What size gas cylinder?

[Gary in Indiana]

I have a Hobart 175 'Handler' with the accompanying cart and wanted to know what size gas cylinder would be a good match for it. I'm not going to be using it commercially. It'll be just weekends in the shop in one corner of the barn and the occasional equipment repair. As this is my first time out of the chute, is there anything else of which I need be aware regarding this or anything else here? Thanks.

[Dave Haak]

Gary in Indiana,

I'd say 80 cf minimum. Might last you 2 or 3 years or a few months.

My 2 cents worth.

Dave

[OneQuartLow]

Or 2-3 days if you have a leaky regulator. Ask me how I know, and wear extra sunblock next time you're in Oregon.

Gary,

My MM175 sees fairly light use also - some trailer work and offroading fabrication - but I went with a 155. The incremental price increase for the larger cylinder and fills are so minor here it made sense. If portability were an issue I would have gone smaller.

David

[Dan]

Gary,

The 80 Cubic ft bottle that Dave suggested will be a perfect fit your set up.

[Henro]

Gary,

I looked at cost of refills and decided to buy a 150 cu. ft. bottle for use with my tig/stick welder.

Seemed most cost effective here in my area. The 150 is not THAT big, but...there is no argument that the 80 would be a better fit on a cart if you will be lugging it around a lot.

If I were you I would visit a gas supplier, look at the different size cylinders, check the prices and see what makes the most sense $$ wise in your area.

I did not buy my cylinder yet...but will soon. Here we have the option of buying or leasing cylinders. In reality, the cost is about the same. I will buy because if the company I deal with goes under for some reason, at least I will have a cylinder to get filled somewhere else and proof that it is mine.

By the way, are you the "Gary in Indiana" of TBN?

[cope]

The 80 is a handy size, and cheaper to purchase than the larger ones. Every locale seems to be different regarding sizes and re-fill practice, so check local dealers, The best deal I have seen on an 80 is Cyberweld:

http://www.cyberweld.com/cyberweld/welwelacbyho.html

[Gary in Indiana]

Thanks for the input and the link to the Cyberweld site. One thing I did note there was that my welder (actually, the cart) is limited to a 75 lb. maximum cylinder weight. That's another question I'll ask when I go look at them. I'm embarrassed to admit that was something I hadn't even considered prior to reading about it at the site. Thanks again, everyone.

[Dave Haak]

Gary in Indiana,

Ah......another project....to "beef-up" your cart.

Dave

[Sundown]

I labored on this subject and finally got a 80 for HH135. I am sooo glad I did, my cart says 75 max also and I have plans to beef it up and add a top shelf and tool hangers [per Rockeys] just havn't done it yet. Its been on the cart since Feb 2002 with no problems whatsoever.

[Old Man Stick]

I would have to say go to your local supplyer and see whats Easyest bottle to get filled. When I bought my HH175 I was looking fo maybe a 150 bottle. I whent to my supplyer to get one. Thay told me thay thay had a lot of those bottle but thay were all out. It was not a easy one to replace when mine was empty. Told me if I had whanted I could drop it off and pick it up in a few days one thay filled that bottle. I really did nto like that idea. So I asked what bottle was normaly there 7 days aweek with no problem?? Well Its a good thing I built my own cart I ended up with a 350 or maybe its 375 Bottle. Its pretty big! I have had my HH 175 for two years now and have done a lot of welding. 2 10 Lb rolls or .035 and 3 10 Lb rolls of .024 and im in the middle of a 10 Lb roll of .030 and I still have half the bottle left Wich is fine with me! But I knwo once I do empty it ther will be a full one the day I stop in and have it filled.

OMS

[Franz]

Hey Gary, good to see you over here on the real welding board.
If you are running nothing but steel, 20# of Co2 will last at least 70# of wire. You can even share the gas with a beer dispenser.

[Gary in Indiana]

One thing I found from talking to someone this morning after church is that, around here at least, the gas suppliers will be happy to either fill your cylinder, sell you a cylinder (full or empty) or lease you a cylinder. From what I understand, the leasing option would not be a good one for me given my limited use. It's more more commercial high volume users as the lease rate is tied to gas purchases.

There are two local suppliers who are relatively nearby so I think I'm going to talk with each of them tomorrow and see if I might be able to work some kind of deal wherein I would pay them the purchase price for a new 80 cf cylinder but take one of of their lease pile with the option of trading up or down when it's empty and getting the new one then.

[Old Man Stick]

Originally posted by Gary in Indiana


There are two local suppliers who are relatively nearby so I think I'm going to talk with each of them tomorrow and see if I might be able to work some kind of deal wherein I would pay them the purchase price for a new 80 cf cylinder but take one of of their lease pile with the option of trading up or down when it's empty and getting the new one then.

I know I have the receipt to mine. The guy told me that I could sell it back to the company if I even felt the need. And now that im in my work area here. I see that it was a 390 Bottle. came free and ran me 185.00 + tax for the bottle and gas. and the sale slip states that I bought the bottle out right. Had 2300 Lb in the bottle and Im down to 1500 now after being bought 2/12/01

OMS

[cope]

Originally posted by Gary in Indiana
Thanks for the input and the link to the Cyberweld site. One thing I did note there was that my welder (actually, the cart) is limited to a 75 lb. maximum cylinder weight. That's another question I'll ask when I go look at them. I'm embarrassed to admit that was something I hadn't even considered prior to reading about it at the site. Thanks again, everyone.

Gary, if the 80 is too heavy, the 60 will probably be OK. They ship free, and will know the weight of both.

[Roger]

Better to have 2 smaller gas cylinders than one huge cylinder. Then your not stuck with fluxcore when out of gas. Still get the biggest you can handle as gas prices are cheaper.