What size tank should I get? 40,80,125,155 cf for C25?

[Bob S2]

What size would work best for home garage use with a miller 130xp (110 volt). Hopefully I'll use it quite a bit. It'll be mounted on a small cart that I'm building.
What size would be best, 40, 80, 125 cf or maybe 150-155cf?
--Bob

[gde]

Bob, I'd go with the 125 tank esp if you plan on using alot. Going any larger might be dangerous due to tipping over. Whatever you do, build a cart with a slightly wider stance as to avoid tipping. I would use C25 if it was me but CO2 is cheaper. Good luck and have fun.--Grant

[Sundown]

Bob,

I like the 80CF size, you might check with who your supplier will be and get tank cost and refill cost. The 80 will last quite a while (10-11 lbs of wire I think), of course the 125 will last longer. I am including a picture of my setup with an 80CF so you can get an idea of that size on a cart.

[Dan]

Like George, for home use I feel that the 80 cu ft cylinder is a good fit for a 135 or 175 amp machine. This size of cylinder will roughly give you around 4 hours of actual arc on time.

[Bob S2]

That looks exactly like the size I need. Just heard back from Terrace Supply Company, 80 cf tank = $80 lifetime lease $25 to fill. Not bad...Thanks!
--Bob

[Sundown]

Sounds like a good deal to me. I purchased mine at a cost of $140 with first fill free and $22.50 each fill after that.

[Franz]

Originally posted by Bob S2
That looks exactly like the size I need. Just heard back from Terrace Supply Company, 80 cf tank = $80 lifetime lease $25 to fill. Not bad...Thanks!
--Bob

Let me mention one thing here, "Lifetime Lease" is a phrase used by some unscrupulous gas sellers to cheat the buyer. Lifetime in your mind may be totally different from the lifetime they are selling. They are banking on the reality that probably 50% of the buyers of those lifetime leases will drop out of the gas buying market, or sell the rig to someone else, and they won't have to honor the lease. 10 years from now, they well may gently explain that the "lifetime" referred to the life of the tank between tests, and YOU now have to pay $45- for retesting.
Also, you need to be careful when picking up a new cylinder in exchange situations, so you don't get stuck with a tank that will run out of test, because if you don't buy much gas, some dealers will charge you for the retest, or they won't exchange the cylinder.
Some of these dealers could teach a car dealer a trick or two. 40 years back, I dealt with a dealer who sold me a lifetimne lease on some tanks, and 7 or 8 years after that, wanted me to pay for retesting, or they wouldn't exchange the cylinder I just slid onto the dock.
That cylinder went right back on my truck, and I found a new supplier. I've been with that supplier ever since because they deal honestly. Their price for a "SOLD" cylinder was the same as what I had paid for the lifetime lease, and they pay testing costs.
Get any deal on cylinders in writing, and read the fine print.

[Sundown]

Franz is very correct on this issue. The supplier I use (and I have a choice of 5 here) sold me the 80CF, will refill it while I wait (I don't exchange), and will recertify it for free as long as I own it. They have been in business here for a very long time and are a stable, small business with customer practices like ITW/Hobart/Miller (in other words they treat everyone the same, big or little). You really need to read the contract, check with others who do business with the company you choose, and get a feeling for them as you deal with them. You should be looking to establish a relationship with that will last years. Anyway, thats what I think

[river1]

i like the idea someone here had. they have two 80's so that if one runs out they can just keep welding on the second tank. it seems you will always run out of gas after supplier hours (weekend) so then you would have to stop welding till they opened.

later jim

[Tomweld14]

i believe that the 80cf to 150cf are a good size bottle if you do quite a bit of welding, i have a 150cf on my snap on 110 volt welder because i do alot of welding and this size lasts me quite a while. and on another note, buy your tanks, dont rent them. i buy my own and im only 14 for pete's sake!