What size Argon bottle?

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My local dealer will be having a sale in a week or so and I need to decide on what size bottle to get for my Dynasty 200dx.  Im just starting in the welding world, but would like portability as well.  Im sure that I'll be going through more argon while learning, and the cost factors of filling 40/60/80/150 is wild.What do you guys recommend to be a modest size tank with fair refill costs?ThermalArc 185MillerMatic 180 w/ AutosetVictor Cutskill Oxy/AcetyleneThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38and spite!
Reply:I've gone through this since I'm a tig newcomer as well.I had a 40 from a previous life as a maybe-do-aluminum-with-mig purchase. 40 you blow through way too quick.Now I have an 80, which is very manageable by yourself. I can take it down in my basement no problem. Just screwing around, I went through it in maybe 6 weeks? I think I'd go for a 150 if I had it to do over. I may see about swapping mine. Here is a site with some comparisons:http://www.airgas.com/gasmixes/tank_size.htmlI can put the 80 in the back seat of my car, not sure how portable the 150 would be. Basically 4 feet tall vs. 3 feet, still manageable I'd say.To fill my 40 is something like $24, for the 80 $32. Definitely more gas-for-the-buck as you go up in size. My neighbor just filled a 300 (!) for I think $85 or so.I'd go to the local supplier, heft them and get the largest one you think is manageable. Running out of gas in the middle of a project sucks.- JohnOh yeah, we have to see some pics of your new tig welds
Reply:I wouldnt get anything smaller than 200cf.  thats just me though.  Do you have something to hall a big cylender in? (Say 5 feet tall?), As for portability, put your rig on a cart and wheel it around.  My little minivan works great for hauling tanks (albeit on their sides).  You just roll it up to the back and flip it in over the bumper and your off.  My gas guys handle it for me once I get it there.  I think I paid about 70 something to get my 250 filled.  Tig uses the gas.  Especially when your new at it   Youll never regret leasing a big tank.  Thats my 2cents And Im stickin too it.Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:Does this advice go for MIG also?  And should I go pure Argon or a mix?  Or is that like discussing brands or motor oil? (which I never want to do the rest of my life).Mike
Reply:I have a 10.m3 bottle on mine but unlike you guys we can't buy a bottle over here we have to rent them cost me $10 a mth in rent plus refill charge the bottle is only about 4ft high but the sucker weights 120 lb's Creative metal Creative metal Facebook
Reply:Well, mig is different for me cause I dont use it that much.. If I was going through a spool of wire a day then Id opt for a bigger tank.  I just purchased the largest tank I could get (144cf I believe).  Get pure argon for tig.  You can do steel, aluminum and stainless.  Wello   10 cubic meters translates to er uh... 353 cf, sheesh, it must look like a fat acetelyn cylinder at only 4 ft high.  Must be an asian sumo cylinder... Actually, my big cylinders are 55~56" high (1.42 meters) with the caps off.  add 1.5 inch for the cap. slightly less that 5 feet.  Both my oxygen and argon bottle are 250 cf that tanslates too (for wello) 7.08 cubic meters.  I just cant help myself tonight. They definately put a pucker in your drawstring when you have to lift em but as long as you arent planning on doing bench presses, they're pretty manageble (I only lift one about 5 inches and the other i just roll on my cart).So far Ive had dealing with Airgas, Praxair, Dellile and Linde.  I wont say who I wont deal with anymore but 3 of em are still fair to deal with.  Good luckVarious GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:A good rule of thumb is always get as big as you can afford.  Unless you got a little passport where the bottle goes inside DewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:Well, went to my dealer and physically wrastled numerous cylinders.  Have decided on the 150.  Will probably pick up a little 40 later, but for now the 150 seems to be the largest that is managable by 1 person yet small enough to tote around.  At 4' tall its small enough to not take up too much space in the garage.I know Oxy/Acet cannot be used on its side, but what about Argon?  Does it need to be upright while welding?Thanks for all the help guys!  Soon I'll be able to add TIG to my dabbling repertoire!ThermalArc 185MillerMatic 180 w/ AutosetVictor Cutskill Oxy/AcetyleneThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38and spite!
Reply:You can use it on its side, acetelyn is what you want to keep upright because of the acetone slurry in it.Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:Wello  10 cubic meters translates to er uh... 353 cf, sheesh, it must look like a fat acetelyn cylinder at only 4 ft high. Must be an asian sumo cylinder... just to show I wasn't on the drink when I posted  opps I was .2 out  heres a few pics of the said bottle from top to bottom it is 4'7" high Creative metal Creative metal Facebook
Reply:Wow. You just won the "Ive got more gas than you" award!ThermalArc 185MillerMatic 180 w/ AutosetVictor Cutskill Oxy/AcetyleneThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38and spite!
Reply:Dude, catch that thing, it's capsizing!!If you don't have the time to do it right, then you definitely don't have the time to do it over.
Reply:Yep, looks like the miller is doing a wheelie...  But, it matches.. You know whats kinda funny is that in the states we have a propane company called 'Blue Rhino'.  How many rolls can you go through on a full cylinder?Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:The helium / argon tanks i have are 5 feet tall and weigh alot!Good thing i dont pay the bills...But I get what I want!...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Originally Posted by DoolittleYep, looks like the miller is doing a wheelie...  But, it matches.. You know whats kinda funny is that in the states we have a propane company called 'Blue Rhino'.  How many rolls can you go through on a full cylinder?
Reply:I ended up buying the 175 tank and I don't regret it one bit.  If I could have afforded a larger one I would have gotten it.  Its not too big to get in and out of the pickup yet it last long enough that you're not going to be running to the gas man every month (at least I don't)Michael
Reply:Nice rig wello my man, camoflauge, got to remember to watch out for it..Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.