What size tanks for an oxy/acet setup?

[paulinkansas]

I'm considering buying an oxy/acet welder and cutter. It will primarily be used for cutting, I doubt that I'll do any welding or brazing with it. I already have a 220 Mig, 220 stick and a 110 flux cored wire welder.

It'll mostly be used for cutting 1/4 inch to 1 inch steel plate, angle iron, and pipe. In an average month, I'll probably use it 2 or 3 times to cut a few feet of the previously mentioned steel.

There are 2 LWS in within 5 minutes of my house, so driving to get a tank refilled is not an issue.

What sized tanks should I buy for my setup and for my (in)frequency of use? I was just guessing that maybe an 80 cf oxygen tank and a 40 cf acetylene tank would be about right, but that's just a guess. I can find the above tanks online for about $150 and $80 respectively, that's with shipping included.

What sized tanks would you suggest that I get?

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I'm not familiar with LWS, but if they're closed when you're working it doesn't count. I.e. if you do your cutting on nights and weekends when they're closed it's not going to help you.

Something you might also consider rather than two big tanks is four smaller tanks. When one runs out you can take it to get filled. Then you always have one you can use out of.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I don't know how it works where you are at, but where I'm at there is a charge besides just the cubic feet of product that you purchase. What I'm saying is that a bottle 5 times as big does not cost 5 times as much to fill as the smaller one. I would double check what it is actually going to cost to have the bottles filled-exchanged before you purchase a set. The initial cost is no big deal, see what it is going to cost to get them filled.

If you are going to be cutting 1" material, that takes a lot of gas, I would stay away from the smaller bottles if it were me.

Just my opinion

 

[J_J]

I would recommend buying from a local company where you purchase your welding supplies, and set up an account. It is easy to swap out cylinders with a business that you have an account. No waiting, no hassle.

 

[tommu56]

Pus acetylene cylinders cant be filled like O2 ones it takes awhile and I never saw a place that would do them while you wait.
O2 on the other hand they can fill while you wait.

check with the local guys
if you own them you have to get the inspections done (can be big $$$$).

tom

 

[BHD]

if you can move the oxygen tank easily it will always be empty, I would buy, lease, rent, the largest size that they deal with on a normal basis, I had a medium size tank (they called an "S",154 cu ft, )which was not that easy to to move or load,
but stepped up a to a ("K" 249 cu ft) the O2 volume and was only a few dollars more, nearly double the O2 and (I think the smaller cylinder was $25 and the larger was $30 to exchange). and moving the cylinders is not that much more work than the smaller size ones, and if your going to be cutting 1" plate you will use oxygen up at a good pace, (if your cutting most any thing it goes fast).
and if your serious get two oxygen tanks, and then get the empty filled so you always have a full one, you will run at at the most inopportune times.

 

[Jeepnford]

I think that's the size I have,they seem to be about right to me for a casual user. You might see what a lease costs from the LWS,there's nothing wrong with owning but if the tank supplier can't fill them on sight you'll likely never see those shiny new tanks again. I got lucky on my tanks,I bought them from a retiring auto mechanic for $40.00. The O2 was out of date so that cost me about $30.00 extra dollars on the first exchange but I didn't complain. You'll probably need a different tip for cutting 1 inch steel.

 

[gerard]

Also consider your cutting tip size. you need a decent sized tip to cut 1 inch and a lot of O2 flow. Pulling that much O2 will freeze a smaller tank. (Don't ask me how I know!)

 

[jenkinsph]

I use a 110 cu ft acetylene and a 244 cu ft oxygen and a 300 cu ft argon mix for my shop.

In my business I use the small tote with MC(?) bottles for HVAC work and these cost alot more to fill per cu ft than the larger bottles in my shop.


Another thing to consider is regulator size, I use a set of Victor Journeyman regulators and torch, make sure the set you buy is designed for the work you intend to do.

 

[tnhomestead]

Also if u are just cutting,look into a propane/.oxy setup. cuts as easy as acetylene, and I think a bit cheaper(for me anyway) I just setup, I am leasing a 240 cu ft ox tankand refills are dirt cheap at NAPA.
Luck!