What size argon bottle?

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Hi Guy's,I am going to convert my mig to gas and wanted your input as to what size argon bottle I need for my back yard shop. I have 2 patch panels to replace now and don't use it more than 3 or 4 times a month after that. I know your comments and suggestions will help.Thanks and have a great day,Ken
Reply:Get the biggest one you can afford.  Neither the bottle or its contents is going to deteriorate in your lifetime.WeldingWeb forum--now more sophomoric banter than anything else!
Reply:I wouldn't get anything below a 125cf. All of mine are 125's and 150's. But then local owner bottle rules may preclude that. Get the largest you can handle and still have an owner bottle. Here, they stop selling for the most part at 225cf. Some still do and will service those that own them, but they scrutinize every little detail and will refuse service at the least hint of a discrepancy.FWIW, an 80cf will give you around four hours of arc time. A 125 around six........your mileage may vary.
Reply:Actually, if you're welding indoors, the bottles will last a little longer than posted above. Again, mileage may vary, but if you're set a 7-10cfh, then you'll have enough to run 8 to 10 hours. A 125 bottle should last you around 12 to 17.8 hours.  John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:The largest I can "buy" is an 80cf.... It is ok for what I do, but I also have a second tank on hand ready to go. Get the largest tank you can, 80cf is a nice size to handle and transport.
Reply:Before you buy a tank, Call all your LWS and see what they require or if they will fill owner tanks. I only found one in five that would will fill my owne tanks! And also see how much they sell tanks for. It never hurts to ask!
Reply:Thanks to All. I called my lws and got pretty different prices. I asked abour the 80cf bottle and one gave me a real good price. The other 2 said they had 20 pound bottles. What is the difference?I am looking into buying a new machine. I want portable 120 VAC. I hear so much good about the Millers I am leaning toward it. Can you give me  some more good suggestions?Thanks again,Ken
Reply:I have a 120V VAC Miller MIG welder with a 60cf bottle.  The 60cf are easy to handle and transport and are user-owned in Virginia.  I do thousands of tack welds at about 25cfm and it lasts me a month or so depending on use.  It costs me $26 to refill with a 98/2 mix for stainless steel.
Reply:new here but, the big bottle was just a little more and i think almost twice the gas. i lease my bottle for $55.00 a year.  the smaller bottles are easier on the back for sure.
Reply:If you want a portable MIG you can also use flux core wire and no gas is needed.  Flux core also works better outside.  The Miller is an excellent rig.  Just know it limitations as far as welding capacity.
Reply:If you have a small 120V mig I would recommend between the 80-150 cf depending on availability.  When I bought my mig I borrowed a friends 80 cf bottle to try it out. (used welder)  It was nice and portable.  As for my own bottle I ended up with another 300/330 cf (330 if starred)  I believe the fill of 75/25 is ~$55.00.  I was going to get a 220 cu ft but the delivery truck always has an extra big bottle of argon on the truck.  It may take me a year to drain it.  Some places will let you upgrade bottles for the difference in sell price at the time later if you find you are going through gas real fast.Don
Reply:I've got a 330cf bottle, it's not big enough in my opinion. I couldn't imagine having to refill a bottle 4 or 5 times to get the same amount of gas. It is big and heavy, but the only time I need to move it is to go swap it for a full one. No problems there, BTW. I just pick it up on the two-wheelers an slide it into the truck. To swap it for a full bottle costs $35, after tax and haz-mat fee it runs $42. It usually lasts me a couple of months.Miller EconotigCutmaster 38Yes ma'am, that IS a screwdriver in my pocket!
Reply:If you lease it would take some of the liability off of ya.  If you own the bottle and the tank leaks it's your loss, if it's theirs they owe you some gas.DewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:I agree, get the biggest one available ( less money in the long run) and get a spare of any size that you wish. It is important to have a spare on the weekends when/if  you run out of gas.  I have a "hook" with the salesman for the LWS and can get a new bottle on a Sunday, most people do not. Keep plenty of gas and plan your projects for the work-week.Mike
Reply:I agree with the posters who say, get the largest bottle you're comfortable moving.  For your limited use, I would recommend the largest "owner" bottle that is available.  In the size range we're talking, buying a bottle equates to about two years of leasing.Remember, that as the cu. ft. capacity goes up, the cost of gas per cu. ft. goes down.  Cost per cubic foot of gas in a 150 is about half what you pay for a 40.Also, you stated "argon" bottle.  For use with short circuit mig, you want to be using a mix of 75%Argon/25%CO2, commonly referred to as C25.  Some use straight CO2, but the welds will be cleaner with C25.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:If your regulator is set at 30 CHF (cubic feet per hour) a 150 CF cylinder will last 5 hours give or take. 150 cubic feet divided by 30 (cubic feet per hour) = 5.
Reply:DonS, wow cannot believe what your paying for 330cf, really makes sense economicaly to go to a big bottle.