Welding and OxyAcet gas... where and how to get it, Lexington KY.

[dkmc]

Back in the '80's I leased bottles from the LWS and it was an expensive PIA. They sold out to Airgas
and the lease bills stopped coming. A buddy worked at the local Linde branch and kept me in lease free
tanks for many years, just paid for contents. FFW to 5? years ago, he no longer worked there, so I took
a chance and turned in one of my old Argon tanks at Airgas. Thanks to cell phones, and the counter help that seems most interested in staring at their phones, no questions were asked about leases or other.
They simply exchanged the tank for a new full one (my old tanks had 30 year old hydro stamps on them)
Then I took the other Argon, and then my old 225 oxy in, exchanged those as well, no mention of ownership or lease.

 

[JeepHead]

I buy mine at a small local welding supply shop. Surprisingly, they are about 3 times cheaper on their prices than one of the nation chain stores. Definitely price around is my point.

 

[mrmikey]

I was leasing bottles, it was roughly $150 for three years if you were a new customer, yearly renewals were more than that for one year after the initial 3 years. Worst is for ox I wouldn't use a full bottle, I just like to have it around in case of....something.
I figured I'd buy a bottle, you can only buy small bottles least around here and then you end up responsible for the hydrostat every 10 years or so, a pia
I ended up buying a 2.3 *** (83cuft) high pressure bottle (3kpsi) with built in regulator for $400, ox fill was $75 plus $7 to actually fill it and a $3 surcharge for something. Both the $7 and $3 were a scam in my books but then again, the complete price was a scam when you actually break it down. It was still the cheapest of the three suppliers in my area, Air Liquide, Messer and Maritime Oxygen. A similar bottle for 85/15 is the same cost just the contents are $120 plus $9 to fill it. I figured at least now I won't have to worry about the diaphragm in my regulators bursting and drying out.
Advantage being is you own a bottle, just not that particular bottle. Take it in for a fill and you just exchange the bottle to do with what you wish, burn it , bury it or junk it, it's yours.

 

[ultrarunner]

When I switched suppliers 10 years back my new exchange price for 250 cu ft oxygen became $20.

Fast forward and it is now $29…

No rental fees and I don’t own the cylinders.

I switched because the old supplier increased fill price and implemented rental charge.

The new supplier put it in writing no rental charge and that letter has already saved me when a new office manager sent me an invoice for rental fees and I sent her the letter back saying no rental fees.

Weekly I have delivered oxygen, nitrogen, CO2, Air and about every 8-12 weeks Nitrous Oxide.

 

[big bubba]

Tank ownership transfer question: I've owned my Ox/Acet tanks outright since the early 70's. Once i sell out, how is the original paperwork transferred to new owner for their refills? some kind of state certification needed for ownership transfer?
thx in advance

 

[JeepHead]

I own my bottles and they're the large bottles. But when I refill, I always get all new bottles each time.

 

[big bubba]

I own my bottles and they're the large bottles. But when I refill, I always get all new bottles each time.

makes sense, i've had to have mine tested by state a few times before filling.
i wonder about paperwork, etc, for private ownership transfer on tanks when selling. regards

 

[ultrarunner]

Local supplier never an issue when you bring in last receipt showing owned...

 

[JeepHead]

makes sense, i've had to have mine tested by state a few times before filling.
i wonder about paperwork, etc, for private ownership transfer on tanks when selling. regards

I wondered too but my guess is if you don't return leased tanks, you would be sued and ultimately buy them anyways, and they have records on who leases them. I mean I have my receipt from where I spent $1500 on tanks and the Smith torch kit.

 

[ultrarunner]

Invoice from this morning show $58 in fees for delivery, hazmat and R and R into the manifold(s)

The fees are the same for one cylinder on the order or dozens.