do ya'll think i could get this bottle refilled in houston?

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the below from craigslist:  "Selling one used compressed gas storage cylinder Measures: 36" tall x 7" diameter Valve is marked: SHERWOOD CGA-580 08 95 ******* Cylinder is marked: DOT-3AA2015SPUN TWC-209023 GENEX ****** Paper label on cylinder tank reads: COMPRESSED GAS 25% CARBON DIOXIDE 75% ARGON NON FLAMABLE GAS 2 ******* Attention There are also two symbols on this item Please look at close up shot - last photo to view these markings This is a used cylinder tank that I recently aquired from an outdoor yard sale last weekend, along with a truck load of other treasure. I do not weld, nor do I know anything about welding equipment. Would you please look at the photos Delivery not available Local pickup only in Galveston, Texas Cash and carry Please bring cash-money Someone recently paid me with a Bad Check I will provide a Bill of Sale for this item "  http://c.im.craigslist.org/qv/rq/C3r...Rb1uq1qP2E.jpg  http://d.im.craigslist.org/Ez/7a/FJh...hbNS1fpW1I.jpghttp://c.im.craigslist.org/U6/r7/yD4...mSVsgHWGc7.jpghttp://c.im.craigslist.org/aI/Ce/c5c...DxicdhRtfa.jpg
Reply:Don't see why not. The 80cf's are all customer owned usually. As long as the bottle is in good shape, no dents, burns, pits etc, then it should be fine. AOC trades them out with me all the time. The hydro may be out...if so, all you do is pay a retest fee and off you go. My retests have been anywhere from 15-25 bucks.How much are they asking? Might call AOC or any other lws and compare prices and see what they will do for trade in costs.
Reply:my concern would be that ring on the neck of the bottle just below the cap that says GENEX, That implies it is not a privately owned bottle, but a leased or rented one. The welding shops in my area wont fill a bottle for you unless it is a "slick neck"  no ring on the neck. But that may not apply in TX
Reply:I would be a little concerned about the ring however I doubt they pay that much attention to when they have a paying customer in their shop.  Most likely the Hydro will have to be done since I think they are only good for 10 years.  Worst case you most likely can turn around and resell it to someone else who may have a way of getting it filled.  I tried hard to find a used bottle for my gas but had no luck.  It cost me $220 for new 150 cu.ft. Argon bottle (included the fill).  The problem is when I go to get it filled I can drop off my bottle and get it back 3 or 4 days later or I just leave the guy mine and I take a used bottle in return.  I need 3 more bottles and I've been looking at auctions everywhere.Michael
Reply:Figure out who owns it and if they're still in business.  The neck ring implies that it's a leased cylinder which may be difficult to fill and impossible to exchange.-Heath
Reply:The neck ring on an 80 means absolutely nothing here. They have never leased, and will never lease anything below a 225cf. AOC gives me cyls with different neck rings all the time. 3-D does as well, although you won't be near them as they are in Boerne and San Marcos. AOC has 20-25 or so stores all over south Tx and you can take that to them at any branch and as long as it is sound, it won't be a problem. If they won't take it, that will be a new one on me as I do this all the time. Just swapped out three a few weeks ago. Sent back two with stamped rings and got back one with a ring and one with Trigas painted all over it....but I didn't get it from Trigas.  One was an Airgas as well. With the little cylinders, they mix and match all the time.If you get it and no one will touch it, bring it to San Antonio.....I know if it is sound it can be done.It is also much easier to swap out bottles that to have them filled. You won't have to pay for hydros near as much. Out of my 8 bottles I own, I just had to pay for my first hydro last month on an aquired bottle. I just went in, paid my fee and picked up another set. No worries at all. When you start filling them, they are much pickier than if they are in the general lot. Valves are scrutinized closer as are dings and marks. As long as they are paying for it, they don't care as much...but if you are footing the bill, I've found they are a lot pickier and charge for absolutely everything. New cylinders mean nothing. It is what is inside that matters. I have one from 1939 in the shop now and it still has three years or more left on the hydro. Age doesn't matter at all.Last edited by DDA52; 08-11-2006 at 07:50 PM.
Reply:I'm kind of worried about swapping mine. I don't know the size in CF, but it's about 5' tall and around 9" in diameter. I haven't had to fill it yet, but I'm down to about 700psi. No markings on it, exept for the argon label. I bought it from a guy going out of the trailer making business. I guess even if I can't swap the tank somewhere I still got a deal, I only gave $50 for it full. I still hope I can trade it though, anyone know what size that is in CF so I can call around?
Reply:A lot will depend on location. Here, without the original bill of sale, you are sunk. It sounds like you have a 300cf. They are listed by Airgas as being 55" tall. The 220 and 250 are 51" tall. The 300 is listed as 9.25" and the other two are at 9" even. In this area, those are rental bottles. You can buy them, but that bill of sale has to be with the bottle at all times or you will loose it if questioned. There are lots of guys that will sell off their rental bottles. I'm supposing they don't want their deposits back.
Reply:Oh well, if I do lose it, I didn't really lose anything. I'm guessing it costs more than $50 to fill a 300cf bottle, and mine was full when I got it for $50.
Reply:Weeellllllll........not really. Mine are costing me around 25 bucks in Ar mixes. Some more, just depends on what it is. The trimix will run me about 56...now that is expensive to me. Esp since I really don't like stainless that much. Try to find out who he got his cyls from. Maybe someone will know if they are owned and will maybe honor it. It is worth a shot. At worst, you loose the cyl...at best, you get a new one.
Reply:There is only one co. within 30 miles of his shop. C&C oxygen. Maybe I'll get lucky, it's a small outfit. I am kind of worried though, because the guy was in plant maintenance at a co. I used to work for. We used identical tanks at work. He had about 8 of them in his personal shop though, I really hope he didn't "liberate" the tank from work.
Reply:Find out if they are rentals or owned. If the are rentals, tell them your story...maybe they will take pity on you and make a killer deal on another cyl. It has happened like that before.
Reply:I think that's what I'll do, take them the tank, tell them as much of the truth as I know, and beg for mercy. They are good guys at C&C. Hopefully I'll get lucky, I really like having such a big tank. I have welded ALOT with it, and still have a fair amount before refill.