Am I as dumb as I think I was here?

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You'd think I'd have checked before I bought a used set of bottles, but you'd be wrong. I have been using my garage sale tanks and torch for a while now, and I'm getting low on oxygen (not that you can tell from my weld quality, yet). I was reading around about getting the bottles filled, and I can see both my bottles will need to be inspected, as they're stamped "84+" then a star - well out of date. Don't yell yet - I just found out what that means tonight. But wait! There's more stupidity!I also just read tonight that when you're buying a used set of bottles that you should not buy bottles that say "rental" or have a supplier's name on them. Well, mine do have a supplier's name (Southside Service, Inc.) but they don't say "rental".The closest "Southside Service, Inc." I can find is in Cincinnati, quite a ways away. Is it likely I have "owned" bottles here that I can get inspected and filled, or am I another tragic example of buying in ignorance?At the very least here I've learned that:cutting torch use really eats oxygen!dirty steel isn't fun to weldclotheshanger wire might be ok for practice but makes crappy weldswatch where the flame goes when your filler rod gets short or you'll catch your jacket on fireshould this be so much fun? 'cause it is.flame away!Last edited by borzwazie; 09-21-2010 at 01:48 AM.
Reply:How old are you?Just kidding...I've purchased bottles at auction sales and even bid against other welders all of us knowing they are leases, just for the contents.Most LWS will give you some sort of credit or a couple of pairs of gloves when you return the tanks.How much $$$?
Reply:It all depends on the size of the cylinders you have as to whether they were rental/lease cyl or not. Smaller cylinders are usually customer owned, larger ones are frequently leased/rented. Take a look at the contents sticker. Usually it will have a supplier listed, (MG Ind., Airgas, Praxair etc.) Usually if you take the cyl to the supplier on the label you can get the cyl exchanged for another cylinder. You may or may not be charged a test fee because the cylinder is out of hydro. My supplier seldom looks at the test dates on exchange, but then they know me and I have an account. If the cylinder is a small one, it won't matter who you take it to to exchange it since most are automatically customer owned, but theres often less hassle if the company on the tag matches where you take it.If it turns out that you oppsed and bought leased cylinders by accident, all may not be lost if you can identify the parent company (Airgas, Praxair etc). If you open an account with the local supplier you may still be able to exchange the cylinders and not have issues. Swap the cyl on a differennt day than when you open the account. In some cases as long as you have an account, the counter guy really doesn't care as long as you have a bottle to exchange thats thiers. Thier cylinder count stays good that way. One came in and one went out. If push comes to shove, you can always claim you borrowed it from a friend and want to return it full. Even without an account, I've exchanged larger cylinders I've borrowed from friends in a pinch to get thru a job. The counter guys are usually pretty understanding about that if you sound like you have a clue. The out of test dates may work against you here, but I wouldn't say anything unless they notice.It never hurts to have an account with the local supplier, even if it's a cash account. As you've probably noticed you use about 3-4 times the O2 cutting that you do acetylene.Last edited by DSW; 09-21-2010 at 03:36 AM..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:Originally Posted by pistolnoonHow old are you?Just kidding...I've purchased bottles at auction sales and even bid against other welders all of us knowing they are leases, just for the contents.Most LWS will give you some sort of credit or a couple of pairs of gloves when you return the tanks.How much $$$?
Reply:I was worried too when someone gave me an Airgas cylinder.  It was compressed nitrogen, full, and from everything I read, obviously belonged to Airgas.  I took it to my local Airgas, told him the deal, needed 75/25.Him: "You own the tank, right?"Me:  "Well...the guy gave it to me, but I don't know who OWNS it."Him:  "Umm....you own the tank, right?" With a certain tone to his voiceMe:  "Well, it's in my possession, so....umm....yeah"Him:  "Ok, $44 to swap for a 75/25 cylinder."Me:  (Jaw kinda dropping)  "OK, sounds good"Him:  Pull around back, we'll load it up.Paid him, pulled around back, swapped the tank, and left.  I don't know if all companies, or all Airgas branches are this way, but it was no hassle, great service.  I don't think they cared who owned the tank.  They got their tank, they got a new customer, they got $44, I got my 75/25, everybody was happy.Sorry so long, just my experience and my $0.02 worth.  Hope it works out for ya.
Reply:Rental tanks are all certain sizes.A non rental tank can still have a companys name on it but most any LWS across the nation will still exchange it.I think a 100cf is always a lease but anything smaller Than 100cf is never a lease.Their are a couple other sizes that are lease only but I am not sure what they are.These lease sizes are the standard at any LWS across the nation.This is how they know if you have a lease or bought tank,by the size.
Reply:On the advice seen here, I called up a local supplier. Apparently they don't care unless it's one of the bigger (250cf) tanks and doesn't say rental. since it's well out of date they have to send it out for hydro testing which takes 2 weeks. Maybe I'll open an account with them as suggested and they'll just exchange it.Thanks for the advice!
Reply:EDIT: Sorry for the double post. Board admin: I keep seeing database errors when I post here - is anyone else seeing that?
Reply:I am glad it worked out.  In my town there is one place that will fill customer owned tanks.  Other than that your are out of luck.  I guess they make good money on that tank rent.