Tig welders

[Cowcatcher]

Yes buying bottles second hand is definitely a buyer beware situation. You may be buying a bottle that the seller doesn’t actually own. I see deals on bottles with torches and cart on Craigslist occasionally but I don’t wanna hassle with verifying if the seller actually owns it or not.

 

[Snattlerake]

Yes buying bottles second hand is definitely a buyer beware situation. You may be buying a bottle that the seller doesn’t actually own. I see deals on bottles with torches and cart on Craigslist occasionally but I don’t wanna hassle with verifying if the seller actually owns it or not.

So how do you transfer ownership? Do you have to have the paperwork for every fill up? Is there a national database of serial numbers? I've never seen any bottles entered into NCIC. LOL!

 

[MacFromOK]

So how do you transfer ownership? Do you have to have the paperwork for every fill up? Is there a national database of serial numbers? I've never seen any bottles entered into NCIC. LOL!

Call a local welding supply shop. I'm sure they can tell ya what's required, or who to call if they can't.

 

[Cowcatcher]

So how do you transfer ownership? Do you have to have the paperwork for every fill up? Is there a national database of serial numbers? I've never seen any bottles entered into NCIC. LOL!

I can’t say for sure but I’m guessing you contact whoever has their name on the bottle around the neck. I use Fullerton welding and they have their name on their bottles. I’m sure they keep serial numbers. AirGas does the same I reckon. Usually the company name is made into the bottle in raised/stamped lettering.

 

[murphranch]

making sure we are talking argon bottles 5ft tall with caps, about 9in dia
a few years back I'd see em on craigslist for $125 range.
this is for bottles in good condition in test.
all sorts of bottles will come up for sale, but only purchase bottles with airgas labels.

the best deal came up about 5 years ago, a metal fab shop shutting down after 30+ years.
they had 20+ full size, filled Airgas bottles for $75 each. I purchased 4-5 bottles and ran out of room.
it never fails when you gotta have one, no deals to be found. then trip over deals.

Damnit, I’m glad you cleared that up. Thought you guys was after all my nitrous oxide bottles!


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[kwaynem]

I rent all my bottles just need to shop around

 

[BReeves]

I kept the receipt from when I bought mine, no doubt I own them. Mine get exchanged on every fill, never checked the markings.

 

[dennishoddy]

Some folks prefer to own the bottles in which case yes you wait for it to be refilled. I prefer to lease the bottle. It’s not a particular bottle so exchanges are quick and easy.

I use a local welding supply/testing facility.

Leasing bottles vs owning them is the ticket. I've owned bottles in the past and they fell out of date. I think the price to hydrotest them and put them back in service was around $100 each. Fortunately for me, a friend was the general manager of Air Gas in this region so he slipped them in for free.

 

[tyromeo55]

Leasing bottles vs owning them is the ticket. I've owned bottles in the past and they fell out of date. I think the price to hydrotest them and put them back in service was around $100 each. Fortunately for me, a friend was the general manager of Air Gas in this region so he slipped them in for free.

when the price of steel went up years back bottles went up and haven’t come back since. Got my 125cf prior for just over 125 ish dollars. Years later I think my 80 was near 200

never regretted owning. Never looked at the inspection date. Just swap them out every time they get low.

I also couldn’t tell if the nameplate rings mean squat. If you look at the ones in the cage at airgas they have all sorts of names on them.

 

[dennishoddy]

when the price of steel went up years back bottles went up and haven’t come back since. Got my 125cf prior for just over 125 ish dollars. Years later I think my 80 was near 200

never regretted owning. Never looked at the inspection date. Just swap them out every time they get low.

I also couldn’t tell if the nameplate rings mean squat. If you look at the ones in the cage at airgas they have all sorts of names on them.

Around here, they look at the bottles pretty close. If it's not air gas they don't want to mess with it.
Back when I was employed, the company had no issue with one taking a bottle home from their stash to do a job as long as you brought it back. It was a check in, check out thing so they could keep track of them.
New plant manager put a stop to that practice though unfortunately.