Fair price for hydrostatic test / cert

[SkinnyG]

So I bought a welder off of CL last year and it came with a 80cf bottle. I feel like a got a pretty good deal on it, even though the certification on the bottle was out of date (which I didn't know until yesterday). I ran out of gas recently, so I took the bottle to my friends speed shop and left it there for the next time the Airgas driver came by (they get weekly visits to deliver nitrous bottles). The driver took one look at the bottle and noted the expired certification and said that it would need to be tested before they could fill it. So my friend called Airgas to ask about the cost of testing.

What they told him completely blew me away. They quoted him about $400.... This CAN'T be right?? Was there some sort of breakdown in communication here? Surely the guy at Airgas was talking about something else?? If a hydrostatic test actually costs this much, I'll just take the thing to Tractor supply and swap it in for one of their bottles. Any input here? Thanks

 

[Jack Olsen]

Should be $15-30 for the test and cert. Find a local welding supply place that doesn't have the word 'AirGas' on the sign.

 

[rickairmedic]

My local distributor quoted me $20.00 per bottle for recirt.

Rick

 

[jkeyser14]

The one place I know of that actually does testing around me charges $20. They're pretty far away from me though so if I normally go to a local store that uses the same place and charges $30, but for me it's worth the extra $10 to not have to drive 45 min each way.

 

[Killer95Stang]

That can't be right.. Airgas sells a new 80cf bottle for less than $200 filled..

 

[NUTTSGT]

$400, I wonder if somebody is trying to pocket some money ?

We just had our SCBA bottle hydro'ed at the FD, I think they were 17 a piece.

 

[nate379]

Why don't you just turn the bottle in and get a new full one, is there any reason you need that particular bottle back?

 

[SkinnyG]

Why don't you just turn the bottle in and get a new full one, is there any reason you need that particular bottle back?

I don't need to have that particular bottle back for any reason, but with the outdated cert, no one will take it in on exchange without charging to test (and AirGas evidently wants $400 for the test). There are a couple other suppliers around here that I'll check with.

That can't be right.. Airgas sells a new 80cf bottle for less than $200 filled..

I agree. There had to be some sort of miscommunication...

 

[nate379]

Ok that is weird. Around here I have never had a problem. I had some torch tanks that were over there dates by 20 or 25 years and they didn't even question it.

 

[acamato]

Check out the DOT site for a list of retesters. Go to one on the list, they will be cheaper than going to someone that will sub it out to a retester.

http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/portal/sit...87110VgnVCM1000009ed07898RCRD&vgnextfmt=print

 

[fefarms]

The local Airgas will take an out-of-hydro tank on exchange, as long as you don't rub their nose in it. They don't even look at the tank up close; from a distance they can tell if it is the right size and for the right gas. They do get snotty about having the protective cap over the valve, and they tend to check the large tanks for being some other supplier's rented tank.

 

[Zeke]

The local Airgas will take an out-of-hydro tank on exchange, as long as you don't rub their nose in it. They don't even look at the tank up close; from a distance they can tell if it is the right size and for the right gas. They do get snotty about having the protective cap over the valve, and they tend to check the large tanks for being some other supplier's rented tank.

That would be my experience as well.

 

[Crazy Car Guy]

Ok that is weird. Around here I have never had a problem. I had some torch tanks that were over there dates by 20 or 25 years and they didn't even question it.

i picked a set of mini torches out of the county dump with a test date of 78 and i got new ones no questions asked and the guy even hooked em up made sure everything was in working order while i waited and i was out the door with change from a 50 with a new tip installed new wrench and striker

 

[SkinnyG]

Check out the DOT site for a list of retesters. Go to one on the list, they will be cheaper than going to someone that will sub it out to a retester.

http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/portal/sit...87110VgnVCM1000009ed07898RCRD&vgnextfmt=print

Thanks for that. I went to a place on that list (conveniently right across the street from my friend's shop). $17.

I told the guy there about the price I got from AirGas. He said that they shipped them to someone to have them tested, and the huge price was to cover the cost of shipping. If they were going to outsource it, I have to wonder why they wouldn't just send it to some place in town (there's at least 20 on that list) instead of shipping the things out somewhere????