Is this tank Legit?

[mikeb9550]

Im just getting into welding. Found a couple tanks on craigslist for a good price so I picked them up. The tanks are suppose to be owned and not leased. Now I just read somewhere that leased tanks have a stamp on them. Mine have stamps for a welding supply store. Did I just buy some leased tanks or do most of the tanks have the store's stamps? Do you think I will have trouble getting it filled? I ask because maybe I can get in touch with him still. I picked them up at his work so I wouldnt think he would risk someone knowing where he worked if he wasnt legit. I dont weld much and these tanks will last me a while before they need filled.

What do you guys think?

I think I am just going to give up on craigslist and ebay. Everytime I think I am getting a deal, it always costs more a lot more in the long run.

[dda52]

Cylinder rules vary greately city to city and state to state. Mainly, it will depend on the rules for your area. I have several cyls that have stamped neck rings. It is not a problem for me since all the cyls that size in my area are owner bottles. No one will lease that size (125cf) so I can go anywhere and swap them out regardless of the neck rings. All my 150cf's are slick but one and its an owner bottle as well. Best thing you can do is anonymously call your LWS or another LWS and see what they can do.

[mikeb9550]

Thanks, I believe they are 125s as well. I will have to call around and see. I hope this is the case. I hate getting screwed out of hard earned money.

[Hotfoot]

If the price you paid is low, you could take the illegal O2 (NOT the acetylene!!!) tanks and make gongs out of them, and give for (big) gifts, or sell them!

[mikeb9550]

If the price you paid is low, you could take the illegal O2 (NOT the acetylene!!!) tanks and make gongs out of them, and give for (big) gifts, or sell them!

Paid 150 for both. One is Argon and the other is C25. I will call around today and see what people say.

[MAC702]

Good case for having your location posted in your profile. Our info could be targeted to your area from local members.

Some of my bottles are stamped but they are from out-of-business places and are now used by the current companies as owner bottles. My 50# CO2 cylinder is stamped Union Carbide; I paid cash for it from Airgas.

[Hotfoot]

...and remember..if they accept it the first time, you are "in", because they give you one of their filled bottles.

[mikeb9550]

Thanks

Thanks guys, I called my LWS. Their company is the stamp on the bottles. He said the ones they sell have stamps and you can get them filled in that size anywhere. They dont lease that size.

I will have to update my area. Im in Westland area SE Michigan.

I am feeling a lot better now...

[ptsideshow]

DOT stampings indicate around the neck of the bottle vary for each type gas or cylinder. DOT-3A-2400 tells Department of Trans port specs- 3A is chrome manganese steel 2400 is the max filling pressure.
It will have a manufactures registered symbol
Serial number
31 characters (owners name)
Manufacturing test date month/year overfill mark special 10 year retest mark
Official Mark of the Independent inspector
can have additional stamping of 18 characters and another line of 8
The oldest date and then the retests at 5 year intervals for the Hydrostatic pressure test

The acetylene cylinders have Gas Capacity in cubic feet
tare weight lbs oz
Dot spec cylinder manufacturing
Manufactures registered symbol
month/year
Serial number
Lot number on the different dia cylinders are in two distinct locations
And then the additional markings

The spec's for each type of gas cylinder vary slightly, as to what is stamped on the neck rings

[MAC702]

To clarify, we are referring to the collar around the neck, just below the valve. That is where a gas supplier or large user stamps their name. Most exchangeable bottles are smooth here or stamped with a now-defunct company.

[LarryL]

Several years ago I purchased an argon cylinder from one of our local welding supply companies. I've kept the receipt for the 280 cu. ft. cylinders in a filing cabinet. Every time I take an empty cylinder to them, they just exchange it for one of their filled cylinders that is closest to my truck's bed. One of the managers told me that if I were to move out of this area, they would give me a cylinder that is clearly marked as an owner-owned one.
LarryL

[mikeb9550]

Its the big raised lettering on the tank. IMO, I think it got too expensive for these small LWS shops to eat on guys that didnt return the tanks. The guy told me that if he did lease it, the deposit would have to be as much as a new tank. I am guessing that these guys just start selling the tanks that had their stampings on them.

[Dmaxer1]

I was ready to buy a large 300 cu. ft. Ar cylinder with a defunct manufacturer's name on the neck ring at an estate sale. I called a LWS before I put my money on the table and they looked in a book they have for the company's name. They said that the defunct company's stock, including all of their labeled cylinders, was bought out by an active company and that they would therefore refuse to refill the cylinder. I didn't buy the cylinder.

On the other hand, one of the customer owned 248 cu.ft. cylinders I got from my LWS says "U.S. Air Force" on the neck ring. They said they bought a huge lot of them at surplus and that they are all truly customer owned. All I know is I've got a receipt if anyone asks. My point is that this is not a simple subject.