What to do with large oxy/acetylene tanks?

[dyeager535]

I've been looking for a spare set of bottles because I live in the middle of nowhere. I don't need huge bottles, I don't do much with gas, but when you need it, you need it.

Guy I know talked to me yesterday about his cheap oxy/acetylene setup. I bought it. I don't know a ton about the different sizes, but looking at the charts, the acetylene bottle is apparently a #5 (300CF), and the oxygen is either 280 or 300CF. They are owner bottles. I had no idea they were that large when he talked to me, but I knew if nothing else I could sell them or trade+cash for what I need, as they are way too large and unwieldy for how I need to use them.

What are these things worth, roughly? I know I'm not looking at retail value, but more along the lines of value for trade.

I figure Craigslist is an option, but do welding supply places often trade "down"? What I think I could really use would be an 80 or 120CF Oxygen bottle, a 35CF Acetylene, and an 80CF Argon cylinder. Are the bottles I've got worth anywhere near that in trade?

 

[sweetk30]

I got the biggest I could get every time I had the chance.

I got 2 oxy /act bottles BIG . also have 2 mid size c-25 mig gas . and 2 sets of porta-torch bottle.

you never get me to give up the big ones .

but if you need to ask a good nice guy at local welding supply shop if you can swap out the bigger bottles for smaller and what can he do to sweeten the deal to make it even on both sides .

glad I had a friend for years at local welding supply shop . its how I got all mine done .

 

[cybrfire]

Around here they are reluctant to take bottles in that they don't already own. Something about certifying them. If they have another companies stamp on them they can get in trouble.

Talk to your welding supplier before you buy them.

 

[dyeager535]

I've done swaps with these guys before, no hassle as long as they are "owner bottles". I brought in some non-owner bottles, but they weren't interested in exchanging those of course.

I suspect I'll just end up keeping both sets. The large ones are going to be a real hassle to take in to get filled, but realistically that will take years to be an issue. The real issue is space, but somehow I suppose I can make do.

 

[diesel4me]

I got a set of tanks and torches ,with an O2 tank thats the largest one you can get ,when a friend moved,he gave the setup to me to use for helping him move--he had two torch setups and didn't need both--the torches use propane ,so no costly acetalyne to buy (the torch tips for propane for cutting are not cheap however)..

I had a hassle getting the tank refilled at the usual place I go,because I dont have a contract with them..and am not a "regular" customer--
I rarely go there more than once a year or maybe twice,when I had only the two small 20 cubic foot O2 bottles,so the guys there were reluctant to let me slide and fill the large tank...they wanted me to get a contract,then have the tank tested,etc....

I was fortunate a guy I know who owns a salvage yard and is one of the welding gas suppliers best customers--he told me to just say the tank is one of his,and pay cash under his account ,to get it filled..the only hitches are
A: I dont know how long the tanks are "good" for,before they'll want to pressure test it--but often they just roll out another one thats still within the specs ,not fill the one you bring in,so I probably wont have to worry about that..and B:--the guy who's account I can use is nearly 80,so he might not be around much longer...

 

[dyeager535]

The expiry date should be stamped right into the bottle up top. "Newest" date is the expiration of the cert. At least here, whoever ends up holding an expired bottle ends up paying something like $15 for re-certification, but they just swap you a valid tank so seamless to you except for the extra fee.

I guess technically you could get screwed if you swapped tanks and yours was valid and the one they gave you back was expiring the next month or something, but I guess that's how the game is played. Someone will be getting stuck with the certification fee.

 

[ashman]

At the places I've been the guy swapping the bottles didn't seem to care too much so didn't even check the bottles I gave him before giving me new ones. I'm sure that the first bottle I turned in was out of date and I expected to pay the fee, but he didn't look so I kept my mouth shut and got a nice inspected bottle in return.

 

[dyeager535]

I wish they would have let me trade in the non-owner bottles I had before, but honestly I figure they weren't purchased by someone, so it was fair.

Now I just have to get my hands on another argon cylinder and I should be set!

Well, that and a plasma cutter, but that's another topic.