Tractor Supply gas

[SteveA]

Does TS exchange 75/25 mix cylinders at their stores? Was thinking purchasing a #2 and exchanging them there if they maintain a supply of full tanks since a TS store is only a few miles from home. Not sure what the local welding supply houses get for tank rentals etc. since I am new to this hobby and unsure which direction I wish to go.

[Ohio Mike]

In general yes, however you should check your local retail location to be sure as not all stores stock all sizes. That said I'd expect them to have #2 C25 available. Some sizes and more exotic gases like pure argon are special order.

I'd also talk with the folks at the store just to see how good they are to work with. Locally here the staff at the store I use has been great. The exchange program itself is Thoroughbred Industrial Cylinder Exchange (program details can be found here http://www.gaspony.com/ ) I suggest you read up. Personally I went with TSC because it's less that 10 miles away and I can swap 7 days a week including evenings.

[SteveA]

Mike,

Thanks for the quick reply. According to the gaspony.com website, my local TS store is an exchange site. I will just have to "pony up" (no pun intended) for a new cylinder.

[migwelder05]

i think they only exchange gas pony tanks and if you get e of there tank you have to get another one of there pony tanks. i dont know it just seems to me there very picky

[platypus20]

When I looked into it, you had to buy their tanks first, then they would only exchange the tanks you had bought from them. They had oxygen, acetylene and 75/25 in stock in different sizes, pure argon was 4-7 days away depending on when it was ordered and when that store got its shipments. Any other gas that you might need was unavailable, so I would still have to deal with the LWS, for the nitrogen, tri-mix gas, the 98% argon/2% hydrogen and the 75% helium/25% argon, I use. Which is all too bad, 7 day a week access looked real good to me, before the details got in the way.

jack

[Sberry]

They have exchange program with almost any bottle you own, there is a 20$ fee for it and you are in. You can buy their bottles also. Unless you need the size a 2 if I am not mistaken is very small, bout like a baby fart, get as big as you can, way more economical.

[taylorkh]

When I purchased my HH180 a couple years back (from TSC) I then purchased a #2 cylinder of gas from TSC as well. As I was taking a couple of welding courses at the local CC and using their gas it took me about a year to go through the 40 CF #2 from TSC. I had purchased from TSC in spite of the higher cost because:

1 - they were close by and I frequently shop near the TSC store
2 - they are open 7 days a week
3 - the nearest LWS is 20 miles and 20 stoplights or 30 miles and fewer stoplights
4 - I was told I could trade up to a larger cylinder if I wanted

So, when I had finally squeezed all I could out of the cylinder I called to see if they had a #4 in stock.

No! Maybe next week.

The next week. No! Don't know when.

Called Gas Pony. They have one driver to cover North and South Carolina! Should be there next week.

Next week - driver stuck in an ice storm in the NC mountains.

Finally he is supposed to be there the next day according to Gas Pony (more than 3 weeks after I decided I needed to swap my cylinder).

Drove to TSC with my empty cylinder and directions to the LWS in Goldsboro just in case. I planned to have a full cylinder that day one way or another.

As I pulled up the Gas Pony truck was unloading. Great timing! So I carried my tank into the store, went to the register and told them I wanted to upgrade to a #4. No!

WTF? Let me speak to the manager. "I am the manager" says the fellow at the register. I explained that I was told I could upgrade the cylinder when I originally purchased it. "Can't do that...we got a memo."

So I chucked the cylinder back in the truck and headed to the LWS. Paid for a 125 CF cylinder, signed the paperwork and backed up to the dock. They had my cylinder loaded before I even got out of the truck. And if I want a replacement delivered they will add it to their normal weekly delivery route for a few dollars delivery charge.

Back to TSC... I wrote a letter to the President outlining the situation. Got a nice reply and they purchased the empty tank back from me. Seems they (and Gas Pony) were having a lot of trouble with "shrinkage". Could not keep track of who had what cylinders.

Having said all that... I think I will stick with a LWS for gas , Lowes for self shielding flux core wire and on-line for solid wire. TSC still gets my business for a lot of things. They are a good company just not competitive in some areas.

Ken

[Rocky D]

They have exchange program with almost any bottle you own, there is a 20$ fee for it and you are in. You can buy their bottles also. Unless you need the size a 2 if I am not mistaken is very small, bout like a baby fart, get as big as you can, way more economical.

Hahahaha you learnin about baby gas, aren't ya, Cary...

[Brianstick]

At my lws when you go to pick up your cylinder off the loading dock, they won't help you put it in your truck because of insurance reasons. You are on your own, and man are those cylinders heavy when they're full. The dock is about 18 inches higher than my truck.

[engnerdan]

I lucked out and traded up my #2 for a #3 from gas pony before the "memo", I have not had a complaint about the gas pony program other then my local Northerntool could not figure out how to order 100% argon so I ended up back at the LWS which worked out for the best in the end.

18" difference is not that bad, I have to load a "T" cylinder of argon (300+ cu ft) 270lbs into the back of my jetta. Now that is a challenge.


SteveA-
I would shop around, call any and all of your LWS and ask then how much to buy a 40cu ft (#2) cylinder and ask them how much for a refill and compare it to the pony gas prices from TSC.


-Dan

[Ohio Mike]

At my lws when you go to pick up your cylinder off the loading dock, they won't help you put it in your truck because of insurance reasons. You are on your own, and man are those cylinders heavy when they're full. The dock is about 18 inches higher than my truck.

I find stuff like this hilarious because in most cases a good litigator will eat their lunch in court because you were on their property when the accident happened. Good grief, pay up your liability insurance and help the customer out. It's a novel approach called 'customer service'.

OK, I'll crawl under my rock again...

[Roger]

There have been major accidents when gas bottles were hauled inside car. Maybe fuel gas or O2 leaked and or HP bottles were not properly secured to prevent movement during normal driving let alone during accident. They are trying to reduce legal exposure to customer's stupidity. Local Airgas dealer told me they would not sell CO2 for filling paint ball gun tanks. Some teenager had accident filling his tank.

[Rocky D]

Ya mean accidents like this?

[Ohio Mike]

Boy, I bet someone needed new shorts!

[engnerdan]

I hate hauling cylinders for that exact reason in that picture. I always secure mine so they can not move. When I haul my large t cylinder I strap it to my car with a strap around the neck and into the cap.

-Dan