Tank Lease?

[PoorUB]

For those that rent or lease tanks for welders, is there a new way of doing it?

I don't weld like I used to, but I want to keep my MIG welder available. My tank ran out the other day and I need to return it. I know my lease was up a couple years back. Will gas suppliers just "sell" a tank of gas? Do I need o do a 5 or 10 year lease to get a tank?

 

[MattGarage]

We can exchange in Southern California. Best bet buy used but with recent cert. gas place will charge way more

 

[whateg01]

Varies by region and store. Some will swap owner bottles. Others will only deal with a leased bottle from them.

 

[scooby074]

Varies by area but here there are customer owned bottles (small ones) and lease bottles (large, "commercial") size.

If you own your bottle, its just a straight swap. If its a large bottle, its property of the welding supply and you have to have a current lease.

 

[Firebrick43]

Here they do 5 year leases or monthly rentals. Most places here will not sell you a tank anymore. Linde just bought my local shop so I am not looking forward to the next visit to see if they will swap owned tanks out.

 

[zendriver]

I never owned a set before, but purchased tanks, torches, cart at an auction. 3 year ago

Kind of surprised, Local welding supply, took my money, swapped air and gas tanks without asking a thing.

 

[scooby074]

Here they do 5 year leases or monthly rentals. Most places here will not sell you a tank anymore. Linde just bought my local shop so I am not looking forward to the next visit to see if they will swap owned tanks out.

Expect pain.

Linde bought my gas supplier (Prax) and got rid of 3 yr leases. They only do 1 yr now. Plus the cost went up, but some of that is likely due to normal inflation etc. Their billing dept is particularly stupid. Customer owned small bottles are still OK.

 

[Firebrick43]

Expect pain.

Linde bought my gas supplier (Prax) and got rid of 3 yr leases. They only do 1 yr now. Plus the cost went up, but some of that is likely due to normal inflation etc. Their billing dept is particularly stupid. Customer owned small bottles are still OK.

What are you defining as small? My argon, co2, and oxygen bottles are all T size and a #4 acetylene.

 

[scooby074]

What are you defining as small? My argon, co2, and oxygen bottles are all T size and a #4 acetylene.

Youll have to convert this over but its Size22 in high pressure and Size 23 in Ace. This is going from memory so it might be a bit off on the Ace. I havent refilled my acetylene in 10 years since I went to oxy/Propane. Anything bigger is lease. T size (large, industrial bottle #50 below), if im remembering right would definitely be lease here.

 

[finn]

Buy a filled tank online. You probably don’t need a large tank anyway.

I got mine from Cyberweld. The local Airgas store said they can refill it when the time comes. Just make sure it has a dot stamp.. Airgas acknowledged they can’t beat the online price for a filled tank, and had no problem with the refill only propositoon.

 

[PoorUB]

Thamks guys, looks like I need to make some phone calls. We do have Airgas and Praxair. I am thinking that Airgas will be more flexible.

 

[cvairwerks]

Airgas quit selling tanks around mid 2020. My local Airgas guy said they would start selling them late this year again he was told. Supplier issues caused them to quit selling them at that time.

 

[Renegade1LI]

If you have a buddy that deals regularly you could get him to swap for you. We go through a couple a week, when I need mine filled they swap no questions. I always throw the guys a few bucks for coffee, that always helps. I don't think they ever looked at a tank for date or who owned it.

 

[BigMike782]

Ask your welding supply.
I own 330cf/T cylinders that Airgas and Linde only rent.
If you need more gas volume than a customer owned cylinder size ask about the difference between a yearly lease as opposed to monthly rent, a lease is likely going to be cheaper. Also know that the guy behind the counter can give you a better rental rate if they want to.

 

[CGarage]

For those that rent or lease tanks for welders, is there a new way of doing it?

I don't weld like I used to, but I want to keep my MIG welder available. My tank ran out the other day and I need to return it. I know my lease was up a couple years back. Will gas suppliers just "sell" a tank of gas? Do I need o do a 5 or 10 year lease to get a tank?

It would be helpful if you titled your posts more accurately. Welding gas tank lease is a hell of a lot easier to understand than simply “tank lease”.

 

[cvairwerks]

The 330 cf cylinder I recently leased from Airgas is 100$ a year.

 

[shanker]

I recently went to a Matheson in Corpus Christi, and they sold me a fresh inspected 125cu/ft tank full of 75/25 for $170 out the door. They charge $38 to fill them and when my tank is expired, I turn it it, pay the inspection and re-certification price, and they give me another full tank.

Bulk and Cylinder Gas Solutions, Gas Plants and Services - Nippon Sanso Matheson

Our Vision: innovative gas solutions to increase productivity, enhance human well-being, and contribute to a sustainable future.

www.mathesongas.com

 

[PoorUB]

It would be helpful if you titled your posts more accurately. Welding gas tank lease is a hell of a lot easier to understand than simply “tank lease”.

Sorry to add to the confusion. Care to tell me what other tanks you can lease?

 

[isb cornbinder]

For those that rent or lease tanks for welders, is there a new way of doing it?

I don't weld like I used to, but I want to keep my MIG welder available. My tank ran out the other day and I need to return it. I know my lease was up a couple years back. Will gas suppliers just "sell" a tank of gas? Do I need o do a 5 or 10 year lease to get a tank?

I bought two of each kind of gas I use. When one tank runs out, I take it back to Air Liquide. Tank two goes into service. The empty tank is returned on an exchange for a refilled tank. This is how Air Liquide work, here. I had to open an account. I have bought a few MILLER machines through my account. I do not carry a balance.

 

[CGarage]

Sorry to add to the confusion. Care to tell me what other tanks you can lease?

Many, including those being used during times of war. Please be more precise in post titles as it will make the search results and sharing of knowledge an improved experience.

 

[PoorUB]

Airgas wants $155 for a five year lease, $350 for a 80 CF tank, filled. $37 for a refill, (swap)

Cyberweld, online wants $287 for a 80, filled.

I might just lease one. I am 64 years old. I am not certain I will be banging metal together in my shop when I turn 70. My desire to do it right now is getting pretty low.

 

[liliysdad]

Many, including those being used during times of war. Please be more precise in post titles as it will make the search results and sharing of knowledge an improved experience.

Pedantic much?

 

[whateg01]

It would be helpful if you titled your posts more accurately. Welding gas tank lease is a hell of a lot easier to understand than simply “tank lease”.

I don't worry about it. I own my m1 Abrams outright!

 

[whateg01]

I recently went to a Matheson in Corpus Christi, and they sold me a fresh inspected 125cu/ft tank full of 75/25 for $170 out the door. They charge $38 to fill them and when my tank is expired, I turn it it, pay the inspection and re-certification price, and they give me another full tank.

Bulk and Cylinder Gas Solutions, Gas Plants and Services - Nippon Sanso Matheson

Our Vision: innovative gas solutions to increase productivity, enhance human well-being, and contribute to a sustainable future.

www.mathesongas.com

That's interesting. I "own" my bottles, but when I go to Matheson, they just swap them out. I never pay to have them tested because they have already done so if it was needed.

 

[whateg01]

Many, including those being used during times of war. Please be more precise in post titles as it will make the search results and sharing of knowledge an improved experience.

Perhaps "the ins and outs of short term rental, long term leasing, or outright ownership of gmaw shielding gas bottles and refilling those bottles, for a person who may or may not use 1000s of cubic feet of shielding gas in a given time, including your experience with various retailers of said shielding gas"

 

[bubinga]

Buy a filled tank online. You probably don’t need a large tank anyway.

I got mine from Cyberweld. The local Airgas store said they can refill it when the time comes. Just make sure it has a dot stamp... Airgas acknowledged they can’t beat the online price for a filled tank and had no problem with the refill only proposition.

Are we talking argon here? l didn't think they would ship a full tank of anything?
l might be getting a little MIG welder from CL but going to need the argon tank.

 

[BigMike782]

“Cyberweld, online wants $287 for a 80, filled.”

What I would like to know is how they get a cylinder like that to you.

P.S. had this typed last night and never hit post.

 

[dcg9381]

Tractor supply. I "buy" a bottle and they'll exchange. Problem is that I weld so little that the bottles often go out of cert before I get them back.

 

[scooby074]

What I would like to know is how they get a cylinder like that to you.

P.S. had this typed last night and never hit post.

It looks like they ship via FedEx Im shocked they do "free" shipping on this item. Hazmat fees alone must be astronomical. I guess these are Chinese imported tanks so their initial cost must be super cheap on them to cover the free customer shipping. Comments say that some LWS have had issues with these tanks and refuse to refill them. Something to consider.

 

[finn]

What I would like to know is how they get a cylinder like that to you.

P.S. had this typed last night and never hit post.

FedEx for mine. Ordered it in the evening and the FedEx guy was knocking at my door the next morning. I thing it came from around Phoenix, delivered to a Tucson suburb, so about 90 miles. Must have caught the FedEx pickup schedule just right. Couldn’t believe how fast it was delivered.

You have to sign for the bottle if it’s filled. Don’t know about an empty bottle.

 

[finn]

Are we talking argon here? l didn't think they would ship a full tank of anything?
l might be getting a little MIG welder from CL but going to need the argon tank.

Pure argon for a tig welder. You can also get argon/co2 mix for mig welding online, and oxygen tanks, but not filled oxygen tanks from what I recall.

Just do a search to see what’s available. I got my pure argon tank, filled, online in January.

 

[finn]

Sorry to add to the confusion. Care to tell me what other tanks you can lease?

Propane for home heating and domestic use, for one. I would bet that more people rent propane tanks for home use than rent welding tanks. Everyone has to keep warm. Welding is a rather obscure use / hobby, by comparison.

 

[RTM]

Propane for home heating and domestic use, for one. I would bet that more people rent propane tanks for home use than rent welding tanks. Everyone has to keep warm. Welding is a rather obscure use / hobby, by comparison.

Also water tanks around here. Some construction sites have one for quite a while..

 

[bdbecker]

This is what I use:

Welding Gas to Go!

www.gaspony.com

Runs just like a propane tank exchange. You buy the initial bottle, and then just have to pay for the gas after that. Exchange prices are on par with what Airgas charges (actually a few bucks cheaper the last time I checked). I can't imagine it would be all that different for you. It looks like Mills, Northern Tool, and Home Depot in Fargo all have exchange stations.

Locations - American Welding & Gas

www.gaspony.com

Nice part is if you run out of gas on a Saturday afternoon, you can go to one of the stores and swap it that day versus having to wait for Airgas to open on Monday morning.

 

[boom_bap]

I've only bought tanks all the LWS' I've dealt with will always swap owners tanks. Call all the LWS in your area and ask if they swap owners tanks, if yes go buy a full tank 125CC tank.

 

[bubinga]

Sorry to add to the confusion. Care to tell me what other tanks you can lease?

scuba?

 

[bubinga]

Are we talking argon here? l didn't think they would ship a full tank of anything?
l might be getting a little MIG welder from CL but going to need the argon tank.

No little MIG right now, it's gone.  It was just a little 90-amp max output for $100.00. A Craftsman,
Looked pretty clean though.

 

[Greeny]

What I would like to know is how they get a cylinder like that to you.

P.S. had this typed last night and never hit post.

My local welding supply would lease me a cylinder, or do a simple swap if I owned my own. I bought a 125CF filled with 75/25 online. FedEx delivered to my door. Swapping my empty for a filled cylinder is about $40.

 

[wafrederick]

Praxair, you buy the tanks from them and this is better than leasing them.One is you own the tanks.Have a Praxair here in Muskegon,MI,the tanks are not leased purchased even when exchanging them when empty

 

[bubinga]

My local welding supply would lease me a cylinder or do a simple swap if I owned my own. I bought a 125CF filled with 75/25 online. FedEx delivered to my door. Swapping my empty for a filled cylinder is about $40.

Where did you buy your argon tank? Was it expensive? Was shipping expensive?
Can 75/25 be used for TIG also, or does TIG require straight Argon?