So, what did you do today?

[Trublu]

What do you guys do for tanks? Buy your own and refill, or pony up for the big ones you exchange all the time?

Pranav, what are you up to mate? Do you mean gas cylinders for the welder, propane for the house or air for scuba? Which ever it is, Buy one mate, make it big, you might need it.

[Pranav]

Alright, I got a local deal for a 244 cf tank for $300 filled. Should I go for it?

[Trublu]

Alright, I got a local deal for a 244 cf tank for $300 filled. Should I go for it?

I think you are better off to own the bottle. Full size (can't remember the letter designation) is best.

[Dulaney]

What do you guys do for tanks? Buy your own and refill, or pony up for the big ones you exchange all the time?

I bought bottles for 75/25 and pure argon. To be honest though, it's a bit of a PITA. I have to take them to the welding supply store for exchange, and they're never open late at night or Sunday when I seem to run out. Renting or exchanging from Home Depot would be much easier.

[Fbody383]

Just do exhaust first.

Or roll cage... I haven't wished for a bigger welder; yet.

[dtanker65]

I bought bottles for 75/25 and pure argon. To be honest though, it's a bit of a PITA. I have to take them to the welding supply store for exchange, and they're never open late at night or Sunday when I seem to run out. Renting or exchanging from Home Depot would be much easier.

Same here, a big 75/25 and argon bottle, I take the empty to Airco and they give me a full one. Getting a re-fill is a pita. My experience with small bottles is that they only run out after 5pm or on Sunday. My technique is to hang my hood on the gas bottle and close the valve. Forgetting to close the valve on a full large bottle is a lesson you will generally learn the first time :-)

[Pranav]

Just picked up a big old bottle of 75/25. Sparks will be flying this christmas weekend!

[Casey_SS]

Similar story here. I bought a medium (#4) 75/25 bottle from the Tractor Supply near my house and have emptied and exchanged it 3 times in a little over 2 years. I did lose ~1000psi once from forgetting to close the valve but the rest was actual welding. However, if I had it to do over again, I would rent or lease a bottle from a local welding supply company that does free home delivery. I stumbled across one recently and for what I've used so far, I'd be a few hundred bucks ahead and wouldn't have to stand in line and fill out a bunch of paperwork every 7-9 months. Might lose the option for an after hours / weekend refill but that's not a new problem and there are plenty of ways to solve it...

[mach1]

I use praxair at home depot, first filled bottle was ~$250, exchanges are ~$35 for 75/25.

[Fbody383]

Found Dustin's how to vids on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2hU...ature=youtu.be