tell me about refilling O2/Acy tanks

[mhorowit]

About three years ago a friend graduated from OA to TIG and gave me his OA rig on "indefinite loan". They were marked with the "AirGas" corp. logo, so when they were empty, I brought them to AirGas and they refilled 'em. The original owner is no longer available.

The last time I got my O2 refilled, the guy made some noises like he wanted to know where the tanks came from, and did I own them, blah, blah.

Anyone else faced with questioning when trying to get a refill?
Do you have to present proof of ownership of the tanks?
Are there non-standard places who don't care where the tanks came from and won't hassle me over a re-fill?- MikeH

[Larry Lyons]

Re: tell me about refilling O2/Acy tanks

We sell bottle gas here, our supplier says if they walk in with the tanks I ask no questions. You could have got them from your dead father in-law, bought them at an auction, etc. The days of showing owner ship are pretty much past, at least for us. We deal with Great Lakes Airgas here in the Mid-West and do not rent tanks out any more. If you want to buy my gas you have to buy the bottle, no rent, no lease! Larry

[Ragwing nut]

Re: tell me about refilling O2/Acy tanks

We have that issue here. Some companies will ask for paperwork, others don't. As long as they are in "test", should be able to find someone to fill them. Otherwise they will charge you extra for exchange on a bottle with a good test date on it.

[astjp2]

Re: tell me about refilling O2/Acy tanks

Air Gas is better to deal with than Air Liquide, basicly there were a lot of Leased tanks that have been stolen over the years, lost, whatever...now some guys want to save the world and reclaim those lost tanks. Some locations will eat the cost of the Hydrostat in the increase of the price. If they give you too much grief goto another location. Tim

[fearofpavement]

Re: tell me about refilling O2/Acy tanks

I purchased a set of Lindy tanks about 20 years ago but have never had them refilled. Every gas supplier I have used exchanges them out with one the same size. Sometimes the design of the acetylene tanks varies a bit but the oxygens are usually always the same except sometimes green and sometimes blue. If I ever move to another part of the country again I will try to get some Lindy tanks again as the ones I have now are some local name brand. Never had much questioning regarding where I got the tanks.

On propane tanks, they always refill the ones I bring.

[mhorowit]

Re: tell me about refilling O2/Acy tanks

When I said 'refill' I should have said 'exchange'.

Problem solved - I went to the store and talked to the manager,very calmly and suggested there might be someway to resolve my concern. He immediately said "not a problem, if it says AirGas on it, we'll fill it". Got his biz card. I was already to get angry but started off looking for a potential compromise and it worked; one less problem - MikeH.

[Larry Lyons]

Re: tell me about refilling O2/Acy tanks

Yep there are about 200 different tank names out there and there are only 4 we cannot exchange due to the fair trades act. Those four are my direct competitors, other wise we get tanks from all over the country as construction crews pass thru. Larry

[mhorowit]

Re: tell me about refilling O2/Acy tanks

Yep there are about 200 different tank names out there and there are only 4 we cannot exchange due to the fair trades act. Those four are my direct competitors, other wise we get tanks from all over the country as construction crews pass thru. Larry

I'll bet you guys use Smith tips also.
Seems on the east coast it's hard to get them, but Victor is all over the place.
My AirGas guy said that in the mid-west it's predominately Smith. - Mike