Buying a used argon tank.. Have q?'s

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Like it says looking at buying a used argon tank... The test date is from 2012 and is good for 10 years .. It's a 80 cf  ... That's not what I'm worried bout... There's no name on the tank .. Meaning airgas or Mississippi welding supply .... Etc... Stamped on it My main q? Is what should I be careful of????? And is it better to own ur own tank or do a lease???? I know Mississippi welding won't fill it if it's not theres...  Any input would be appreciated greatly... Thanks in advanceSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:Any welding supply that won't fill customer owned tanks would not be the type of company I would want to do business with.    You don't want a tank with a stamped neck ring.     Leasing is stupid for an occasional hobby welder.  Only benefit is if you only needed a tank for a short time with a mix that you don't normally use.Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Around here you would be golden since black necks are "Customer Owned " cylinders. You better look around and ask questions because every state and welding supply will have different policies when it comes to blank or stamped neck cylinders. Airgas in my area doesn't care but Matheson/trigas  won't fill or exchange unless its a blank plus they charge $110 to fill 60cu cylinders, Also you must have a title on big cylinders which is retarded and backwards as Fuuhk, Bunch of crooks and that's how it is in my area.
Reply:Yeah they want me to sign a 5 year lease or lifetime lease ... And the price of the tank I'm looking to buy is $130 shipped.... Empty .... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:Say what ??? 110 for a 60 cf fill .. What kind of gas??? By me for argon mix 75/25 is around 40 for a 80cf fillSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:On what size bottle would I need a title????Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:Well around here title is needed on 200cu + cylinders but that's for New Mexico and policies are going to be different in your part of the country. If you're being asked to sign a lease I wouldn't walk away I would run. If you're a hobby guy don't get stuck into contracts/leases. Call up other suppliers in your area, If you have a tractor supply call and ask about their cylinder exchange policy. A reputable welding supplier would exchange your blank cylinder without a lease, Seems like those guys are crooks, WATCH OUT !Last edited by NinjaRay; 11-17-2014 at 09:20 PM.
Reply:Weldingsupply.com sells full inert gas cylinders in smaller sizes.   You can probably get a tank and fill shipped for a bit more than the cost of a local fill it looks like.Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:No identifying label on the shoulder of the tank? How do you know it's an argon tank? Inert gases will have a 580 stamped into the body of the valve.Most LWD's only accept their own cylinders because they have to guarantee the integrity of your cylinder when it's filled and exchanged with the next guy. Even if the test date shows it's in test, it still has to be able to hold the proper pressure, and it's their butt on the line.Better to own than to lease. Cheaper in the long run.
Reply:It says CGA 580 on the body of the valveSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:got the tank today from fedex... now to go and get it filled... hopefully theres no issues...
Reply:I xchanged an 80cf Argon tank yesterday. I had to pay $35 upgrade fee for 140cf tank but got the Argon 1/2 price ($20 for 140cf). I had an expired tank but if you dont mention they dont care and never have. Thanks Sierra_Welding.They and everyone else seems to have plenty Helium on hand but Argon is in low supply.I have a full 330cf tank of straight He and a full 80 cf of Trimix 90%He, 7.5 Ar and 2.5 CO2.Now I have a full 140cf Argon. Time to go weld something.Last edited by Insaneride; 11-26-2014 at 05:22 PM.
Reply:I've resided all over this country and can tell you from experience that there simply are no "rules" or guarantees when it comes to welding gas tanks and what to expect when time for a refill or tank purchase. Even the bigger guys with many locations often have different rules, AND those rules seem to change like the weather.Two years ago I ventured into my family owed LWS that has five locations and attempted to lease semi large O/A tanks. The guy behind the counter suggested I'd save big bucks if I instead purchased them, so I bought a 75ft Acet tank and a 125ft O2 tank for $138 EA brand new full of gas and with their neck ring installed with the assurance that I was in their database and refills/swaps would always be cheaper and more forgiving than "the other Big guys" in the area.A week or two later I eased by and also bought a 125ft C-25 tank and a 150ft pure Argon tank, again with their neck ring and same assurances.Recently, a friend with an out of area 80ft C-25 nearly empty 80ft tank with a neck ring that was stamped NORCO asked me where to go to get the tank refilled or swapped....I told him to load his tank in my truck because we were out of beer and I wanted to buy myself a spare 125ft C-25 tank and introduce him to my LWS while we were at it.SHEEEIT, my LWS told me n him both that they no longer sold tanks of any size to anyone, and would only refill/swap tanks that had their neck ring installed.So ok, we ease by local RedBall and they say no problem except you can only buy 80ft tanks and that bigger tanks must be leased. So my buddy pays $254!!!!!! for one of their little 80ft tanks that only they will refill/swap @ 60 bucks a pop.While there I mentioned my experience with my LWS and they smile and say "they better NOT be selling tanks because we just sued them for being too loose with their welding gas policies and too competitive."So there it is, Friend.............It's an ever changing market where what you experience in your area today will change tomorrow, and every area is different to where even the national suppliers seem to have policy etched in Jell-O.Edited to add,  right then and there RedBall offered to accept his NORCO tank for a swap with one of their necked tanks for 60 bucks, but for some reason he decided to buy one of theirs instead...I wasn't in earshot or I would have kicked him, LOL....Then as we drove home he tells me what they offered and asks if I want to buy his NORCO tank....DUH!....Hey, we are buds so I ignored the offer and instead stopped for beer and changed the subject to politics and women.I walked away from the experience learning that RedBall apparently sued my little LWS for unfair practices, and then began offering the same but at much higher prices and limiting customers to 80ft tank purchases.As usual, it's ever changing unregulated business landscape where they cut each others throats while we suffer from their battles.Last edited by wornoutoldwelder; 11-26-2014 at 07:34 PM.
Reply:I've already decided when the sky completely falls and no one will refill my cylinders or lease me theirs I'm going into the wind chime business and retire. And maybe sell Avon in my spare time.
Reply:Windchimes?....That's a very interesting hobby, I agree, but I already discovered a new passion to pursue now that I am recently retired.I have a neighbor in these woods that brews world class MoonShine, and propane keeps dropping in price and I can always drop a few trees to finally justify cleaning up my property if it too goes stupid.I guess I should first fab up a few chimes to lull me asleep, tho. I made several a few years ago for gifts after I discovered the formula required to fab them so's they were in tune and really resonate when lightly struck.
Reply:say whats up with argon being in short supply??? my lws said the same thing....
Reply:Originally Posted by hi def mansay whats up with argon being in short supply??? my lws said the same thing....