Gas cylinders - Lease or buy?

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Just reviewing our expenses for the last year, and one of the things I never really think about is gas cylinders.  They are always there, and always being used, but the cost seems to just disappear into the price of welding consumables, etc.  Several years ago, my supplier stopped selling bottles and started only leasing them, but the cost was pretty minute. Looking back at my invoices, over the last several years my lease (per bottle) has crept up from around $100/year to almost $300/year.  Supplier tells me it's "standard" and "volume based" and that you just "build it into your rate, and everyone is happy" (not really their choice to make), but either way it has me shopping around a bit and getting prices from some other suppliers.  On the flip side, I own several bottles, which I have always exchanged with no issues.  Looks like the cost of a new bottle is a little over a year's lease.  Starting to think about just buying some empty bottles and exchanging them.anyone else had similar experience?  Seems since all the LWS have been bought up by big companies, prices have soared.  I'm sure it's a drop in the bucket overall, and we have to keep bottles handy, just wondering if it's a reasonable place to trim some cost.
Reply:

Originally Posted by RMI

my lease (per bottle) has crept up from around $100/year to almost $300/year.
Reply:

Originally Posted by RMI

Just reviewing our expenses for the last year, and one of the things I never really think about is gas cylinders.  They are always there, and always being used, but the cost seems to just disappear into the price of welding consumables, etc.  Several years ago, my supplier stopped selling bottles and started only leasing them, but the cost was pretty minute. Looking back at my invoices, over the last several years my lease (per bottle) has crept up from around $100/year to almost $300/year.  Supplier tells me it's "standard" and "volume based" and that you just "build it into your rate, and everyone is happy" (not really their choice to make), but either way it has me shopping around a bit and getting prices from some other suppliers.  On the flip side, I own several bottles, which I have always exchanged with no issues.  Looks like the cost of a new bottle is a little over a year's lease.  Starting to think about just buying some empty bottles and exchanging them.anyone else had similar experience?  Seems since all the LWS have been bought up by big companies, prices have soared.  I'm sure it's a drop in the bucket overall, and we have to keep bottles handy, just wondering if it's a reasonable place to trim some cost.
Reply:I would check with your accountant and see what the tax write off is for those leased cylinders.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:As a hobby-use individual, I don't use lots of any gasses.......
Reply:I don't have a lot of options here for O2 and acetylene ... the basic contract for the 2 bottles started out around $100/yr (plus any refill costs) and is now well up over $250. It was Praxair but it didn't get any cheaper with the last ownership change. I haven't refilled lately, but I think that was over $100/bottle as well...The harder you fall, the higher you bounce...250 amp Miller DialArc AC/DC StickF-225 amp Forney AC Stick230 amp Sears AC StickLincoln 180C MIGVictor Medalist 350 O/ACut 50 PlasmaLes
Reply:

Originally Posted by whtbaron

I don't have a lot of options here for O2 and acetylene ... the basic contract for the 2 bottles started out around $100/yr (plus any refill costs) and is now well up over $250. It was Praxair but it didn't get any cheaper with the last ownership change. I haven't refilled lately, but I think that was over $100/bottle as well...
Reply:I own about 4 bottles and lease another 8 bottles. My owned bottles are on the portable migs, tigs, and purge rigs that I use the least, and transfil them from leased bottles that I frequently change on my fixed bench stations. And if I get short somehow on leased bottles I can rob my owned bottles. Keeps the lease rates reasonable. I usually buy the owned bottles cheap when available and my LWS does the upkeep.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR"

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Reply:Up until the late 90's my local supplier was $4 a month rental no matter the size or contents and after 3 years you owned them for exchange. That is no longer the policy.