Oxy/Fuel bottles - Buying, renting, exchanging, etc.

[toprecycler]

Originally Posted by MetalWolf

Zach, That will only matter if the cylinders are of commercial size. others "cylinders" by size don't really matter, what they swap you out with...



let's say you bought a bottle/cylinders set from northern tools standard 150s you get them filled at Airgas... cool no problem.



So you take them back to fill again and they just simply swap them out... Now, you have Airgas bottles. Now you need another fill, and you decide their price is too high "to fill" and you go over to AOC... they will just simply swap them out again with one of theirs... No worries.



And when a place like Airgas and AOC start to have a few too many of the "others" cylinders they just swap them back out with each other their selves.



It only really matters, when the cylinders that are strict, leased cylinders...



Hope this help...

Randell, it really sounds like they work very differently in your neck of the woods. It does not work that nice up here, unless you know the guys pretty well at the place.

Maybe it’s because my town isn’t necessarily a small town, and definitely not a big city ( population about 10-15,000, depending on the vacationers in town that season),


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[MetalWolf]

Originally Posted by toprecycler

so bigger is not necessarily better.

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You sure have that spot on... I have numerous cylinders. and I have some very large and heavy owner cylinders... I would much rather load and haul 5, 125s or 150s to be filled or exchanged, than anyone of my large cylinders...

[MetalWolf]

Originally Posted by toprecycler

Randell, it really sounds like they work very differently in your neck of the woods. It does not work that nice up here, unless you know the guys pretty well at the place.


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Did, I not mention that. In, one of my previous posts. It varies from place to place, state to state. some places the same companies... can be a bit anal retentive, thought I mention it.. sorry, my bad if I didn't.

[Camaro Zach]

Originally Posted by MetalWolf

Zach, That will only matter if the cylinders are of commercial size. others "cylinders" by size don't really matter, what they swap you out with...

let's say you bought a bottle/cylinders set from northern tools standard 150s you get them filled at Airgas... cool no problem.

So you take them back to fill again and they just simply swap them out... Now, you have Airgas bottles. Now you need another fill, and you decide their price is too high "to fill" and you go over to AOC... they will just simply swap them out again with one of theirs... No worries.

And when a place like Airgas and AOC start to have a few too many of the "others" cylinders they just swap them back out with each other their selves.

It only really matters, when the cylinders that are strict, leased cylinders...

Hope this help...

These are 300 series? Argon and c25 and 200-250? Oxygen. Last oxygen bottle they gave me someone clearly used a grinder on the neck...

I don’t have any small cylinders right now

[digger doug]

Originally Posted by MetalWolf

Sorry, But that, Is A load of BS! he just wants to sell you a bottle...
It would only apply, To lease bottles period!
certain size bottles can be bought outright. some larger O2 bottles can only be leased due to imposed laws and regulations... say some states size 300's and up some stated 200's and up...

I believe this is the problem....you basically called the OP a liar.

He/she know what they have been told, by their supplier, in their town.

[Shade Tree Welder]

Originally Posted by toprecycler

Airgas has basically bought out all the other local LWS shops within 45
miles, so I am limited to get stuff.

When Airgas bought out BOC, I made the switch to SJ Smith.

Originally Posted by MetalWolf

And when a place like Airgas and AOC start to have a few too many of
the "others" cylinders they just swap them back out with each other
themselves.

Yeah not so much, most of them just pop off neck rings and put their own
rings on there...

[MetalWolf]

Originally Posted by digger doug

I believe this is the problem....you basically called the OP a liar.

He/she know what they have been told, by their supplier, in their town.

No! and Not at All. Never called Zach. a liar!
For one, I have no reason or right to...
Two: Believe me I have big enough Balls to do so, and not with hiding behind a keyboard!
But I choose to respect others... Until they disrespect me, Plain and simple!!
The liar would be the supplier... I know all too well how Airgas operates around the state/here... which is one reason, I will not! do business with them...

Camaro Zach
I have no advice other than Be careful dealing with airgas.

I purchased all of my cylinders outright from my lws over a decade ago. A few years ago airgas bought out the lws and has since given me a few rental bottles because there were no “owner” bottles to swap me.(in a bind, need gas now) Now they say they never have any owner bottles to give me so I’m stuck with rental bottles.

Zach. Do you have a Matherson Gas? Or a 3D welding near you? Both one and the same... If so, give those guys a try... They have done nothing but bend over backward's for me. And other people I know, who left AG and went to them...

I believe. their Main location, Is somewhere between you and me... so any hydro testing and send outs for filling are usually rather fast...

[Camaro Zach]

Originally Posted by MetalWolf

Zach. Do you have a Matherson Gas? Or a 3D welding near you? Both one and the same... If so, give those guys a try... They have done nothing but bend over backward's for me. And other people I know, who left AG and went to them...

I believe. their Main location, Is somewhere between you and me... so any hydro testing and send outs for filling are usually rather fast...

I am not sure. My current lws and airgas are within 5 mins of me. There are a ton of places in Houston and more in the Houston-metro area though as well as a hydro testing facility about 35 mins away. I will look them up.

[mccutter]

My AirGas around here treats me well. They are in Sanford and I drop-off/pick-up tanks myself. There are stores in Orlando and Daytona I've also been in if convenient in my travels. Having an account with them makes all the difference, I think. Go in, get what I need, sign the slip, pay the bill when it comes in. About 18 years now. They bought out Tri-Tech about 5-10 years ago. There is another "local" store about equidistant to the AG but about twice the price and I suspect they are re-selling AG gases... I believe in supporting the "little guy" but THIS little guy (points finger at self) comes first!

[GWIZ]

Originally Posted by Mike00

Thank you all for chiming in with your experiences.
I guess it varies a lot by distributor.

"First do you know there is a maximum withdraw rate (flow) for acetylene bottles"
I have read about that, as I understand it, the general rule is not to flow at a rate higher than would empty the bottle in 7 hours. Is that right?

*** No that is not right ***

Thanks for all the help so far.
I might have about a million more questions once I get this thing up and going.

I had a chart on some other hard drive I cant get right now.

If you search the net There is a chart that will list welding tip sizes along with pressure setting, and the important cf flow rate to each tip and some list the tips hole size in inches.

Example Victor #0 tip 0.035", Acet psi 5, @4 SCFH