gayler
Well-known member
What size bottles should I lease for mig mix and tig mix? I am a home hobby type guy. Just building a few things here and there. The local welding supply suggested size E. What do you guys think?
Welding gass bottle size question.
- Thread starter gayler
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malibu101
Well-known member
To hopefully help----
To roughly gauge how long a cylinder will last. Mig is not more than 20CFH. So, that means an 80CF cylinder should last for roughly 4 hours on trigger on/ gas flowing time. Although they seem to last less.
There's a big economy of scale on the cost of gas itself depending on cylinder size.
The cost of gas to refill/exchange a cylinder twice as big as another would not cost twice as much.
Me personally, I have an 80. The size and amount of my use it is fine for me.
To roughly gauge how long a cylinder will last. Mig is not more than 20CFH. So, that means an 80CF cylinder should last for roughly 4 hours on trigger on/ gas flowing time. Although they seem to last less.
There's a big economy of scale on the cost of gas itself depending on cylinder size.
The cost of gas to refill/exchange a cylinder twice as big as another would not cost twice as much.
Me personally, I have an 80. The size and amount of my use it is fine for me.
Depends on how much you weld and your time limits.
Start small and buy from a local company that will allow you upgrade. Plus the shorter drive for a refill will pay of in the long run.
What get me more than anything is no matter the size I seem to run out only when I really need to get something done. I just got lucky and found a deal on a 2nd bottle.
jloehlein
Well-known member
I bought two 80cf bottles because they fit on my cart, below the height of the welding table. Two because I can run one completely out and switch to the other to continue welding rather than have to stop and run to the LWS, which can take me weeks to get around to.
BD1
Well-known member
I agree on the 125 CF size. Some suppliers will only sell that size to individuals. If you buy tanks check with suppliers before buying on their exchange polices.
Scsmith42
Well-known member
Buy the largest tanks that your LWS will sell you as owner bottles. Usually that's around 125 CF.
marinusdees
Well-known member
Better to buy than to lease. Endless discussion, but that's the end.
Retlaw 66
Well-known member
x2.
80cf is a compact sized tank, but the 125cf is a much better value for purchase and refills.
An 80cf was $207 for the tank and refills are $27.
I just bought a 125 cf for $233. I think refills are around $34.
Re: Welding gas bottle size question.
I've owned my oxy/acetylene #5 tanks (so I could run a small rosebud without pulling acetone into my hoses) since 1979, and others for 10-15 years - just added it up, and if I'd leased it would've cost OVER $5000 by now - all told the "ownership" has cost me around $1000, and my "semi"-local LWS is the same one I STARTED with in '79.
I don't know if the "won't sell big tanks" BS is just an eastern thang, but my LWS could care less. "Bigger tank, little more $$, what size do ya want?" - And since a fill is cheaper per CF with bigger tanks, most of mine are at least type K or type T... Steve
I've owned my oxy/acetylene #5 tanks (so I could run a small rosebud without pulling acetone into my hoses) since 1979, and others for 10-15 years - just added it up, and if I'd leased it would've cost OVER $5000 by now - all told the "ownership" has cost me around $1000, and my "semi"-local LWS is the same one I STARTED with in '79.
I don't know if the "won't sell big tanks" BS is just an eastern thang, but my LWS could care less. "Bigger tank, little more $$, what size do ya want?" - And since a fill is cheaper per CF with bigger tanks, most of mine are at least type K or type T... Steve
ovrrdrive
Well-known member
I bought a 40 and used it up so quick that when I went back to exchange it I swapped it out for an 80. It only cost a few more dollars to swap out and that size is easy to throw over your shoulder to move around. I would suggest no smaller than 80cf. Bigger is definitely better in this case.
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
Buy, don't rent.
I like to have an extra little bottle [18 inch] When the big bottle [60 inch] runs out, I can keep welding.
I like to have an extra little bottle [18 inch] When the big bottle [60 inch] runs out, I can keep welding.
Retlaw 66
Well-known member
Call around some more. Search for welding supply in your area. Airgas was high for me too. I found a place that can refill my own(ed)tanks, much better price than the places that only do exchanges.
paranoid56
Well-known member
i would say rent never buy. then you never have to deal with a out of date bottle. also, last time i checked my lease was 20 bucks for 20 years.
also a hobby person, i have 2 120 bottles, hate running out
also a hobby person, i have 2 120 bottles, hate running out
That's weird. It's usually the opposite. 80cf cylinders are almost always owned. 125cf and up are the most common for lease.
I find the 80cf don't last long enough but hate the manhandle larger cylinders so I persist with the 80cf.
BD1
Well-known member
I drive about a hour to exchange my tanks. Local suppliers are crazy in price. I would rather drive than give them big dollars. Air Gas bought my local supplier out and doubled what I use to pay.
Wow, just shows how varied this is across the country - in the last 38 years, my costs were over $4k LESS with OWNER tanks (8 tanks total); and I've NEVER had a charge for out of date, etc, I just bring in empties and pay for the fill, loading dock guys have me loaded by then, and I leave.
Last C25 fill was a 200 and a 150, $38 for the 150 and $42 for the 200... Steve
buildyourown
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2010
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Unless you need to be mobile, go big. I think a 330 size cost me $275. That increase in cost pays for itself pretty fast when you compare fill prices.
And were I live a rental is never a good deal. You dont buy your individual bottle the way you would a scuba tank. You buy a bottle in a pool. When you go in for a fill they just swap you out for a full one but you never pay a monthly rental fee.
And were I live a rental is never a good deal. You dont buy your individual bottle the way you would a scuba tank. You buy a bottle in a pool. When you go in for a fill they just swap you out for a full one but you never pay a monthly rental fee.
BDT/NWMN
Well-known member
Around here the differences in ownership vs lease, and whether or not a LWS will swap owned tanks is daylight vs darkness with three vendors within 12 miles..... I own seven tanks. The fees I pay for the ten year re-certifications is diddley squat.. I have bought used tanks, and had no problem getting them re-certified, exchanged for full tanks, or upgraded to a larger size.. That is::::with the Welders Supply I deal with, and their nearby satellite dealer... Opposed to one of the others::: I leased three tanks; one set for 30 years....NEVER again!!!! All they wanted to do was lease tanks, and would not fill or exchange owners tanks; except for the smaller ones.. Before purchasing or leasing any tanks; Ask every question pertaining to every detail regarding what Your local suppliers will allow.
BigMike782
Well-known member
What is stated here matters not one iota unless it applies to the supplier you are going to use.
I can buy 150 cf cyls. I can exchange 330 cf as customer owned. I can rent any cylinder the supplier has.
I can buy 150 cf cyls. I can exchange 330 cf as customer owned. I can rent any cylinder the supplier has.
marinusdees
Well-known member
Lucky you.
Lelandwelds
Well-known member
Airgas or Praxair will give product away to a large account. They are going to bend a little guy over. Shop around. Even other AirGas locations will quote something different as long as you're not in their system.
You do not need to be in one camp for rent or buy. Do both:
1. Rent only when you have a big job.
2. Rent and cascade into your own fleet of owner tanks.
3. Find a lost rental cylinder from your chosen supplier. Rent your own tank. Turn the found tank in as your empty. Rent a new tank in six months when you're empty again. Rinse and repeat.
What kind of welder are you and what do you weld on? Like 1/2" plate? Dual shield and co2 is pretty good stuff. ER70S-6 with co2 isn't that bad except on cars or 16 gauge square tubing.
You do not need to be in one camp for rent or buy. Do both:
1. Rent only when you have a big job.
2. Rent and cascade into your own fleet of owner tanks.
3. Find a lost rental cylinder from your chosen supplier. Rent your own tank. Turn the found tank in as your empty. Rent a new tank in six months when you're empty again. Rinse and repeat.
What kind of welder are you and what do you weld on? Like 1/2" plate? Dual shield and co2 is pretty good stuff. ER70S-6 with co2 isn't that bad except on cars or 16 gauge square tubing.
banjopete
Well-known member
I've been working on a car patching rusty holes etc and I had this same decision to make. I went with a 125cf and it's been fine, even if it's a little big. Unless you flat stop welding I wouldn't sweat the date on the bottle either. I'm just about done with my first bottle and it's lasted me nearly a year of spurts of use. The size also solves the running out problem to some extent by being large-ish for home use.
PNWguy
Well-known member
I own my bottles, but they say AirGas. When I refill, I just exchange.
As long as its an AirGas bottle, they don't look at the date.
However, $20 for 20 years is a hell of a deal. At that cost, I would have considered leasing.
AngryBeaver
Well-known member
Praxair and Airgas will not fill the 300cf tank I own. I have to go to another weld shop for that. I have a 125 and a 150 CF tank for the mig. the 150 is my back up mig tank and back up tig tank. if you do any about of aluminum tig you will eat through some gas.
i've had 125's and a 330 [ALWAYS buy]
You can go through 125 w/ a TIG in no time but I think it;s perfect size for home gamer MIG work.
the 330 was just too big for the home shop so I got rid of it...it's also enough gas for my lifetime [I do not weld much]
You can go through 125 w/ a TIG in no time but I think it;s perfect size for home gamer MIG work.
the 330 was just too big for the home shop so I got rid of it...it's also enough gas for my lifetime [I do not weld much]
wretched73
Well-known member
I bought an 80 of Argon for my Tig welder from my LWS. I was hesitant to go bigger but he said if I do decide to go bigger, I just pay the difference and he'll swap me out with a larger tank. I thought that was as fair as it could be.
I'd look around for someone to offer a similar deal. And for the record, i bought my tank
I'd look around for someone to offer a similar deal. And for the record, i bought my tank
JohnnieMo
Well-known member
I’m in a similar situation; looking to move from flux to gas.
Here in Canada I got quoted $229 to buy a new, full 55 of C25. That seemed high to me. Anyone else have a comparable? My quote was from KMS Tools. Oh and they didn’t have any in stock. It would be 2 weeks.
Here in Canada I got quoted $229 to buy a new, full 55 of C25. That seemed high to me. Anyone else have a comparable? My quote was from KMS Tools. Oh and they didn’t have any in stock. It would be 2 weeks.
Sjfab
Well-known member
Lelandwelds
Well-known member
That's quite high but you have to pay the Canadian penalty. (Locally, it is about half that price.) I am sure the airplane guys in Hawaii have it worse if that helps. (It is cheaper in CA but you need regulatory approval and your neighbors get to vote to let you buy it or not)
Expect about 20 hours of welding time per 100 cft of gas. (25 cu ft / hour with a 20 % duty cycle)