AirGas sucks , again

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tried to get a cylinder of c25  in a reasonable size - 200-300 cubic ft .  forget it.they don't supply anything larger than 125 cu' .    not a lot of weld time in that tank ,whenits $40 to exchange , $45 to exchange a 200'  at another non-lws  50 miles away .kind of like a convenience store that sells only one thing .Miller S60 feederCobramatic push/pull feederMiller CP-252tsLincoln Tig250/Tig250Lincoln weldpak 100 -italianC-H 90A- italianHarris & Victor O\Afull manual & CNC machine shop
Reply:Hey, TNMGCARBIDE.I'm in Dalton, GA. I have a large bottle (300 cf I think) with C25. I'll swap you even for a 125 cf full. I have a hard time with the big bottles. Then you can easily swap with Airgas.Burt _____________________Miller Syncrowave 250Millermatic 211Miller 375 Plasma Cutter Hobart Handler 12010FtDrillBit.com
Reply:that's the problem . airgas only has 125s . your 300cf would have to be sent off and refilled.Miller S60 feederCobramatic push/pull feederMiller CP-252tsLincoln Tig250/Tig250Lincoln weldpak 100 -italianC-H 90A- italianHarris & Victor O\Afull manual & CNC machine shop
Reply:I think I can swap in Dalton, haven't asked lately. Where are you?Burt _____________________Miller Syncrowave 250Millermatic 211Miller 375 Plasma Cutter Hobart Handler 12010FtDrillBit.com
Reply:AirGas gas services sucks and their "Radnor" house brand stuff is all crap too.  I'd rather buy Lincoln Electric "big box model" consumables made for Home Depot and Lowes, before ever touching Radnor $h!{ again.Last edited by SuperArc; 01-19-2013 at 04:03 AM.Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:That's weired.  My Airgas has tons of 300 CF tanks.  My problem was getting anything special in less than 300  like 98/2 etcTiger 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:wb4rt ,  i'm in Athens  , but i come your way on occasion .... i'll consider your offer...Miller S60 feederCobramatic push/pull feederMiller CP-252tsLincoln Tig250/Tig250Lincoln weldpak 100 -italianC-H 90A- italianHarris & Victor O\Afull manual & CNC machine shop
Reply:it is official .  the airgas distributors in GA won't sell a c25 exchange cylinder larger than 125cu' . they have larger rental tanks , but i don't rent . period .   i once owned my own o2 tank that wasn't  compatible w/ the lws  exchange tanks . it sucked when i ran out and had to wait a week and a half  to get it refilled .Miller S60 feederCobramatic push/pull feederMiller CP-252tsLincoln Tig250/Tig250Lincoln weldpak 100 -italianC-H 90A- italianHarris & Victor O\Afull manual & CNC machine shop
Reply:If you don't rent and they don't sell then well, sir, we have a classic stale mate.  Someone has to give or go elsewhere.Miller Diversion 180Hobart Handler 140 (Soon to be replaced with Miller 211?)Miller Spectrum 625 Extreme
Reply:that's the problem . they bought out all the competition and killed off the  mom and pops stores.a monopoly, unless i want to drive 40+ miles away.Miller S60 feederCobramatic push/pull feederMiller CP-252tsLincoln Tig250/Tig250Lincoln weldpak 100 -italianC-H 90A- italianHarris & Victor O\Afull manual & CNC machine shop
Reply:I quit using airgas a few years ago..  I've tried to go into airgas and buy consumables and such, get pricing on machines, decided I just couldnt do business with them, they are just too proud of their crap and acted like it was killing them to have to get out from behind the desk...  I am lucky to have a couple of large semi-locally owned welding supply outfits easily in driving distance and one place even delivers and still beats airgas prices, so it wasnt a difficult change for me..   You might look around, you might be surprised to find out who actually wants your business..tackleexperts.comwww.necessityjigs.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mach...dingequipment/
Reply:Originally Posted by tnmgcarbideit is official .  the airgas distributors in GA won't sell a c25 exchange cylinder larger than 125cu' . they have larger rental tanks , but i don't rent . period .   i once owned my own o2 tank that wasn't  compatible w/ the lws  exchange tanks . it sucked when i ran out and had to wait a week and a half  to get it refilled .
Reply:Originally Posted by tnmgcarbideit is official .  the airgas distributors in GA won't sell a c25 exchange cylinder larger than 125cu' . they have larger rental tanks , but i don't rent . period .   i once owned my own o2 tank that wasn't  compatible w/ the lws  exchange tanks . it sucked when i ran out and had to wait a week and a half  to get it refilled .
Reply:Im really happy i live so close to Smith welding. These guys exchange anything i have with no questions.
Reply:Around here small cylinders only are exchanged.  Stuff like MC and B acet, R and up to 60cf Oxy and non-flammables.  If you want anything bigger you MUST lease.  It seems all the suppliers in a fairly large area (Eastern Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine anyway) have some sort of non-compete agreement and none will handle exchanges larger than 60 cf.It's really funny, I see 125cf and larger for sale on Craigslist every week but none of the supply houses will accept them in swap programs.  I got burned a couple years ago buying an Oxy-Acet pair and could not get them filled anywhere and the seller vaporized in the sea air.  I was tempted to just slice the bottoms off and use 'em as gigantic wind chimes.  I ended up forfeiting them to the company who's label was on 'em and wrote off the loss.   - MondoMember, AWSLincoln ProMIG 140Lincoln AC TombstoneCraftsman Lathe 12 x 24 c1935Atlas MFC Horizontal MillCraftsman Commercial Lathe 12 x 36 c1970- - - I'll just keep on keepin' on.
Reply:125 cf cylinders are rental size only in the PNW. I can get private tanks filled from 5 cf to 330 cf. No problem at all. The guys behind the counter thinks Airgas sucks too. They do treat me very well though. Esab/Lorch ET-220iEsab 160i caddyThermal LM-200 Lincoln feedersThermal Pee-Wee 85sThermal 60i- 3phase /RPC powered (Beast)Thermal Drag-gun 35CINE 1500 Klutch 140i
Reply:I think theres something really freaking goofy going on in airgas corperate.  my local branch that does a very decent business volume was completely out of 300CF 75/25 ownership cylinders also.   this has NEVER EVER been a problem before.        they are getting me 4 for tomorrow morning but there is definitely some monkey business going on. Seems like they keep going out of their way to make me dislike them more and more.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Originally Posted by DualieI think theres something really freaking goofy going on in airgas corperate.  my local branch that does a very decent business volume was completely out of 300CF 75/25 ownership cylinders also.   this has NEVER EVER been a problem before.        they are getting me 4 for tomorrow morning but there is definitely some monkey business going on. Seems like they keep going out of their way to make me dislike them more and more.
Reply:Originally Posted by Brand XThey completely revamped their computer system.  Kind of like a vista type of thing but nothing from Microsoft.
Reply:What is going price on a 300 cu ft. I just exchanged for 110 bucks for leased exchange tank.Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:the answer is simple : the rental fees on a large cylinder outweigh the high cost of  selling one .they won't sell you the cheaper solution, 'cause they can't hose you in the end ...the refill on an owned  300 cu  isn't too much more  as a 125 cu , but you can exchange the 125the same day , unless you're renting the bottle . 1-2 weekslead time on that 300 refill , so , got to have 2 tanks to overlap .Miller S60 feederCobramatic push/pull feederMiller CP-252tsLincoln Tig250/Tig250Lincoln weldpak 100 -italianC-H 90A- italianHarris & Victor O\Afull manual & CNC machine shop
Reply:Here in the Seattle area Airgas will swap any size cylinder containing any gas. And whoever posted that 125s here are rental only is misinformed. They might be rental or they might be owner. 92s and 150s are owner only. 250s and 330s are a mix as well. I use a 250 and a 150 for C25. Just swapped a full 150 for an empty 250. Best price I can find to refill the 250 with C25 is about $60.metalmagpie
Reply:I could still do swaps of owner 250s at Airgas in Vegas last time I went.  I changed over a year ago to Nevada Compressed Gas, a locally owned LWS.  My Airgas guys were cool, but NCG is far less expensive (for c25 and straight argon about half, about 1/3 for nitrogen), was easy to open an account and have pretty competitive pricing to Internet pricing though they don't stock all of what I use.Enough stuff to build and repair wrinkled up race cars or bring a classic back to life...
Reply:Originally Posted by metalmagpieHere in the Seattle area Airgas will swap any size cylinder containing any gas. And whoever posted that 125s here are rental only is misinformed. They might be rental or they might be owner. 92s and 150s are owner only. 250s and 330s are a mix as well. I use a 250 and a 150 for C25. Just swapped a full 150 for an empty 250. Best price I can find to refill the 250 with C25 is about $60.metalmagpie
Reply:In Maryland it seems the biggest owned bottle is an 80.If you use enough, renting isn't a bad way to go.rent is lost in the noise...If you are like me there are years where I barely used a single 80.So for me renting is to expensive.Con Fuse!Miller Dynasty 350Millermatic 350P-Spoolmatic 30AMiller Multimatic 200Hypertherm PowerMax 1000G3Miller Maxstar 200DXI am with you on this one. Airgas sucks! I have a 160 cf tank of 75/25, just exchanged it out this morning. $130.08 and I have an C.O.D. account. I stopped by ARCET Equipment Company on the way back. $62.50 to lease the bottle and $62.50 to exchange. Priced out a few consumables and machines, ARCET is way cheaper and gives good discounts. I'll keep the Airgas bottle as a weekend back-up.
Reply:A word to the wise.Never ever sign a contract with AirGas, or any other gas supplier without knowing how the terms work. Or have an attorney read it and decipher the fine print. I learned the hard way.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:Originally Posted by shovelonA word to the wise.Never ever sign a contract with AirGas, or any other gas supplier without knowing how the terms work. Or have an attorney read it and decipher the fine print. I learned the hard way.
Reply:Originally Posted by WookieWeldingDo tell .....
Reply:I love AirGas.They exchange any cylinder  , any size ,any time. If they dont stock it ,they can get it in 2 days.Also their prices are the best in town.You guys live in the wrong City!!
Reply:Airgas is over-priced, offer cheap, inferior custom brand consumables, and the company is managed poorly in the NorthWest. All in all, any competitor will offer better service, better pricing, better and quicker issue response times. Hell, better everything.
Reply:I gave up on my local AirGas, they have lied to me, and they sell over priced junk. I have gone to a small business local company with 4 stores withen 100 mile area. I hope they make it becacuse  Idont want to go back to AirGas ever again. AirGas rates welders a second rate client there main business is medical and resturant gas. Very little of there income comes from us and they treat us as such.Donnelly Small Engine & WeldingFoley AlabamaLincoln 225 TigLinoln 215 migHypertherm Powermax 65Ellis 1600 sawEllis 6000 belt grinderJD2 Model 4 tubing benderAtlas  12"X54" metal latheLots of large hammers
Reply:Lots of hate for Airgas here...hmmm.  Makes me wonder if you are in the wrong city?  The one I use is happy to exchange my owned 80cf O/A tanks and my 80cf 75/25 right then and there.  They even go out of their way to find tanks with good paint for me.  I just bought a 300cf tank...and I haven't asked Airgas if they will exchange it or not.  Arcet is closer if not...As far as consumables...I don't buy them from the LWS's.  Overpriced...Miller Syncrowave 200MillerMatic 180 AutoSetHobart Airforce 500iVictor O/A (80cf)
Reply:I think it all depends on the local AirGas store...mine treats me pretty good.  I did buy over $4K worth of Miller machines from them 2 years ago.  They matched the online prices (plus tax) which gave me a local source for service, which I have not needed.  They also have most of the business, both Miller and Lincoln at the local JC.The last tank I got from them was an 125 Argon for $16.00...my C25 tank they can't fill because I got it from their competitor here - $38.00.  They said they cold beat that price but not allowed to fill.....purchased in 2006 before AirGas got here.Retired - "Her job is to Bitch - mine is to give her a reason"Miller Syncro 200Miller 211 AutoSetMiller 375 ExtremeAn old Ox/Acc
Reply:Had mixed experiences at the local AG.  Rate 'em a "C-" at best for customer service.  Now, Arcet.  Those cats rock!  My LWS = Arcet.  Nuff Said."Discovery is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought" - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
Reply:I have purchased Tig, Plasma,Mig and helmets gas and regulators from Air Gas. Thousands of my hard earned dollars only to be treated like **** never again will my money go to that company.Donnelly Small Engine & WeldingFoley AlabamaLincoln 225 TigLinoln 215 migHypertherm Powermax 65Ellis 1600 sawEllis 6000 belt grinderJD2 Model 4 tubing benderAtlas  12"X54" metal latheLots of large hammers