Oxygen cylinder recertification?

[arthur6569]

I dropped my owned oxygen cylinder off at a welding supply store 7 WEEKS AGO I was told it would take two weeks for the hydro test and refill. Now they promise it by next Wednesday which will be 8 weeks + !!! Has anyone else ever had to wait sooooo long?

 

[rsanter]

I have never waited at all.
I have always paid the exchange fee and done an exchange on the spot

Bob

 

[Thumper68]

I have never waited at all.
I have always paid the exchange fee and done an exchange on the spot

Bob

This, I just did my ArCo2 and a oxy cylinder last week, walk in pay the fee and they even loaded the full cylinders for me.

And yes I own my tanks.

 

[arthur6569]

I have never waited at all.
I have always paid the exchange fee and done an exchange on the spot

Bob

This, I just did my ArCo2 and a oxy cylinder last week, walk in pay the fee and they even loaded the full cylinders for me.

And yes I own my tanks.

They don't offer an exchange fee for an outdate oxygen tank. The tank needs to pass the hydro test , otherwise it is only worth scrap value according to them. How much is the exchange fee on an outdated tank for you guys? I brought them an acetylene tank that was outdated and they just swapped it for a full one, just had to pay for the gas.

 

[Thumper68]

I think mine was $6 that was on the o2 cylinder, the other one was in date so no fee.

 

[Jason280]

Same here, I've never had to wait, even with a recert. The shop I use swaps out the tanks, and simply charges you the recert fee when you get the new tank.

 

[Dusty61]

sounds like they are trying to take you for a ride

 

[rlitman]

sounds like they are trying to take you for a ride

Agreed. Depending on the dealer, I've paid $15 to $20 as a re-cert fee, and then was given a swapped cylinder. The dealer just eyeballed the cylinder to see if it was something he'd likely get back as failed or not. I was told that the failure rate on steel cylinders is near zero, so they're not taking a big risk. And any cause for failure is usually pretty obvious visually from the outside. (yeah, there are always exceptions, which is why we do the testing in the first place).

As for how long it takes to get a re-cert on YOUR cylinder, yeah, it can take a while. Figure they need to remember to put it on the truck when they go to their distributor. Then they need to remember to cert your cylinder separately (and not lose it among the rest of their own cylinders).

 

[gnpenning]

I just went thru this with a T cylinder that came with a mig I bought. The company that would swap was $40 more. The other company has to send them out as only one store in there chain does it in my state. The truck only comes in once a week to my town. It had to transfer etc. The local truck broke down missed the transfer, blah ,blah, blah. It was about 2 months in the end. Perfect storm or poor management??? Should have been 3 week turn around. I feel your pain.

 

[jaker10]

I took my outdated tank to a fire equipment store and they tested it. Got it back the next day and took and got filled. Since a full tank will last me about as long as the cert. I wanted my tank back.

 

[gungatim]

I had some large CO2 tanks done, was about $65 for the re-cert, but they replaced the valve in one of them. only took a week.

find another LWS..8 weeks means they don't do their own and send them somewhere else.
+1 on paying to trade out, most places will do that, then you're good to go...

 

[Richard Cranium]

We only have two gas suppliers here, and if your tank has their sticker on it, they will trade it out and you only pay the refill fee. Have never paid a recert. fee. Yes I own my own tanks. My tanks are not the largest but a med. sized tank that they don't rent. Rich.

 

[arthur6569]

I decided to visit the store again today. They were very apologetic, one of the guys told me flat out that the man that does the testing is "an unreliable P.O.S." . They do all of their own testing at another location. I asked if someone could light a fire under his *** to get my tank done. They looked at each other and said ummm no! He must be a family member to be able get away with dragging his ***. Good news is that it is going to be FREE OF CHARGE when he finally gets it done.

 

[knobby]

My guess is that the cylinder not being a rental the shop didn't want to loose out if the head was bad combined with their desire to send out a batch of cylinders together is causing the delay.
FWIW around here the charge is $20 for a h test

 

[knobby]

I had some large CO2 tanks done, was about $65 for the re-cert, but they replaced the valve in one of them. only took a week.

find another LWS..8 weeks means they don't do their own and send them somewhere else.
+1 on paying to trade out, most places will do that, then you're good to go...

Little tip-ALWAYS open the valve fully and valve failures will be decreased substantially.

 

[zkling]

My guess is that the cylinder not being a rental the shop didn't want to loose out if the head was bad combined with their desire to send out a batch of cylinders together is causing the delay.
FWIW around here the charge is $20 for a h test

This. It is local or a national store?

 

[rsanter]

Foe me they call it an " in service fee"
If I have an out of date tank that does not have their sticker on it. I think it's $20-$40 depending on the size of the tank.
But what you get is that the tank they give you has been tested and has their sticker on it so the next time you pay for the gas and they just exchange it.
Some might say that's a rip but to me it is completely worth it as the next time I have zero wait

Bob

 

[gungatim]

Little tip-ALWAYS open the valve fully and valve failures will be decreased substantially.

actually, I was using to fill paintball tanks, no dip tube, tip them upside down on a stool to get liquid, and one slipped and broke stem that holds the handle on. I know, sign me up on the osha violation or dumb shop mistakes thread

 

[Thumper68]

actually, I was using to fill paintball tanks, no dip tube, tip them upside down on a stool to get liquid, and one slipped and broke stem that holds the handle on. I know, sign me up on the osha violation or dumb shop mistakes thread

Why didn't you just get a siphion tank?

 

[gungatim]

Why didn't you just get a siphion tank?

I did on the one I broke the valve on...I got both tanks for $15, they were full and dated from the late '60's, so when I went to fill them I got one done. the other is really just a spare for my mig, but I keep getting tanks cheap at yard sales so i've got the two big ones and 5 smaller ones all full...really need to sell some and clean out the shop!!