Pontiac787
Well-known member
I need a bottle to go with my new mig welder. CyberWeld has a full 80 cu. ft. bottle for $250 shipped free. The local Airgas (only game in town) wants $320 for the same setup. Am I missing something?
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Welding Bottle Prices
- Thread starter Pontiac787
- Start date
I need a bottle to go with my new mig welder. CyberWeld has a full 80 cu. ft. bottle for $250 shipped free. The local Airgas (only game in town) wants $320 for the same setup. Am I missing something?
No
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ddawg16
Well-known member
It's kinda like the BBQ grill propane tank....unless you have an 'exchange' bottle to trade in, price goes up.
On a positive note....that tank will last you a long time.
You eat it the first time....after that, refills are a lot cheaper
On a positive note....that tank will last you a long time.
You eat it the first time....after that, refills are a lot cheaper
blazemaster83
Well-known member
Last time I bought a tank was about 15 yrs ago, I paid about $300 for a k sized tank at a local weld shop, 244cu ft. I found 2 more a few years later for $150 a piece used. That seems spendy for an 80cu ft. Look for a good used one.
R_Holiday
Well-known member
Last time I bought a tank was about 15 yrs ago, I paid about $300 for a k sized tank at a local weld shop, 244cu ft. I found 2 more a few years later for $150 a piece used. That seems spendy for an 80cu ft. Look for a good used one.
I agree. Local airgas by me, which is a ripoff, charges $230 for a 150cf bottle with first gas free. I got two tanks but I’ve purchased 4 of them; all used. If you’re looking for something economical get straight CO2. You could probably find a 20lb used tank for under $50 and $20 to refill it. That gets you 174cf of gas to weld with. I used CO2 for a minute and the welds came out nice. Check FB marketplace for a used tank though.
Deadsquiggles
Well-known member
That’s what Airgas quoted me when I needed to buy a 80 cu ft bottle earlier this year. I ended up with a bottle from a much smaller outfit and only paid $246 for the bottle and a free fill. And each refill is $39(?) I believe. Don’t know yet since I haven’t needed to get it refilled yet.
dr_clyde
Well-known member
Airgas is one of the worst companies to deal with as a hobbyist. They’ll bone you good and hard each and every time.
Look for a good mom and pop local shop if you can. Support local. I refuse to do business with Airgas and Praxair due to how they conduct business with smaller shops and individuals.
My pricing is different than most because I run a welding shop as a business, so I have a lot more volume than a home shop, but the service and ethics of the shops aren’t any different. My LWS has treated me like a first class customer since day 1 when I was buying a single cylinder a year and a little wire to now.
Look for a good mom and pop local shop if you can. Support local. I refuse to do business with Airgas and Praxair due to how they conduct business with smaller shops and individuals.
My pricing is different than most because I run a welding shop as a business, so I have a lot more volume than a home shop, but the service and ethics of the shops aren’t any different. My LWS has treated me like a first class customer since day 1 when I was buying a single cylinder a year and a little wire to now.
Airgas is one of the worst companies to deal with as a hobbyist. They’ll bone you good and hard each and every time.
Look for a good mom and pop local shop if you can. Support local. I refuse to do business with Airgas and Praxair due to how they conduct business with smaller shops and individuals.
My pricing is different than most because I run a welding shop as a business, so I have a lot more volume than a home shop, but the service and ethics of the shops aren’t any different. My LWS has treated me like a first class customer since day 1 when I was buying a single cylinder a year and a little wire to now.
Airgas has bought up most of the mom and pop local shops around here. The last LWS that I used was bought up earlier this year. I only use a small bottle of gas every couple of years so I am certainly not a volume user. I have been getting my gas from a local company that specializes in medical and industrial gas, not welding supplies.
tdkkart
Well-known member
Tractor Supply and some other farm stores sell/exchange bottles, as do some auto parts stores.
code3godina
New member
airgas in santa fe springs Calif, $160. for tank CY-AR CD2560 , 36.69 for gas @62 SCF.
jeepinerdeep
Well-known member
Just shop literally anywhere but Airgas, they are 100% nuts for counter service. Have been for years.
Praxair is pretty good for as big as they are, I'm pretty happy.
Back when I switched to them I shopped 3 places, Airgas was almost double in pricing the other 2. Wild.
Praxair is pretty good for as big as they are, I'm pretty happy.
Back when I switched to them I shopped 3 places, Airgas was almost double in pricing the other 2. Wild.
Muggzy
Well-known member
I was able to find a CO2 and oxygen bottle (both smaller than 80 cuft) from a kid selling off his departed father's plumbing tools. All Gas took them in trade for an 80 cuft argon bottle. I just had to pay for the fill.
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emeraldcoupe
Well-known member
i paid $150 for my 80 cuft at the local welding shop, refills (exchanges) cost me $32
matt_i
Well-known member
Here's another twist to the story.
Suppose you order the shiny new perfect bottle, arrives on your doorstep.
You take it to the welding supply and they take it from you and hand you something thats crusty rusty and missing paint.
Its all on exchange, you don't get your actual bottle back. Its a sad day to see that shiny new bottle go away. Better to start with an exchange bottle in my estimation.
I approve payments to a welding supply where I work, each cylinder is $7/month to rent. So you can see about a 3 year payback in buying your own.
Suppose you order the shiny new perfect bottle, arrives on your doorstep.
You take it to the welding supply and they take it from you and hand you something thats crusty rusty and missing paint.
Its all on exchange, you don't get your actual bottle back. Its a sad day to see that shiny new bottle go away. Better to start with an exchange bottle in my estimation.
I approve payments to a welding supply where I work, each cylinder is $7/month to rent. So you can see about a 3 year payback in buying your own.
Buckgnarly
Well-known member
Airgas bought out our local place, but the guys stayed. I get EXCELLENT service, but from the sound of it I guess my local Airgas is the exception. I did know the guys though before the buyout though, so that helps.
Airgas bought out our local place, but the guys stayed. I get EXCELLENT service, but from the sound of it I guess my local Airgas is the exception. I did know the guys though before the buyout though, so that helps.
Give 'em time. LOL[emoji23]
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Higgins
Well-known member
AG in IL was a real PITA to deal with. Purchased a large tank from them. Refill time was going to be north of $150. Said NO! Had my friend take the same bottle back in after lunch, was $49 out the door. And they refilled our (mine) bottle on the spot.
As for used bottles, West Chicago will not fill a unknown bottle. They have to certify that it is good! when thru the same drill with friend. No certification, fill and out the door!
AL
As for used bottles, West Chicago will not fill a unknown bottle. They have to certify that it is good! when thru the same drill with friend. No certification, fill and out the door!
AL
OP - take a loot at the Thoroughbred gas exchange.
https://www.gaspony.com/
I use them and really like the fact that I can get gas at night or on weekends if I run out. Gas prices are competitive to Airgas, at least around here. In a previous thread about this topic, we did figure out that pricing does vary by region, so make sure you verify this for your area.
They're terrible to deal with in a big shop setting as well. My rep caught an earful from me on Monday about shorting us gas and making sure they were dropping bottles in the right locations. I see this morning they shorted me about half of this week's order, including all of the StainMix TIG that is a critical need for us right now. To add to the mess, the bottles they did deliver are in the wrong locations. Thanks for nothing f-ers.
https://www.gaspony.com/
I use them and really like the fact that I can get gas at night or on weekends if I run out. Gas prices are competitive to Airgas, at least around here. In a previous thread about this topic, we did figure out that pricing does vary by region, so make sure you verify this for your area.
Airgas is one of the worst companies to deal with as a hobbyist. They’ll bone you good and hard each and every time...
They're terrible to deal with in a big shop setting as well. My rep caught an earful from me on Monday about shorting us gas and making sure they were dropping bottles in the right locations. I see this morning they shorted me about half of this week's order, including all of the StainMix TIG that is a critical need for us right now. To add to the mess, the bottles they did deliver are in the wrong locations. Thanks for nothing f-ers.
tdkkart
Well-known member
Here's another twist to the story.
Suppose you order the shiny new perfect bottle, arrives on your doorstep.
You take it to the welding supply and they take it from you and hand you something thats crusty rusty and missing paint.
Its all on exchange, you don't get your actual bottle back. Its a sad day to see that shiny new bottle go away. Better to start with an exchange bottle in my estimation.
It's always been this way to my understanding. Buying a "new" bottle may or may not get you a new shiny bottle in the beginning, depending on where you write the check. What it does give you is a piece of paper(title) that says you "own" the right to have a bottle and pretty much exchange it for another almost anywhere. A few places won't exchange other shops bottles, but most of them I've dealt with will without question. Currently I exchange my bottles at a regional auto parts store that's open 6 days a week, they have bottles in their "MT" rack from every gas company in the area.
strutaeng
Well-known member
Airgas tailors to the bigger businesses with huge volumes, from what I can tell. Large welding fabricators, laboratories, etc. They don't want to mess with DIYs. Just like Grainger.
If that's all you got, then you are screwed. But just about any Mom and Pop shop will have better service.
I recently had to get my Ar/CO tank refilled and took it to a local place. Had been there many, many years ago. My tank had expired and the lady said there would be like a $20 or $40 charge to re-certify it, and I agreed. At the end, she waived that fee, and gave me a full tank. I also bought some Lincoln consumables that I had not been able to find at any Lowes/HD all over town, and a roll of 1 lb mig wire. Total was like $80. And its a 150CF tank.
The lady was super friendly. Really good experience. That's were I'm going anytime I need something welding related from now on.
If that's all you got, then you are screwed. But just about any Mom and Pop shop will have better service.
I recently had to get my Ar/CO tank refilled and took it to a local place. Had been there many, many years ago. My tank had expired and the lady said there would be like a $20 or $40 charge to re-certify it, and I agreed. At the end, she waived that fee, and gave me a full tank. I also bought some Lincoln consumables that I had not been able to find at any Lowes/HD all over town, and a roll of 1 lb mig wire. Total was like $80. And its a 150CF tank.
The lady was super friendly. Really good experience. That's were I'm going anytime I need something welding related from now on.
WunTon
Well-known member
Here in Northern VA no one will sell or fill a bottle larger than 80cuft to a non business. I bought a big bottle on CL for $50 and couldn't get anyone to fill it for me. Anything over 80cuft is considered a rental and no matter where it came from they won't touch it. I ended up selling that bottle to a guy in PA and bought an 80cuft for like $230 about 2 years ago. I don't weld much so I haven't had to have it filled yet but when I do I will shop around and find the place that is the easiest to deal with and go there even if they are a couple bucks more than somewhere else.
OccupantRJ
Well-known member
I have a 330 argon bottle and a 251 oxygen bottle. Both are supposed to be lease bottles that I bought from various places for $50. No established supply will touch them for an individual. There is a local guy near me that worked for a company until AG took over, then he left them. He must have retained the connection because now he sells welding supplies from his house and don’t give a rat’s *** whose bottle or what size it is. He will also sell to you at odd hours, and delivers. I got both bottles swapped from him last week and he brought them to me in an hour. The 251 oxygen was $30, and the large argon was $95, with $15 delivery. Since No one elsemwill swap the bottles, I give him my business. The last 330 pure argon lasted me for 30 years for my scratch start tig, and I am 68. Maybe I can get by life with this one refill.
BD1
Well-known member
Air gas bought my little guy out and immediately went to Air Gas prices.
Not for me.
Before you do anything, I would check on supplier exchange polices. Each supplier is different and some will only exchange their tanks.
It's not like it use to be 15 years ago.
You gotta investigate before you buy.
A 125 or 150 is what I suggest. Many suppliers will only go that large.
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Not for me.
Before you do anything, I would check on supplier exchange polices. Each supplier is different and some will only exchange their tanks.
It's not like it use to be 15 years ago.
You gotta investigate before you buy.
A 125 or 150 is what I suggest. Many suppliers will only go that large.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Airgas is one of the worst companies to deal with as a hobbyist. They’ll bone you good and hard each and every time.
Look for a good mom and pop local shop if you can. Support local. I refuse to do business with Airgas and Praxair due to how they conduct business with smaller shops and individuals.
Airgas is very high priced and anything with the "Radner" name on it is most likely China junk....
The last cylinder I bought from my local welding supply was a 150cuin C-25 for $200.00 with the first fill free...
LynnW
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