Welding gas

[59stepside]

I just had a quick question, I know it's not a great thread location but didn't want to hijack a recent thread with this question. Air gas is closed for a couple days and just curious.

Q: what does it usually cost if you have NO bottle and walk in to get one that is medium sized filled with 75/25. By medium, I mean something that is going to last for welding up a camaro subframe and a couple X members. The rest will be body patch panels.

[Kim57]

The gas itself isn't terribly expensive. I would say in the $30-$40 range for a medium bottle.
If you don't have a bottle that will be where a chunk of money can go.
Every time I stepped my bottle up I had to pay a premium for the bigger oneover the price of the extra gas.
Kim

[pbeguy]

Bottles are about 225 here. You can get a small bottle at Harbor Freight for less that 100 already filled.

[N.T.Q]

watch craigslist for a big bottle 330 cubic feet it is the biggest one you can buy, even if it out of hydro testing, air gas will test it for free when you get it filled for about $225 I bought one of the list for $75 and it needed a new valve, air gas put that on for free also, it does not pay to pay them bottle rent when you can buy the bottle and they service it for free if you fill it with them. But you can take it any were because you own it

here is one in lake wales http://lakeland.craigslist.org/tls/4251876882.html

[Dan in Pasadena]

59Stepside, I just did this about 3 months ago. $240 in L.A. at Airgas.

[Troy Sr]

I paid $275 for my first 80 cf bottle, that was for ownership of bottle. now cost $38 to fill.

[woodwright]

A lot of welding places you can rent the bottles.

[mr48chev]

I think I paid for bottles for my torch about five times over by renting them for several years. I'd only pay rent on bottles if i was able to write the rental off as a business expense. I finally bought a complete but old torch setup with bottles , torch, cart and gauges for 150 off a neighbor who was selling off some of his shop equipment when he moved off his ranch.

I bought my mig bottle for 50.00 off Craigslist and it was almost full. I'm thinking I pay a little over 30 to fill it. I trade in for a different one every time though.

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by woodwright

A lot of welding places you can rent the bottles.

Thats what I do. I was hauling the tank to them every 2 weeks and paying $38 to fill a 125 size. Cost about $10 round trip not counting time. So that's $38 a week.

I now rent a 330 for $14 a month and they deliver it for $15 and gas cost $45 per fill. It lasts me 3 month and I don't haul that monster tank around to fill it and my cost is $38 per month rather than $38 every two weeks.

Side note on a 330 , make sure your cart can handle the large size and weight. It is about 183 lbs. full Most home carts are for 125 size max at 85 lbs

[Donaldo]

I have found that Praxair is a lot more reasonable on the costs/exchanges of bottles, including increasing the sizes - also I got an Oxygen bottle at a garage sale and they swapped it for a 75/25 of the same size. Refills are less expensive also - local AirGas is about 2x's the costs. Don

A Merry Christmas to All !

[59stepside]

Wow guys! This is great feedback.

Originally Posted by pbeguy

Bottles are about 225 here. You can get a small bottle at Harbor Freight for less that 100 already filled.

HF have them filled? That sounds like a good plan...

Or CL sounds like it might be the cheapest. It's a little ways a way but I found a 75/25. 131cubic ft for $150. Says it's full.

Merry Christmas!!

[1958Warrior]

Just like beer you wont be happy with a cup get a pitcher.
RENT?? Renting is for suckers with deep pockets . Ha Ha
You will not be happy with a small bottle I got a small bottle and you'll run out of gas often, and after closing on a Saturday.
I got my big bottle (not sure of the cf ) ..9.25 wide and 5ft tall for $150 off CL (FULL)
did my clip and c-notch and a dozen other small projects still over 3/4 full

Just remember to turn the gas off BEFORE the welder, get in that habit and you'll never leave the gas on and be cussing in the morning, did that with the little bottle, lesson learned.