Owner Owned argon Cylinder!

[BD1]

For most hobby guys BUY your tanks. My location a 125 is around 200.00 and 40.00 for argon or c-25.
Check with suppliers in your area. They all are different. I was gonna buy a OWNER no name on tank neck cylinder from craigs list. Called local supplier about refilling and was told they will do it. However, I would have to leave it and come back when filled. More efficient buying from supplier and no issues.

[clint738]

Ok your points make a lot of sense. I am wanting to have tanks constantly because the times projects come up is sometimes unexpected and always on weekends and the LWS (airgas) here is not open weekends so I need tanks ready to go anytime. So I will need to buy tanks.

Questions:
- When you buy a tank from the LWS do you always get that tank back or do they just exchange your nice new tank with a already filled tank each time you come in for a refill?

- I plan on cutting and heating/bending stuff with my Victor Journeyman torch and have an 8-MFA and a 6-MFA heating nozzels for it. Don't think I'll ever needing anything bigger. I do know these will be the most demanding on the tanks so that brings up the question.
What size acetylene and oxygen tanks should I be looking at to handle these two heating nozzels?

[Meltedmetal]

Your acetylene tanks are sized by the diameter of the tank, that is the more volume you need the larger diameter tank you need (or multiple tanks on a manifold)to extract sufficient gas off the surface of the acetone inside the tank. Your LWS should be able to advise you based on the largest tip you intend to use. Around here tank rental is an annual affair so there is really no more need to access the LWS on the weekend than there would be with an owned tank. Around $90.00/tank per year plus taxes if memory serves. That does put us in the regular drop off/pickup route as well. So to the door service.
Meltedmetal

[clint738]

Your acetylene tanks are sized by the diameter of the tank, that is the more volume you need the larger diameter tank you need (or multiple tanks on a manifold)to extract sufficient gas off the surface of the acetone inside the tank. Your LWS should be able to advise you based on the largest tip you intend to use. Around here tank rental is an annual affair so there is really no more need to access the LWS on the weekend than there would be with an owned tank. Around $90.00/tank per year plus taxes if memory serves. That does put us in the regular drop off/pickup route as well. So to the door service.
Meltedmetal

You just brought out another question I had. How to transport acetylene tanks from the LWS? I know you must have the tanks up right in use where as oxygen tanks can lay down like they do on many welding trucks.

Can I lay down an acetylene tank in the back of my truck along with the oxygen and argon (or other mix for mig) and transport it home that way?

Can I just let the acetylene tank set overnight before use after transporting laying down ? Anyone have anymore info on time frames for it to settle?
I've never hauled tanks except on a welding truck so would like your thoughts.

I had asked if they do tank delivery and the said the local FD does not like them driving their tank truck (moving 'bomb') through residental neighborhoods. So I can't get tanks dropped off or picked up.

[fabricator]

I own about 20 cylinders of various gases. No way would I pay rent on them it would be over $200.00 per month just on rental. I purchased some of my cylinders from individuals, a few from Airgas and some were given to me. All are Airgas bottles or its affiliates . As far as inspections, no need to since I just exchange them when its empty.
As far as transporting acetylene, no problem laying it down, just let it stand upright at least 10 minutes before use.

[clint738]

I own about 20 cylinders of various gases. No way would I pay rent on them it would be over $200.00 per month just on rental. I purchased some of my cylinders from individuals, a few from Airgas and some were given to me. All are Airgas bottles or its affiliates . As far as inspections, no need to since I just exchange them when its empty.
As far as transporting acetylene, no problem laying it down, just let it stand upright at least 10 minutes before use.

Are tanks marked to indentify that you own them?

So if you are exchanging your personally owned cylinders for full ones each time, what if you were to quit using that supplier and decided to use another supplier or simply decided not to get your tank filled there anymore. Would you just keep the tank and take it to the other supplier no questions asked?

Or would you have to tell your current supplier your going else where first and they would have to give you a different tank with an identifier that you own it?

How would the other supplier know that you brought in a cylinder you owned and were not exchanging a rented cylinder from another company?

[Meltedmetal]

Transporting Acetylene

The idea of keeping the tank vertical is to keep the liquid acetone in the tank, one issue. And secondly out of your regulators. I don't know if it is true but I've been told that it will wreak havoc with your regulators. I don't plan to test the theory. More importantly, acetylene is unstable at the pressure in the tank so it is dissolved in acetone to keep it stable. I guess if you were to partially empty the tank it could be very dangerous. I don't intend to test that theory either. So if you lay one down let it stand upright long enough for the acetone to fully drain down from the valve. Acetone is very fluid so I guess 10 minutes is likely safe. When you are transporting make sure all tanks are well secured and cannot slide around or forward or backward. Besides being dangerous it will also get you a hefty fine if the DOT sees you.
Meltedmetal

[aametalmaster]

Are tanks marked to indentify that you own them?

How would the other supplier know that you brought in a cylinder you owned and were not exchanging a rented cylinder from another company?

Thats where you need to call your local welding guy and talk to them. Everyplace has different "laws" that pertain to cylinders. I own some that i have a paper for from my local guy. So one day i asked him if i sell my business what about the tanks. He said good luck with them esp if they go out of state since they are all marked with his company name but say sold stamped on them and maybe someone will fill them and maybe they won't. So its best to ask where you will be getting bottles from because everything else is just a crap shoot. Some you win and some you loose...Bob