Leased vs owned tanks - how to tell?

[dstig1]

The guy I picked up my welder from had a set of Oxy/Acet tanks/cart/torches that he was getting rid of too. I don't have room for them right now or I may have jumped at it. But it got me thinking about the leased/owned tank thing. I wouldn't want to accidentally buy a used set of tanks that was actually leased and find out the hard way when I went to get them filled.

I've read people say if there is a name stamped on the collar of a company then it is leased. Does anyone have a picture of what exactly this means? I looked at the oxy tank and saw Union Carbide in the collar just below where the protective cap screwed on, but I think I've always seen something like that on any compressed gas tank so I was thinking it was the manufacturer, not the owner. If someone could post a photo of what a leased and owned tank looks like, I'd really appreciate it so I know what to look for. I suppose I should stop into my LWS and ask them too, but their hours don't work well for me as I am at work then too...

Thanks!

 

[crash325]

Many lease tanks have "Lease" molded right into the top ring. More common is the color code at the top of the tank. That often changes by location.

Call your local welding supply co. and find out what it is where you live.

Been through that a couple of times. Really had a bad time getting some CA. tanks filled in AZ. Think I had to come up with a sales slip from a CA co.

 

[LD1]

I have never had to deal with it personally, but I have always been told you need to provided ownership papers to have a privatly owned tank filled.

So you may ask if he has the necessary papers.

 

[nspec]

I was offered a set of free tanks. Luckily I called the local gas suppliers first. Both AIRGAS and ABCO told me that those big tanks (not sure what the real size is called - maybe 5 foot tall) are ALL leased. It is not possible for a private individual to own them anymore. What I mean is, you can own one, but they will no longer fill it for you. It was about 3 years ago when I was told this.

I know there are smaller tanks you can own and refill, but apparently not those big ones.

 

[ultrarunner]

I have the "Large" oxygen tanks and I own them.

Mine will hold 1800 pounds

All of the company owned rental tanks are 2265 pounds here.

It does get confusing... this is why I always keep my ownership papers (copy) and my last fill receipt in the safety cap so I have it when it is time to refill.

It's been years since I paid to have my small Oxygen filled... I fill them or top them off from my big tank when I get those filled.

 

[Shield Arc]

I was offered a set of free tanks. Luckily I called the local gas suppliers first. Both AIRGAS and ABCO told me that those big tanks (not sure what the real size is called - maybe 5 foot tall) are ALL leased. It is not possible for a private individual to own them anymore. What I mean is, you can own one, but they will no longer fill it for you. It was about 3 years ago when I was told this.

I know there are smaller tanks you can own and refill, but apparently not those big ones.

After reading stories from all over, I've come to the conclusion every geographic area is different.

I own all my bottles, three 250's, one 122, and one 80. All these bottles have on them is a yellow sticker with a black "P". When I take my bottles in, I never get the same bottle back. My local welding supply does not fill them on site.

 

[nspec]

So if given the tank without ownership papers, you're out of luck? You mentioned oxygen tanks, but how about the acetylene tanks? Same thing?

 

[Shield Arc]

So if given the tank without ownership papers, you're out of luck? You mentioned oxygen tanks, but how about the acetylene tanks? Same thing?

Again every area is different, I've owned my tanks for 10-years. I have no idea where the receipts are.
But I've been dealing with the same welding supply for almost 30-years. One of the guys there has been there at least 20-years.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

The lease isn't a big deal where we deal. All it is is a reserve fee basically so that if something happens to the tank they have money to cover the cost. The fee is one time and is refundable if you return the tank and don't want a replacement. All I do is go in and drop off the empty tank and pay the cost of the fuel and take a full tank.

We had our own tanks but it was going to be a hassle to find someone willing to fill them. While we did find someone to fill them as we did legally own them. However, we were going to need to have the tank tested and the cost to test it was more then the fee to just ditch the tank and get the lease tank. The place we deal with is a small repair shop and they are great to deal with. I had never dealt with them till I needed to refil the tank and my friend told me about them. They have a great supply of welding and cutting supplies there so its like a toy store to me and their prices are the best around here.

 

[castiman]

If anyone had a chance of buying tanks from someone I think the best thing to do is first ask where he got them and to see his ownership papers.If he can't answer that or doesn't have papers then check on the bottles for a distributor name, if there is one then call them and give them the bottles serial numbers, they should be able to tell you if there leased or stolen, or if that guy owns them. I bought my bottles 32 years ago and still have the ownership papers, a few times over the years I've been asked to see them.The distributor that I bought them from now just checks the serial numbers on the bottles,I never get the same bottles back now cause they stop filling them there and just replace them with new bottles. I would not buy any bottles from anyone unless you know what your getting.