The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest MIG Tank.

I have a little Lincoln welder. I have purchased the MIG kit. How do I get the gas. Do you rent a bottle return it when it's empty? Do you buy a bottle and have it refilled?

My only previous experience with bottled gas is propane for my barbeque.

Jim Bow,

If you go to your local welding supply/gas distributor you can buy a small "owner" tank which they will fill. Each time you need more gas you take it back and exchange it for a full one. This is how I do it on my torch setup and my MIG welder.

If you don't own the tank you pay "demurrage" which will soon put you in the poor house.



Stuart

Be sure to call around for prices. I found prices from $101 to $190. Guess which one I bought. It was from Matheson Tri-Gas. I don't know if they are national or not but there're several around Texas.

I rent a big bottle, lasted for 2 yrs now, rent is $60 a yr, they refill for about $15-20

I bought a tank locally for about $60 (empty).

I bought mine but make sure it has a current date code. Some places won't/can't refill old tanks,
Scott

Harbor Freight sells small mig tanks but you still have to get somebody to fill them.

I purchased mine from the same place I picked up my Lincoln SP175. Then its a $20ish swap when I need gas. I put the receipt in a zip-loc bag along with the welder receipt, etc. so if the gas company goes under, I have proof the tank is mine.

I get a "title" with my tanks,
Scott

I asked my local pharmacy if their oxygen supplier sold argon co2. They had large tanks that I would have to lease and refill but a small tank they would loan me free and fill or swap for $20. I got the small one but don't know how long it will last but was happy to get it close to home and the welding sure is nicer with the gas. I don't know what units the tanks are but when I was looking the sizes were 20 40 & 80. The tank I got was the 20 size.

I agree with the folks that say, buy your own tank. We leased the tanks at the shop and every year it went up.For what we paid over the years ,we could have bought a bunch of tanks as spares.

I rent my argon/Co2 mix tank from LiquidAire and I'm happy with it.

if the first one you buy used is in date and marked sold you shouldn't have a problem switching them out. then you will always have a different tank when you switch it so it will not be a problem.

I have had my own oxy/acetyline tanks for years, so it was a no brainer for me to wish to buy my CO2 and Argon tanks. I just run them back an exchange them when they are empty. No waiting, which was always a hassle for the larger tanks I had. I don't have to pay for inspections, and no demurrage, which I always found to be a real expensive proposition because I am a home hobbiest and I can sometimes go for a spell without using the tanks.
It is a personal choice, that is why I explained my reasoning.
Bob

I purchased a Hobart Handler 187 two weeks ago. Prices for a 20 cubic foot mixed gas tank locally ranged from $139 to $169. I got a 40 cubic foot tank on EBay for $65 shipping was another $25. You just take your tank to a gas company, and they swap you for a full one. It cost me $28 for a full tank. The counter guy said that it should be good for about 3 3/4 hours of welding. That is with a flow rate of 17 cuft. an hour.