour, upon meeting in person to find the neck ring had raised lettering, indicating tank was not really his property but was a leased tank. Of course he denied any knowledge of it being leased.

Also, remember to factor in fuel cost of your "tank delivery rig" if you are considering at driving very far out of your normal path to get a tank. it can easily make a good deal, not so good.

That said, after a little negotiating, I did score an empty, inert gas owner ~330 cf tank for just $100 cash on craigslist, a great deal even after burning up some truck fuel to get to it.

[Steve]

Rentals are generally the 200 to 300 CFT sizes due to government mandates. Renting a smaller tank just does not make good economic sense. I asked the manager at the local welding supply store about that and he told me that they usually never check the smaller tanks for ownership especially if you are a regular customer. As long as it does not say RENTAL on it, you are good to go!

The tanks I bought were owned by a company that is now out of business in the Detroit area and so the LWS had no trouble exchanging them. The guy who sold them sells tons of them and buys from auctions. I figured I saved around $700 on my tanks by buying from Craigslist off this guy. All are 125 CFT tanks and when bought were full. He carries argon, 75/25, and O/A tanks.

All the tanks I have had raised lettering and that has never been an issue with getting refilled.(actually exchanged) The only thing that gas companies will not do is exchange tanks from another vendor....like Airgas tanks at a Matheson dealer. Here is a cool video from a weldor friend Freddytk421......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndGB-Ww47M4 that explains the legal issues of tanks.

I do agree that you should do your homework though. I never would buy an adulterated tank. Also make sure that the tank has been tested within the last few years. Some folks have tanks that have been around a while and sell them. Then you get them and find out that they need to be tested. You have to pay for that test.

Here is a link to a US military site for the markings on pressure vessels.....http://www.usamma.army.mil/assets/do...20Markings.pdf

[performance]

Steve,
You have Rental tanks. IF they have the company's name on them, they ARE stolen. This guy is probably buying them for 10 or 15 bucks from a Junkie who has been peddling the tanks he has on his work truck and selling his company's leased cylinders. This guy is definitely a fence. Why else would they put their name on them? What you are doing is flying under the radar. If you are taking them in for refill, and they are swapping them out, then they are either turning a blind eye OR they are assuming that you are paying rent. I've seen his videos. You need to rewatch it. It says along as it does NOT have the welding companies name you are good to go.This is a case of selective listening. In fact the video supports EVERYTHING we have said here... Airgas for one does NOT mark their tanks rental...NONE of mine have rental on them and all 4 of them are on lease. Some companies have been caught refilling stolen tanks. Others continue to do it unscrupulously for a quick buck but when they get caught its a major fine. Just because the company may have gone out in your area, does not mean that they are fair game. If they are still in business somewhere, then they belong to that company still. They also were probably bought out by an existing gas company and all their cylinders became the new owners property. Cylinders can last for 60 or 70 years and still be fine. For instance the other day, I got a tank that said "Union Carbide" on them and I questioned the company about them because I wanted to make sure they had not made a mistake, and after 3 or 4 mergers, they were acquired by air gas in my area.

[Steve]

Steve,
You have Rental tanks. IF they have the company's name on them, they ARE stolen. This guy is probably buying them for 10 or 15 bucks from a Junkie who has been peddling the tanks he has on his work truck and selling his company's leased cylinders. This guy is definitely a fence. Why else would they put their name on them? What you are doing is flying under the radar. If you are taking them in for refill, and they are swapping them out, then they are either turning a blind eye OR they are assuming that you are paying rent. I've seen his videos. You need to rewatch it. It says along as it does NOT have the welding companies name you are good to go.This is a case of selective listening. In fact the video supports EVERYTHING we have said here... Airgas for one does NOT mark their tanks rental...NONE of mine have rental on them and all 4 of them are on lease. Some companies have been caught refilling stolen tanks. Others continue to do it unscrupulously for a quick buck but when they get caught its a major fine. Just because the company may have gone out in your area, does not mean that they are fair game. If they are still in business somewhere, then they belong to that company still. They also were probably bought out by an existing gas company and all their cylinders became the new owners property. Cylinders can last for 60 or 70 years and still be fine. For instance the other day, I got a tank that said "Union Carbide" on them and I questioned the company about them because I wanted to make sure they had not made a mistake, and after 3 or 4 mergers, they were acquired by air gas in my area.

I think you and I are pretty much saying the same thing....but your assumptions are way out!

First I did not say that all rental tanks have rental on them. But if you come across a tank with RENTAL on them....stay away as you will not be able to get them exchanged.

You missed the most important part......as long as they are not the big tanks...200cft and up......the small ones can have names on them and not be a problem. I've talked to several gas dealers about this as I did have some questions. All said the same thing. The tanks 150 cft and under are not a problem as long as they don't say RENTAL on them. When I went to refill them, I asked the manager about the name on the tanks and they said the same as the video.....names are OK on smaller tanks....it even says so in printed letters on the screen in the video.

And no.....the company that was in business is totally out of business....it was a fabrication shop and had only one location. They owned the tanks outright. So they could not have any other place. I even checked with the guy I bought them from and he showed me the receipts he has for the tanks....bought from an auction company who specializes in company shut downs. The tank is marked "Toledo Oxygen & Equipment" and has a Matheson sticker....so Toledo Oxygen was bought legally from them and now can be refilled at a Matheson dealer. The area around Toledo and Detroit is an economic disaster with many fabrication and other businesses tied to the auto industry going out of business for good. I even called the Matheson dealership and they said my tank was good to own after our discussion here.

So no, my tanks are not rentals...they are not stolen.....one has a company name on it but the company is no longer in business. The guy I bought from does this as a business and specializes in buying and selling welding supplies and equipment from auction. He's been doing it for over 25 years. I found out about him from a friend who knows this guy well. He's up in Michigan and I drive up there every once in a while to buy a tank or two from him. I'm near Cleveland but it is worth the couple of hours drive to get them.

As you say though....."Caveot Emptor". Let the buyer beware.

[DVA]

At Vern Lewis welding supply in Phoenix you can purchase a tank and any time you want to up size, the up size cost is the difference in tank prices. I would assume that is how most gas vendors treat owner bottles.

I got a good deal on my tank, if I would have rented, my payments over the last year would have payed for about 70% of the cost to purchase the tank. Purchasing a tank is the best way to go if you plan on welding for a few years (or for some of us here, the rest of our lives). And if the tank size is not correct you can always change out the size when you go to fill it up.

[trickbiker]

At Vern Lewis welding supply in Phoenix you can purchase a tank and any time you want to up size, the up size cost is the difference in tank prices. I would assume that is how most gas vendors treat owner bottles.

I got a good deal on my tank, if I would have rented, my payments over the last year would have payed for about 70% of the cost to purchase the tank. Purchasing a tank is the best way to go if you plan on welding for a few years (or for some of us here, the rest of our lives). And if the tank size is not correct you can always change out the size when you go to fill it up.

When I went to gas on my mig this year I decided to get a bigger tank and was informed I couldn't because the bigger one were for commercial people. What!! Am I missing something here.

[redbeard]

Here is a link to a US military site for the markings on pressure vessels.....http://www.usamma.army.mil/assets/do...20Markings.pdf

The document is titled "Oxygen Cylinder Markings" is that info good for all other bottles as well?