Buying gas how much and how does it work?

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So do I buy my own tank that I can have filled? Or do I rent a company's tank and exchange?If I buy my own do I exchange like some do with propane? Are the tanks accepted at any company so like if I buy from company a then find that company b is better or cheaper, will they exchange tanks?
Reply:I can only speak from my experience around here so here goes:When I was looking it was $200 to buy a 3 cumeter  tank and $200 to lease it for three years, I did get a deal at $100 but even if I didn't I would have still leased. $78 for argon and 95\5, $50 for ox. fill.You're stuck with that company as they will only fill their tank so if the price goes up you're stuck with them and a tank. They are exchanged so you don't really keep the same tank....Mike
Reply:I've had my own tanks for 45 years and have exchanged them at several different places over the years because the companies would close or move. The best advice is to go talk to several suppliers and then make your decision. FYI, I went to auctions originally and found my bottles and then exchanged those. Much cheeper that way if you can find them. Try a farmer's auction. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:Depends. You can buy or lease/rent. If you buy, some places exchange, some will fill your existing cylinder. As far as taking owner cylinders elsewhere again depends on the company. Some places will swap small  owner cylinders no problem even if they came from another company. Other places won't.All of this has been covered here many times before in great detail."Small" cylinders, typically under about 150 cf or so are often considered "owner" cylinders and most people buy them and either get them filled or exchanged depending on your supplier. However size many places consider "owned" can vary from place to place. Some here have reported they can't buy anything bigger than say an 80 cf cylinder. Same goes with exchanging at other shops. Most places will exchange small owner cylinders and really don't care if they originally came from them. Other places are pickier.Larger cylinders are a bit different. While some large cylinders are "owner" cylinders, many big chains only rent/lease these sizes. If that is the case, they will not take cylinders unless they came from them. Originally when I got started, I managed to get a bunch of large owner cylinders when we still had a bunch of independent suppliers around. Since then they have all been bought up by the big chains, and no one local will refill or exchange customer owned cylinders over about 150 cf. That means my large cylinders are pretty much useless once the gas is gone. I sold a bunch of them to a friend of mine who still can get large owner cylinders exchanged where he is at, so things vary by location and supplier.I also have exchanged large cylinders I've borrowed from friends on occasion, even though I don't have a lease. I do however have an account at the place where the cylinders came from. Since I have an account, and I have one of their cylinders, they are more than willing to do the exchange. My buddy is still on the hook for the lease however since they show up on his account. If I borrow one I just like to return it full when done as a courtesy.What is cheapest, depends. Typically gas is cheapest per cf the larger the cylinder size is. The other day I went in to get my 40 cf Acetylene cylinder I use for soldering swapped out. Just out of curiosity I asked about what it would cost me to get the little 10 cf MC cylinder I picked up swapped as well as it would be more convenient on the truck. It would have cost me almost as much as the 40 cf one would. I think it was like $5 less. Works the same with my O2. My 100 cf O2 costs me only a few bucks less to fill than say a 300 cf O2 cylinder. However the 300 cf one would be a lease/rent one. You have to balance whether the lower gas cost is worth it when the rent is tacked on. High volume users the rent cost is probably negligible. For the home user who uses very little gas, it might make more sense to own vs rent.I'm always on the lookout on CL for cylinders. My place will swap any small cylinder for any similar size gas. I've traded acetylene for O2, O2 for mig gas, mig gas for argon and so on. I picked up my last two 40 cf acetylene cylinders off CL for less than it just cost me to get one exchanged. Eventually I'll probably swap one when it's empty for a small portable argon cylinder for my Maxstar if I have a job that requires it since I don't need a bunch of empty 40's of acetylene..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 papasmirfThe best advice is to go talk to several suppliers and then make your decision.
Reply:I must be lucky here. As long as we hold a bill of sale, with the tanks serial number on it,all the LWS within a 50 mile radius take the tanks. Regardless of size. Just remember one thing, once you own a tank, and get it filled, you can keep that gas for 5 days or 5 years and still use it. Leasing/renting tanks leads to the possibility you may never use the gas you paid for.
Reply:Originally Posted by turismolover22I must be lucky here. As long as we hold a bill of sale, with the tanks serial number on it,all the LWS within a 50 mile radius take the tanks. Regardless of size. Just remember one thing, once you own a tank, and get it filled, you can keep that gas for 5 days or 5 years and still use it. Leasing/renting tanks leads to the possibility you may never use the gas you paid for.
Reply:Thank you guys. Compiling a list of companies now. :-)
Reply:Well if you buy your own cylinder, make sure there is ZERO name on the collar at the neck. The big boys like to dupe you into buying into one of their lifetime lease BS. If it has their name on the collar it is their bottle and only they can exchange or fill. If no name it is customer owned and you are free to go anywhere. I exchange my "Customer owned" for another "Customer owned" on a regular basis. Any of the big suppliers will either do the same or fill yours. On occasion the big boys will want to hydro your bottle and charge you $25. I refuse and exchange at my LWS that does not rip me for that. In my area "Customer owned" exchanges are only on 125cf bottles or smaller. I have had large bottles refilled a few times. It pays to develop a relationship with your LWS if you can, and even establish an account to become a preferred customer.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:That is what I was hoping was a smaller shop. Talked to Airgas. They want $177.56 for a 40CF filled. I own the tank at that poing. exchanged at $40.Haven't had time to call anyone else yet.
Reply:Found my "mom and Pop"Central Ohio Welding. Owner is named Randy. Talked him at great length. Very nice guy. It's down town Columbus so it's a bit of a drive for me, but worth it to support a small business owner.
Reply:Hope it works out. See about a 125 CF size. Not too much difference in price or refills. Here's where I go now. I found them on Craigs list. http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/tld/4349192348.html
Reply:I rent my 80cf 100% argon tank for $30/year.  A refill costs $28 and if I want a 125cf tank the refill is $34.  I think its pretty cheap overall.
Reply:I went to auctions originally and found my bottles and then exchanged those.
Reply:@ Burpee - N.E. Indiana, thats all they ask for. Got a free 150 and fill plus credit for an exchange on a 250 o2 tank I bought from a guy for 50 bucks. They took it in, exhanged it for one of the Argon bottle sizes they carry, and paid me the credit for the value of the larger tank. 7.50 to stay on the exchange program, and about 30 bucks a fill. I should of just upgraded to the 300, but a single 150 suits me. Probably get a second when I get another used o2 tank to trade.