Best bet is to lease a gas cylinder, from your local welding supply
house. Then, when you need a refill, just take the empty to them and
exchange it for a full one, for whatever the cost of the type and amount
of gas happens to be. I have my argon-CO2 cylinder leased for 5 years,
from Valley National Gases; the same outfit I bought both of my Lincoln
Welders from. Can't recall, off hand, what I pay for the lease (I also
lease oxygen and acetylene tanks from them), but it's very reasonable
(competition between suppliers is a wonderful thing).
With a lease, you get a good tank, with each refill and don't have to
worry about your own tank suddenly becoming obsolete (remember the
propane tank change, a few years ago???)or having to be replaced (at
your expense) due to age/defect/whatever.
I've only had one problem with a leased tank (valve wouldn't seat
"closed", running me out of argon-CO2 over one weekend), and my supplier
sent a truck out with a replacement, as soon as I called to report the
problem. I've been VERY pleased with the service they've given me over
the past 20+ years.
Bud Osbourne
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-spridgets@Autox.Team.Net
[mailto:owner-spridgets@Autox.Team.Net] On Behalf Of derf
Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2007 10:12 PM
To: Linda Grunthaner
Cc: Spridgets
Subject: Re: MIG Welder & Sprinzel front end info
Also, research your local gas situation. Most places that exchange
cylinders will only exchange cylinders that they sold to you. So,
getting a cylinder with a welder may make for difficult refills. Some
outfits will refill anything. But, probably 95% or more of "Airgas"
type places only do exchange and not refill while you wait. Initial
tank purchase is expensive. Exchanges after that are like $30-75,
depeding on size and gas choice.
Cheers,
Derf
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