Start up cost---- Tanks--????

Gary Max

Gary Max

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I am wanting to buy a Mig welder and started looking at the total cost of setting the welder up. Stopped by the nearest gas supply and they want $350.00 per tank---- this is for buying a full tank. Heck if I want to run a two tank system I am looking at $700.00.
My wallet aint to happy about these #'s. Is this expensive????
 
Yes and No - depends on what size the cylinders were? Did you check On renting cylinders? I used to rent four cylinders, three were 122 cubic foot size and one was a medium acetylene. If I remember correctly these ran about 14 bucks a month plus contents. When I used to run thru them quite often it was not to bad, and could always return them when empty. I finally decided to buy some "customer owned" sized sets and these cost me about 150 bucks per cylinder!
 
I bought my mig cylinders from Tractor Supply. They are as cheap as anybody anymore and can be exchanged on a Sunday too. I think I paid around 250 for a bottle and the gas to get started. It was the largest bottle they had at the time. Be prepared for the price of gases to continue to rise again this year too. Last I looked it was around 60 bucks to fill a bottle. Used to be much cheaper, but now everybody in the TSA has to get paid too. Good luck, and look around 700 bucks is way too much. Also if you have decent credit you can lease a larger bottle from the local supplier too.
Bob
 
Sounds like I need to shop some more. I aint much on leasing or renting anything.
 
The one thing to consider when buying cyliners is if you do not use them for long periods (say five years or so) then it may be hard to get them refilled as they have to be hydrostatically tested periodically. If you swap them in during a refill and the supplier simply provides you with another cylinder than chances are this will not be an issue. However many years ago (35 or better and man where did time go) when you owned a customer owned set you got your same set re-filled and most suppliers would test them when due for free!
 
I buy my cylinders off of CL. I got a full 250 cf oxygen bottle with a recent hydro stat for $100 two weeks ago. If I find a bottle with a past due hydrostat, I can usually get it for scrap value. A fresh hydro stat at the service is only @ $50. Just be careful that there is no name on the owner's ring. BTW, the local suppliers frequently just judishishly grind off the names of defunct owners. Many of the companies on those rings have been defunct for years.

Randy
 
One thought, consider buying the smaller bottles and if you have a big job, rent a larger bottle for a short period. Most LWS will do this if you have an account.
 
I have 2 75/25 and 2 Argon with the other bottles I have a total of 27 bottles. Most were given to me and I got a few for scrap price.

I got the Hydro Stat done for free! It pays to have friends in high places.

Paul
 
Old Iron said:
I have 2 75/25 and 2 Argon with the other bottles I have a total of 27 bottles. Most were given to me and I got a few for scrap price.

I got the Hydro Stat done for free! It pays to have friends in high places.

Paul
Click to expand...

Paul, might you remember way back when as long as you bought the content gas from a supplier, the cylinder was used at no charge! Oh the good old days where pleasing customers and simply making a profit was satisfactory instead of the heck with everyone and just making a killing all of the time now! Of course mostly everyone only worked five days a week back then and all the stores closed if not by mid day on Saturday at least by late afternoon and all were closed on Sunday.
 
Can a nitrogen tank be used for 75/25 or once they are filled with one gas that's it?

What size welder you looking for?
 
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