Argon / Shielding Gas Average Price?

[Vegaman_Dan]

Got to go get the 80 (cu ft) tank of argon #1 mix (GMAV) refilled tomorrow and I haven't ever priced this stuff out for my own use. It's always been the shop buying through invoice. Now this tank is on my dime for my own use and I don't know what is a reasonable price.

I'm not worried about being taken or anything, but since industrial gases are like other commodities, the prices are never listed online. What sort of ballpark figure can I expect to pay?

I'm figuring that size tank should be in the $30-40 range based on some sample pricing. Am I far off? Curious what the prices range like in different regions for the various gases.

For that matter, what are the prices of Oxy and Acetylene when those come time for refill?

 

[Journaler]

For my 125 ft^3 Argon/CO2 exchanges, I just called around to some of the local places to get an idea of the going rate.

With time/gas factored in, it was cheapest to get my gas from Tractor Supply. Plus, they're open 7 days/week.

It was $40 for the mix gas. I'm not sure if TSC carries straight Argon, but they do swap Oxygen/Acetylene tanks.

 

[srmofo]

my 80lb takes are roughly $38

funny thing is, all the smaller tanks were between $30 and $36. Which is why I choose the 80lb. It was the best bang for the buck so to speak.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

I do get envious of all you folk that have TSC in your area. They don't get to the Seattle region, I'm afraid. The closest one is nearly 600 miles away and I don't think the cost savings of driving there and back over two days is quite effective.

This reminds me that the used welding setup I got is missing the cap for the bottle. I think the local welding supply should be able to help me out there for a fee. I don't like transporting any bottle without a cap.

 

[racingtadpole]

Im envious of the fact you guys dont get bent over to rent a cylinder like we do. I have 2 small Argon Mix bottles (D size), 1 small Argon Bottle (D size), and medium Oxy and Acetylene bottles (both E size) and my rental is around $700 for the year.

A fill of Argon Mix (argoshield lite) costs around $80 for my bottles, the Argon is around $130, the Oxy is relatively cheap at around $70 for an E size fill, and the Acetylene is....wait for it..... $250 for an E size fill.

To put that in perspective a D cylinder of anything inert is currently filled to 1.6m3 (just over 56 cu ft to save you googling it), an E is filled to twice that at 3.2m3 (or just over 112 to save the googling).

 

[Todd.Brock]

I paid about $50 bucks at TSC for 125 cu ft. #4 tank exchange. When I traded in I had to pay either 6 or 9 dollars extra for not having a lid. I was also supposed to pay 13 for not having a current hydro test. They ended up not charging me for some reason. When I bought the tank on CL for 40 bucks, no where else would fill it b/c I did not have ownership papers with it. I am not entirely sure what happens if you ever get out of the exchange program, but it was the best option for me hands down. Trade off is the higher exchange price, I about 10 or 15 bucks higher than the Local welding supply.

 

[casetractorfarmer]

I pay about 45$ for a 156 cubic foot argon tank at rockford welding in kenosha

 

[PKAero]

I used to get all of my welding gas from Welders Supply. Purchased all of my tanks, welding equipment, etc. from them at reasonable prices. They were bought out by Airgas and now despise dealing with low volume customers, charge an A&L and huff and puff about having to type an invoice for just one tank. I now exchange tanks with TSC or Northern Tool. Airgas can KMA!

 

[Alchymist]

Local Tractor Supply will only fill or exchange their own tanks.....

 

[dr_clyde]

I purchased my cylinders, T size, or 330 C.Foot. $313 OTD with the first fill up free. My gas is $35 for pure Argon. Somewhere in that neighborhood for C25. I can't remember off the top of my head because I do mostly TIG so a mix gas lasts a year or so for me.

Also, the salseman from Purity Cylinder Gases delivers all my welding supplies personally. Cylinders in the back of his Jeep and all. I buy a ****-ton of welding supplies, so that helps. I also give him a six pack every now and then. I stopped buying tools from Snap-On and started with the welding supply because their prices and service was so good. And I've got a great Snap-On guy, if that tells you anything.

 

[Murphy4570]

Im envious of the fact you guys dont get bent over to rent a cylinder like we do. I have 2 small Argon Mix bottles (D size), 1 small Argon Bottle (D size), and medium Oxy and Acetylene bottles (both E size) and my rental is around $700 for the year.

Hah eff that noise. Some gas supply houses do force rentals or outright purchases, but not all. Depends on what level you are interacting with them. I do all my personal business with them through the commercial acct my work has with them. They don't charge for bottles as long as you have one to exchange, only the gas. As long as you just get 'em filled there, they're happy.

 

[2manytoyz]

I swapped a pony bottle at Tractor Supply for $24:

New bottle on the cart:

I bought the pony bottle originally from a gas supply store for $100. It was already filled. NT allowed the exchange with no core charge fee. They said they won't do an exchange "for a non-blue bottle" with the larger bottles. Just a heads up if you already own a bottle and are wanting to do an exchange. If it ain't blue, expect to pay more.

The small bottles work for me, but if I did any serious welding, I'd get a much larger one.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

Aaaaand the answer is: $45 for a 80 cubic foot refill. Not bad!

 

[racingtadpole]

Hah eff that noise. Some gas supply houses do force rentals or outright purchases, but not all. Depends on what level you are interacting with them. I do all my personal business with them through the commercial acct my work has with them. They don't charge for bottles as long as you have one to exchange, only the gas. As long as you just get 'em filled there, they're happy.

There are three suppliers where I live, BOC, Supagas and Air Liquide. All charge rental, none will allow outright purchase of the cylinder. There is one place in Sydney that does sell the cylinders outright, but the fill price is extortionate and customer is responsible for hydro testing the cylinder every few years AND Sydney is two days drive away from me.

 

[racingtadpole]

Aaaaand the answer is: $45 for a 80 cubic foot refill. Not bad!

Now Im really envious!!

 

[StumpXJ]

Just picked up my T bottle (330CuFt) C25 mix for $48.00 (fill/swap price). It would drive me nuts to use anything smaller... The 125's just dont last long enough, and cost almost as much.

I went ahead a set up a personal account at my local airgas. They have pretty darn good prices with an account set-up.

 

[bad_idea]

80 cf bottle of 75/25 refill cost me $12 (company price) at the local weld shop.

 

[david594]

Paid $23 last year on a C25 refill for a new 40cf tank I purchased off eBay. Didn't really want to exchange it since it was a brand new tank and I only needed it for occasional sheet metal repair.