When do you take your tanks in?
 

I have never used a 80-cu ft tank until now. Just a small question for those that use these. There is 600 psi left in the tank...I noticed the that pressure seems to drop fairly quick on this little tank, but have not really been paying to close attention. Im trying to see if I should take it in, and exchange it before the weekend, or leave it be. I have about 1 hour of welding to do. 304 stainless running around 18cfm. I know with the large tanks this will still last quite a while, just dont feel like getting stuck on the weekend with no gas left. :'(

Re: When do you take your tanks in?
 

im 5 min away from the place
so we suck ours bone dry :y

Re: When do you take your tanks in?
 

That would be nice. Unfortunately I have to go an hour away, and it one the way to work everyday. But its closed on Saturdays, and Sundays.

Re: When do you take your tanks in?
 

I bring them in with about 100 left. I live 3 minutes from Air Gas.

Re: When do you take your tanks in?
 

50-75psi or so, and let the argon out of the tank before it goes back. some places can be picky. especially airgas. their policies change on a 3 month basis.
run it down as far as you want too trust you'll get good gas coverage.

80cf/12cfh=6.666 hours for me

get a bigger tank atleast a 150

Re: When do you take your tanks in?
 

i run mine empty as well. i'm 5 minutes from a refill, but have been stuck on a weekend once before without gas. no biggie.

Re: When do you take your tanks in?
 

What configuration do you use to weld with 12cfm? when I use a number 7 cup, I cant seem to get clean welds on anything under 15cfm. I know welding techniques have a lot to do with it though.

The place I go to does not fill they just exchange. I bought the 80 cu ft, and it cost 40 bucks to exchange. I would like a bigger tank but the 80 fits nice in my car...and I dont have a truck right now.

Re: When do you take your tanks in?
 

Depends on what Im welding. I normally stay at 12-15 but most of the time 12. Grab a gas lens and go at it. You'll get alot better gas coverage in joints than you will on something like plate, and try to recognize that when you back purge it takes little flow to purge it all out. Most people have their backpurge bellowing out too much gas.

I've had an 80 120 and 150. you'll go broke on the 80. Most places exchange instead of filling, price depends on where you are. I can tell you that it's a $4-5 differance to exchange the 120 VS the 80. Small tanks are not very good once you get going. A 150 is the same thing but taller. Toss it in the front/back seat & strap a seatbelt to it, or toss it in the hatch, trunk.

Best thing to do is max out your money buying the largest tank you can & KEEP THE SALES SLIP. Doesn't take many fills at all one a 150+ tank before you've paid the cost differance.







ugh I hate running out of gas. and I quit going to airgas. ---- that place. Yeah the price is good... One visit... And they'll sell you what you want... When you don't need it... Then their policy changes randomly the next visit and they wont do it. I got tired of dealing with them. I just go to the mom & pop shop and pay them the couple bucks more.

Re: When do you take your tanks in?
 

Holy crap this is all so true. If you have an 80cuft they are giving it to you dry- a 125cuft *just* fits in the back of the car. 50% more gas for $5 more. Like some sort of Taco Bell promo.
And Airgas does duck donkey.

I seem to need 18-20cfh even with a gas lens on stainless and aluminum though, most people get away with 12-15. Dunno why, but I do get noticeably better coverage if I turn it up a touch though (usually a #7 cup- actually come to think of it I bet a #4 cup would run ok at 15cfh.) My argon regulator is a chinese POS though- I tend to wonder if it's even right.... :1

and yeah, I'll run the tank till the needle hit zero if I can. But if it is saturday and I need to weld on sunday I'll take it in when it's 1/4 full even. Not hard to use half a 120cuft in a day...

Re: When do you take your tanks in?
 

i use tractor supply. i only do mild steel so the argon/carbon dioxide mix is $17 for this little bottle i have. i need to get a bigger one, but that would cost more when i forget to turn it off. i am very forgetful