oxygen and acetalene tanks

[Sawyer Rob]

That is the way it works around my neck of the woods also, without any problems, just swapping tanks once one is purchased for the first time.

Same thing here too...

SR

 

[Turbys_1700]

Same thing here too...

SR

Yep...
Same here too...

 

[bspeedy]

Ditto.

One tip that may be helpful. If you can get (or already have) a small bottle, look at upgrading when you need a refill. Filling large bottles costs about the same as small bottles and lasts much longer. You will pay extra for the 'steel' as they call it, but it is very worth it most of the time. Typically you get the gas for free when upgrading, also. At least, that's how it works at my LWS.

 

[Fallon]

Ditto.

One tip that may be helpful. If you can get (or already have) a small bottle, look at upgrading when you need a refill. Filling large bottles costs about the same as small bottles and lasts much longer. You will pay extra for the 'steel' as they call it, but it is very worth it most of the time. Typically you get the gas for free when upgrading, also. At least, that's how it works at my LWS.

Same, which is part of the reason I upgraded. It costs them the same labor to fill a small bottle as it does a big bottle. So the gas in big bottles ends up running a LOT less per cubic foot than it does in small bottles.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

You folks that don't need to lease your tanks are lucky.

 

[BukitCase]

You got that right Eric; at Sam's rate, my #5 acetylene and "T" oxy tank would've cost me $3660 by now, instead of somewhere around $200 (in 1978) -

If I ever start needing to heat a bunch of stuff I'll probly trade the Acetylene tank for a couple more Oxy's and swap what I need to for changing to propane - already have 4 25 gallon propane tanks that don't get used much at all, so the only cost would be new hoses (need 'em anyway) and a few torch parts.

Been DECADES since I've actually WELDED with torches, now with mig/tig/stick/plasma available it'll probly be NEVER... Steve

 

[sam5570]

Well guy's here is where we are at now called my welding supply he gave me a price on 2 small tanks for $250.00 and I just take them back when empty trade for full sounded good right, so I load my big tank's take off to supply long story short he tried to pull one on me and it didn't work when he fixed my bill it was $476.65 I said how did you arrive at that number well this tank is this price and so on. Isaid to him you priced the tank's on the phone for $250.00 and now your wanting me to pay over double that, so now I have no tank's at all. The guy told me that they would not fill any customer owned tanks bigger than the small he was going to sell me. Thanks guys for all the info i'll keep looking at my options and come up with something[ARC3] is the supply company I was trying to deal with.

 

[sixdogs]

No prob around here with owned tanks and you can even buy them used at auctions or estate sales and big welding shops honor things and refill.

I know why ACY should go out of style but what else can you get the heat from to heat steel hot enough to melt or burn parts off, etc? I didn't think propane could get that hot.

 

[sam5570]

No prob around here with owned tanks and you can even buy them used at auctions or estate sales and big welding shops honor things and refill.

I know why ACY should go out of style but what else can you get the heat from to heat steel hot enough to melt or burn parts off, etc? I didn't think propane could get that hot.

Yeah i'm in the dark here I was not aware that they were using propane to replace acetylene. Our problem is we only have one supplier here.

 

[BukitCase]

Here's a couple articles that'll explain this - the first one you owe it to yourself (and heirs) to read THOROUGHLY (spoken by a 72 year old who NARROWLY missed being dead at 20)

The second will clarify the differences between acetylene and propane, including technique changes for propane...

Fuel your safety knowledge - The Fabricator

Gas Welding – Acetylene vs Propane

HTH... Steve