Is it stolen or not?

[Steve from Ohio]

I found a great deal on a full 75/25 125 cubic foot tank.......$100.

It is an AIRGAS tank. I'm not sure if it is stolen or not. Is there a way to find out if it is stolen? I won't buy if it is.

[Wyoming]

Call Airgas and give them the serial number off the tank.

[AndyA]

Tanks around here are typically about $1 per cubic foot. So that's not a really smoking deal on that tank. You might as well buy one from a legitimate supplier and be done with it. Or wait and find a bottle with nobody's name on it.

[urch55]

If it has a "1R" or "1S" before the serial number it's an owner bottle.

[vwguy3]

I would call Airgas and ask if they serial track their cylinders.I would also ask how they handle "typically" rental only cylinders and that you are looking at one you believe is customer owned.They should be able to tell you if they will exchange it or not.



"If it has a "1R" or "1S" before the serial number it's an owner bottle."
My opinion is that is an urban myth.....and another 1.00 will buy you a cup of coffee

[calweld]

Ok, lets get some misperceptions squared away.

First off, if you buy a bottle, with no name on the top ring, it's an ownership bottle.

In any specific locality, certain names, even printed on the top ring, are ownership bottles. Here, Union Carbide is ownership.

Even if you "buy" a rental bottle, the originating company has no idea how many bottles you are sitting on, if you have three bottles, "buy" one, return one of your rental bottles, without taking a new one out, then just exchange your new "bought" bottle, you will effectively have three bottles, paying rent on only two.

I'm not saying this is right, I'm just saying this is how it is.

[urch55]

"If it has a "1R" or "1S" before the serial number it's an owner bottle."My opinion is that is an urban myth.....and another 1.00 will buy you a cup of coffee

Yea Mike (vwguy3) your probably right especially on the older ones. What was I thinking. Excuse my {{{ ignorance }}}. <<>>
http://www.hobartwelders.com/weldtalk/attachment.php?attachmentid=31922&d=1285800897
http://www.hobartwelders.com/weldtalk/attachment.php?attachmentid=31923&d=1285800911
http://www.hobartwelders.com/weldtalk/attachment.php?attachmentid=31924&d=1285800930

[calweld]

Still doesn't answer the question, is it stolen or not???

Since bottles basically hold a certain value, I would suspect any "smoking" deal as being stolen, otherwise the one who possesses it could probably get full value from the bottle, why discount it????

[SidecarFlip]

I hold titles on 5 bottles but I've exchanged them so many times I have no idea where my bottles are or whose bottles I have. That's across 3 states.

[vwguy3]

"if you buy a bottle, with no name on the top ring"
Another urban myth.

There are lots of misconceptions out there.....and just as many interpertations so no need to apologize.


"I would suspect any "smoking" deal as being stolen"
I have an "S" 75/25 that was given to me......I tried to buy it,the plant manager said "I cannot have it here,take it."

I would bet if you asked 50 people in the gas business about ownership you'll get 50 different or overlapping answers.

[SidecarFlip]

One of these days I'm going to make a bowling ball mortar from an old cylinder.......

[ptsideshow]

As the contraction in the LWS industry continues.
AirGas locally Detroit Metro Area has 25 pages of typed single spaced cylinders that they no own. Praxair has about the same number.

When you buy out a gas supplier you assume the liability of their cylinders. As it and the local laws vary place to place you have to check with the gas suppliers in YOUR immediate area.
As the size cylinder you stated is strictly a (homeowners bottle size around here)

I would check with the LWS on a price for a full one first. and also when you buy one from the LWS the sales receipt is your paper work.

A lot of cylinders have cast in names around the neck collar of the original owner.
The only markings required are:

Gas capacity cu ft
Tare weight in pounds/oz.
Dot Spec's cylinder manufacturing
Serial number each owners are different etc.
There is two different locations for the lot numbers depending the dia of cylinder
Manufactures registered symbol
And spot for addition markings generally the inspection dates.

[sooeey2u]

One of these days I'm going to make a bowling ball mortar from an old cylinder.......


Whew, I'd be careful how much powder (fuel) you load it with. I've got a 10" dia (0.875" ID) sch 140 (1.00" wall thk) pipe I launch bowling ***** out of.

QC Robert
QA Manager
AWS CWI
SNT-TC-1A Level II PT & MT
Bachelor of Science, SHSU, TX

[Steve from Ohio]

Tanks around here are typically about $1 per cubic foot. So that's not a really smoking deal on that tank. You might as well buy one from a legitimate supplier and be done with it. Or wait and find a bottle with nobody's name on it.Wow. In my area, a 125 cubic foot tank runs over $256 with the first fill included (with tax). I've welded for over 25 years and my 80 cubic foot tanks were $100 new 25 years ago. I've been checking around about tanks as I want to upgrade to larger tanks. Most of the gas welding supply companies around here will only fill or exchange their tanks. That's OK as I have some local suppliers that carry the tanks being offered. Also see this link.....http://www.weldfabulous.com/Cutting-Torch-Equipment/Cylinders/Full/FULL-125-Cu-Ft-75-Argon-25-p7244207.html I think I'm getting a pretty good deal.

I wish I knew where you get your tanks from as it sounds like you are getting a really great deal!

BTW....I bought three tanks from this guy. A 125 cubic foot Oxy tank, a 125 cubic foot pure argon tank and a 125 cubic foot 75/25 argon/co2. All full and all for $300. He bought them from a company that went bankrupt. After checking with the gas companies, I was assured that they were not stolen. The hydro test dates are 2009 and 2010 so I'm good for quite a while.

Best to check with the tank companies to make sure they are not hot.

[AndyA]

http://www.lektrotechinc.com/

I bought a 250cf argon a few weeks ago. It was just over $300. So around $260 for the bottle and $40 for the gas. The price is up slightly since I bought the last bottle a year or so ago.

[cncmachininst]

bank auction are the place to get bottles i usually pay anywere from 40-80$ a bottle empty for 250 to 330cf bottles

[drw47]

I just bought a 125 Argon Bottle , yesterday, here in Fort Worth. It was 235$ including the 25%/75% fill.

[Skymeat]

My tank 25/75 92cf was 185, and 18$ fills.

[Scott V]

125 cf cylinders are rental at Airgas. That way in the PNW anyway..

[rigemortis]

I enjoy logic puzzles like this but cannot follow the Idea.

Even if you "buy" a rental bottle, the originating company has no idea how many bottles you are sitting on, if you have three bottles, "buy" one, return one of your rental bottles, without taking a new one out, then just exchange your new "bought" bottle, you will effectively have three bottles, paying rent on only two.

I'm not saying this is right, I'm just saying this is how it is.[/QUOTE]