Getting O/A tanks filled - no papers

[wroughtn_harv]

Some tanks belong to the dealer. Those can never be bought or sold legitimately.

I've got a long history with my supplier. We trust each other. I've got a pretty good supply of bottles over the years. What has happened is a customer or business has asked me if I wanted some bottles that were in their way for some reason or another.

Some of them have been lease bottles which means the owner got them back. But some of them were privately owned and those became mine.

Like I said we trust each other. If I bring them in they know I've got them legitimately. And if they say they're lease bottles I know they aren't stealing my find but doing what's right.

Trading out bottles with TSC is like buying my propane at HD.

I could do it. But why?

 

[MMM]

Red Ball (Lincoln) won't fool with anything but their own bottles and usually look you up on computer for lease. I've got 4 "National Gas" bottles from Dallas area I can't fill.

 

[hobbyfarm]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( How can I get papers for these or how can I get them filled.
Who will fill them without papers.
)</font>

Here in TEXAS, they don't care about such things as papers.
("papers, we doneed no stinkin papers")

I've never run into that problem here. Auction, stolen, lost & found or otherwise, I've never seen the guys here ask for that. You simply exchange them for a new bottle, no questions asked.

Asking for papeles, give me a break. That's asking way too much.

 

[Pooh_Bear]

I asked about it at TSC recently.
The guy there said they would exchange them without papers.
But the date on the tanks had to be current.
He said they wouldn't touch them if they were out of date.

So where can I get the hydro test done so they will be in date.

Pooh Bear

 

[hobbyfarm]

I don't know if you've ever seen them fill these tanks.

They use what looks like an Olympic-size pool and the tanks are actually filled underwater. Any leaks become quickly apparent as bubbles in the water. As far as I know, all the highly compressed gasses are filled this way.

 

[Gravy]

Harv,

I hadn't even thought about the lease angle, etc. I've always owned my tanks.

As for using TSC: it may seem like heresy to say it, but I get better and more reliable service there than from my locally owned welding supply. Said local welding supply has more than once told me "we're out of acetylene" (or 1/8" 6011 rods, or...) but we should be getting some in a week or so".

TSC also open on weekends, and is more conveniently located for me.

Another classic case of YMMV, I'd say.

Dave

 

[AlanB]

Simplex Grinnell fire systems in Nashville is the closest hydro facility I know to you.

You can probably also have a real welding supplier exchange them and pay a bit extra and have in date tanks.

 

[AntrimMan]

For hydro testing the first place to start is a gas supplier. They will have a source and hopefully it can just be an additional charge added to the swap price. Walk in empty, pay, walk out filled. If they insist on doing the hydro to those particular bottles that you bring in, and they fail, you are out of luck, you pay up-front and the failed bottle is not returned, and no refunds.

The next place to ask about a hydro is a fire extinguisher servicing company, they have a source.

After that I would ask a scuba dive center where to get a hydro done, they are mandatory every 5 years, cost around $30 for an aluminum 80.

Finally I would go to a fire station and ask them where they get their scott air-pak's hydro'd.

Just be sure of one thing.... with a current hydro do you have a gas supplier willing to swap the bottle. If TSC say's they will then you are good to go, just be certain.

Here is something that the dive centers alway do when filling a scuba cylinder... they crack the valve and if there is no hiss they won't fill it without examining the inside for moisture contamination, just a point of interest but I have not seen this same behaviour at the welding gas supplier. Strange, since compressed O in the presence of H2O is a serious oxidizer.

Here is a pic of an out of date hydro test, 9 (symbol) 83 c, the symbol in the middle is the mark of the person or company who did the test, the rest is the date of manufacture or test date, the actual stamping may vary slightly, person to person, but always includes the month and year and is stamped near the neck.

I'm all done rambling. Thanks for your patience, I hope this helps you Pooh Bear.


All the best,
Martin