Need Oxy and Argon tanks

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Its been my luck to never have to purchase gasses or take bottles to be filled. I have a Oxy Acetylene torch set that was given to me fifteen years ago and I have finally used up the oxygen cylinder. I have a plasma so its not been used much. BTW the cylinder says Linde on it.  Here are my questions. How and where do I go to get the cylinder filled, I am in North East PA. Will anyone exchange the cylinder and if not what is the normal procedure to get a tank of oxygen. What should I expect as far as a lease on a tank, buy it outright, exchange etc. I have no paperwork never got any. If I find a Linde distributor and show up with an empty tank what is the most likely outcome, don't want to go to jail trying to get some oxygen. I have no idea as to the origin of the tank, where or when or by whom. As for the Argon I just acquired a Miller Syncrowave 180 and will need some Argon to use the Tig. Again whats the best way to proceed to get a tank of Argon, costs, lease, buy etc.I have no idea what a tank of Oxy or Argon costs, just one of those coincidences that I never had to go and buy the stuff it was just always there for me to use. Now that I am setting up a new shop I guess I will have to be the one doing the buying.
Reply:A lot of this will depend on the cylinder size. Small cylinders ( under 150 cf in most cases are generally considered "owned" by the user. Larger ones may or may not be owned or may be leased/rented.A small cylinder most places will simply exchange it. There may or may not be a charge if the cylinder needs a new hydro test. "New" my place charges $161 for an 80cf cylinder filled. After that it's yours and you just pay for fills. ( the largest that they have listed in the sale flyer on my desk). An O2 fill that size would run me about $35 or so. My larger 282 cf cylinders cost me less to get filled per CF, so usually I use those up.A few other threads you can look at, just some of many on this subject. You might also try key word like "rental cylinder" "used cylinder", "exchange cylinder". They will probably pull up even more threads.http://weldingweb.com/search.php?searchid=2213895If this is for a real "shop" rather than for hobby projects, you probably want to open an account with your local welding supplier. It will greatly simplify things. I can't say what "rentals" cost. Most times as long as I've got a cylinder with the LWS name on the label and my account, they don't ask any questions about fills.I've borrowed cylinders from friends and gotten them refilled no questions asked, even though they don't show up on my account as far as being leased/rented by me..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Here is how it works by my. If they are 125 CU (4ft) of smaller, you dont have any problem getting them filled or swapped out. Anything larger is considered a "lease tank". That said, they use to sell this big tanks to people. Due to this, you may be able to get them filled. Places will only fill their own if they have a owners mark on the ring. If its blank, you can get it filled at the bigger places. I was told by one gas supplier that if you buy a tank say with Air Gas on it that Air Gas has to fill it up and give it back to you. That is because you have no contract with them and they are the only place that can fill it up. They dont have serial numbers to track them. This is just what I was told. I wont touch anything bigger than the 4foot tanks unless they have a blank rim because I like the one gas supplier that I recently found. If I was you, if its a large tank, just take it to the place that is on the tank. There is a good chance they fill it. If they ask you, just say you dont have an account but own the tank. Its not like you stole it.  Nothing bad can happen.
Reply:Also, my local charges this for 125 CUArgon $32Oxy $14
Reply:Thanks for your help. The "shop" is for a retired mechanic/welder that just can't give up the habit. I know its an addiction, I have tried to stop, but just can't let someone else work on my equipment or stop helping out friends. Been trolling Craig's list looking for some spare tanks, now at least I have a better idea what to look for and what to avoid. Having spare tanks is cheaper than the fuel needed to go get them filled!