Welding cylinder cost

JDgreen227 · Jun 24, 2012

I have been practicing with my MIG welder using flux core wire, and feel brave enough now to practice using shielding gas. As a complete novice, I was shocked when I priced 20 cubic foot welding cylinders....$75 to $100 for a new empty cylinder !!! I only have about $250 invested in my welder, cart, and AD helmet....not sure if I want to spend $100 for a new empty cylinder I am going to end up trading in. I was thinking along the lines of the price of a new LP gas grill cylinder...maybe $35 at most. What is the reason for the steep price of a shielding gas cylinder? Thanks.

MtnViewRanch · Jun 24, 2012

I imagine that with a cylinder that is tested to hold well over 2000lbs of pressure may have something to do with it. That cylinder is no LP gas grill cylinder either. About the only thing that they have in common it that they are both round.

k0ua · Jun 24, 2012

MtnViewRanch said:
I imagine that with a cylinder that is tested to hold well over 2000lbs of pressure may have something to do with it. That cylinder is no LP gas grill cylinder either. About the only thing that they have in common it that they are both round.

That is pretty much it. a Chrome Moly seamless cylinder that is "Drawn and spun" and not some welded up sheetmetal thing that will hold maybe 200 lbs. But a thick walled cylinder that can easily hold 2500 lbs and I am not sure what they are tested for but I bet it is more. I saw how they were made on "how it's made" You can watch here on you tube

how its made high pressure cylinders - YouTube

I paid $210 for my argon cylinder. 125 cuft. it was filled.

James K0UA

Scooby074 · Jun 24, 2012

$100.. lol thats cheap.. buy 2!! It's over $200 here for the same, after taxes and hazmat and thats not a "Brand New" cylinder either.. Its one that's been around. You can usually squeeze a fill out of them for that price. As mentioned its a HP gas cylinder. Thick walls and seamless. For that you have to pay the piper.

Little_Grizzly · Jun 24, 2012

JDGreen, where are you? If you're in CA I have a free cylinder for you.

JDgreen227 · Jun 25, 2012

Little_Grizzly said:
JDGreen, where are you? If you're in CA I have a free cylinder for you.

Thanks for your generous offer, I am in central Michigan...and can easily afford a cylinder. Was just curious as to the high price as none of the welding guides I have purchased to help this newbie have any explanation as to the cost of a cylinder. Thanks for the link also that shows the YouTube video and especially for the laugh line "they are both round"....:laughing: funny !!!!

dex3361 · Jun 26, 2012

I ended up leasing a cylinder a few weeks ago 125 cubic feet 5year lease and first fill free. Get $100 back when I return the cylinder or reup in 5 years for around $100. This was from Airgas

LD1 · Jun 26, 2012

Do your research before you decide to buy a tank.

Owning a tank can be a headache. They have to be re-certified periodically, and you wont be able to get anyone to fill it without having ownership papers. (kinda like a car title).

Leasing isnt bad. But call around. Where we lease from, it is $90 a year, but you can have as many of whatever you want. We currently have a large o2 for the torches and a large argon for the welder. When the tank is empty, you only have to pay contents which you would if you owned anyway. So its like $90/year to never have to worry about papers or certifications.:thumbsup:

They also (the place we lease from) will credit the lease price toward the cost of the tank if you decide to purchase at the end of the year. If you have a place that is similar, I'd start off by leasing til you decide what tank you want.