Buying 40cf cylinder online?

**david594** · 09-01-2010, 10:07 PM

So I'm very new to welding and recently purchased a Handler 140 and was looking to get a cylinder to run C25. I would only anticipate using the welder a few times a year, so my plan was to buy my own tank.

Am I somehow asking for trouble if I were to buy a tank like this? http://cgi.ebay.com/40-CF-WELDING-CY...ht_1270wt_1139

The price seems really good, but would local places refuse to exchange/refill it for me?

And is it even possible to drop off your own tank to be refilled instead of just exchanged? Mostly to avoid ending up with a branded tank if I want to go to a different gas supplier.

I'm a grad student and anticipate moving across the country a couple times in the next 5 or 6 years which is why I'm worried about getting stuck with a tank I can't get filled. This is also the reason I want to go with such a small tank.

Also, is 60cf an oddball size? Or would that be just as easy to get exchanged?

**SidecarFlip** · 09-01-2010, 10:35 PM

My tanks have travelled with me over the years with no problem.

**whateg0** · 09-01-2010, 11:28 PM

I think there is so much variance from one locale to another that getting a clear answer on ownership is near impossible. If you are concerned about moving and getting stuck, the best thing may be to lease so that you can turn in the bottle when you move and get another when you get to the new place. Otherwise, I would say, ask the LWS in your area about their policy on owner tanks.

Dave

**vwguy3** · 09-02-2010, 10:59 AM

A 40 cf cylinder does not have a neck ring so I would be rather surprised if anyone gave you a hassle to swap.In my neck of the woods there is only one supplier that will fill you tank and it is an out of the way farm/welding supply.

**david594** · 09-02-2010, 02:11 PM

Where I am we have Praxiar, Airgas, and then a few local welding supply and industrial/medical gas places.

I just got off the phone with one of the local gas places and they said they had no problem with customer owned tanks as long as there are no issues with the tank. 80cf and above he said they either exchange or send out and 40's they will typically fill on-site while you wait for $19.

**Blazey10** · 09-02-2010, 03:24 PM

I have moved around Texas trading out cylinders that size with no problems, just referring to the different LWS. I think that's a good price on that size bottle. Good luck with graduate school.

**david594** · 09-16-2010, 12:43 AM

I ended up buying the 40cf ebay tank and dropped it off with a local gas supplier yesterday. No issues and they sent it off to be filled, so I'll be getting it back next Tuesday (7 days). Place is only a couple minutes from school, so convenient enough.

I also ended up buying the hobart paintball CO2 cylinder kit to have on hand. At $55 the price seemed right for use as a cheap/convenient backup at $3.25 for a 20oz fill.

**Blazey10** · 09-16-2010, 03:12 PM

That sucks.

**usmcpop** · 09-16-2010, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by Blazey10

That sucks.

Not really, it's a matter of duty-cycle. He's a grad student. Study, study, study, study, weld, party, recover. Not much arc time lost on a refill.

**david594** · 09-16-2010, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by usmcpop

Not really, it's a matter of duty-cycle. He's a grad student. Study, study, study, study, weld, party, recover. Not much arc time lost on a refill.

That sounds about right.

First project was this using 0.024 solid wire and CO2.

Nothing fancy, just 2 pieces of 1/8" x 3/4" angle iron welded together to make a mount for a VR sensor for a Megajolt DIY ignition setup. Hardest part was welding the 2 nuts to the back side of the mount for the sensor mounting bolts.