OA Cylinders-Where to buy?

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Just bought my first OA welding kit. A Smith Tough Cut. Now I need cylinders. I'm not in "the business" so I won't be doing a lot of welding/cutting. My gut says buy tanks in the mid size range. I'd like to keep the weight of a fully filled tank at or below something like 70lbs. Where is a reasonable place to buy. I wouldn't mind used tanks but want to be sure someone will fill them for me once I get them.I'm totally new to OA welding so any information is helpful.
Reply:Most places that fill tanks will rent them to you, and then you just swap them out for full tanks when you need a refill.  Owning tanks makes getting a fill more complicated since you can no longer just exchange them.
Reply:Tractor supply, and there open on sundays I keep a set of there tanks around for after hours and weekend fills. You own them, they exchange them. Little to big.You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else. Albert Einstein
Reply:not sure where your at but in Texas if you own the cylinders you can exchange them anywhere that sells gas. plus no 5 or 6 dollar a month rental fee. be sure to get big enough cylinders. the bigger you get the cheaper it is to fill per unit. I use a 330 for oxygen and the comparable acetylene, not sure what size it is.
Reply:If you plan on using a rosebud, you need to be sure your acetylene cylinder is big enough to handle the withdrawl rate required
Reply:Any LWS should be able to hook you up with some tanks.
Reply:Forget the aetylene and just ue a 20# propane cylinder. Then pick an oxy cylinder."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:As said above, it seems like there is a big difference where you live.  Around here (New Mexico) you can swap your personally owned tanks.  In fact, for the last 6 years or so, they don't even look at the inspection date, they just swap them.As little gas as I use, it would be insane to try to rent tanks.  I think I have about 10, so rental is out of the question.I asked about tanks once at my LWS, and the guy said to keep an eye open at the flea market.  He saw them there all the time.  Later I found one, an O2 tank 1/2 buried in the sand.  They wanted $5.00 for it.  It hauled it to the LWS, they did a hydro, changed the valve to CO2 and I've migged with it for many years.Once I went to the LWS for a small CO2 bottle for a Miller 90.  They said they found what I wanted in El Paso, and if I bought one, they would keep the other in stock to swap when I ran out.  The price wasn't bad, so I bought them both.  Even if it takes months to fill the bottle, I don't care.  It takes me years to empty the tank on the little welder.I've seen them in garage sales.  One I have, a fellow just gave to me.  They are out there, just keep your eye open.
Reply:I got most of mine at the scrap yard. I had them retested and that cost 16 bucks per unit
Reply:I own a few tanks and Airgas has never had a problem exchanging them for me. I did have to go jump through a few hoops when they started to charge me rent on tanks I owned but a few quick phone calls chalked it up to a guy at the register who didnt know what he was doing. All fees were dropped and I havent had a problem since
Reply:I found several tanks for sale on Craigslist. A guy up in Michigan was selling tanks he buys at auction. There are others around the country that are selling welding tanks. Check out Craigslist. I got an Oxygen tank, 120 cft. full of gas with 2010 date for $125.I got a 75/25 argon co2 tank, 120 cubic ft  full of gas with 2010 date for $125I got a 145  cubic foot Acetylene tank full of gas with 2011 date for $125I got an Argon tank, 120 cft full of gas with 2009 date for $125.If I would have bought them through a dealer, I would have had over $1600 in tanks alone. Never have had a problem getting them filled either. Two are Airgas tanks and the other two are other dealers....but that is OK as they are all pretty close to me.Craigslist has been very good to me. Sold all my smaller tanks on there too. Even sold a couple of gas torches there. Way better than Fleabay....no fees and paid with cash!
Reply:What about the cost of shipping from Michigan?I looked at Craigslist but shipping looked like a problem for an item as large and heavy as a welding cylinder, not to mention trying to ship something filled with acetylene. I didn't like doing it but I bought a #3 acetylene and #3 oxygen tank from Tractor Supply and paid $250 each and that was before paying for the gas. Ouch! I would like to pick up a couple extra tanks if the Craigslist thing works as you describe.
Reply:TSC seams very high priced on their tanks, but reasonable for their gas prices from what I can see. I might end up buying from them since I'm a weekend/hobby guy myself. being able to pick up what I want on the weekend would be an advantage for me.Powcon 400SM2-PD60 wire feedersMiller XR controlAlumapro push/pull gunSpeedglas 9100xBFH
Reply:Make sure you can get your tanks filled at more places than TSC.With planning, weekend swaps are avoidable.
Reply:Around here in AL, Airgas is by far the cheapest route on refilling tanks.
Reply:Anyone used usa weld? They offer what seems to be good deals on tanks, like:http://www.usaweld.com/Gas-Bottle-Re...ed-p/99900.htmI found a couple of aluminum oxygen tanks on Craigslist, just wasn't sure if they could be re-valved for argon/co2.(sorry to thread jack - just searched for cylinder info as beginner mig welder)Hobart Handler 125 #500495Miller Diversion 165 #907005 (tig learning box)
Reply:Just bought my tanks at Airgas. The research I did shows that it is a lot cheaper to to buy gas in the larger tanks than small ones, so buy the largest tank you can stand and then go up one size.They also (at my store) give you the first fill free.The next smaller tank than what I got was 60% of the volume and close to the same price for exchange so I decided to get the 150 size, (about 5' tall and 8" in dia - maybe 80#) instead of the smaller one that would have been much more convenient to carry and cart.Now I am wondering what someone pays to rent tanks.FWIW: I have been amazed at how homeowner-friendly Airgas has been to me. Not something I usually expect from an industrial supply operation where you sometimes find inhospitable salespeople that don't want to deal with a weekender.It only makes sense in every way in any economy, but it is still uncommon, so hats off to Airgas for that reason - and I do have to say I don't have much experience beyond what I just described.Millermatic® 211 Auto-Set™ with MVP™Miller Diversion™ 180 AC/DC TIGEvery air tool made...if it can be driven by air, I want it.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Neon Sign Fabricatorwww.casinoneon.com
Reply:Originally Posted by DHPmikenot sure where your at but in Texas if you own the cylinders you can exchange them anywhere that sells gas. plus no 5 or 6 dollar a month rental fee. be sure to get big enough cylinders. the bigger you get the cheaper it is to fill per unit. I use a 330 for oxygen and the comparable acetylene, not sure what size it is.
Reply:Originally Posted by wvshooterWhat about the cost of shipping from Michigan?I looked at Craigslist but shipping looked like a problem for an item as large and heavy as a welding cylinder, not to mention trying to ship something filled with acetylene. I didn't like doing it but I bought a #3 acetylene and #3 oxygen tank from Tractor Supply and paid $250 each and that was before paying for the gas. Ouch! I would like to pick up a couple extra tanks if the Craigslist thing works as you describe.