HELP on oxy-acet tanks.

Sounds like a good question for Harbor Freight! If I were you I'd be taking names, and send letters to the top of the Chain of Command. Also see my reply to *MarkB* below. Should be no reason why you can't get "certified" tanks filled! Just start off in a smooth, gentlemanly way with a Business-like manner and let them know that you feel a principle is at stake and will take it as high up the ladder as they make you go! Bosses don't like Bull Dogs, they'd rather feed em than get bit by them!
Regards,
Bernie

I bought the biggest tanks I could from a local gas co. Refill isn't a problem that way. As I'm still on the originals, I don't know if I can get a swap (I think) or have to wait a couple of days to get the same tanks back. The way the system is set up, the only thing that would really make sense would be for a small group to share a lease. That comes with availability problems, of course.

Over the course of a few years I've come into quite a few tanks from various sources. If I can find a disgruntled leaser, I'll get a refill that way. Not legitimate, but with the gas companies acting the way they do, they ought to expect it. Little oxygen tanks are a pain.

• refilling gas cylinders

Sorry, but I couldn't find anything that says a gas dealer MUST fill your tanks. TB-8 says that they CANNOT fill tanks without the owner's consent. I take that to mean that if you took an NCG-owned tank to AGA, AGA can't fill it without NCG's permission, which you ain't likely to get.

I'd have to side with the gas dealers on this one. Why should they have to fill tanks you bought elsewhere? It seems to me that it is their perogative to refuse to fill tanks purchased from a competitor.

• New location of TB-8

When I moved to a new town with my old tanks, I called up the local supplier and asked if they would have a problem filling my tanks that I had just bought and they told me to bring them in. once there they asked if an exchange was ok, I said sure! At the same time I bought a couple of tips & some electrodes just to cement the deal.

Seems to me that most suppliers want to do business if you approach in a business like manner. I'd guess that there's a lot of "tank theft" and they are somewhat reticent to just fill up tanks of folks they don't know? I think however that they would love to get a fat rental fee if they can.

With regard to the gas company requiring buyers to have only their tanks. That pratice is probably actionable under various federal codes(UCC) and state statutes dealing with monopolistic business practices. Not unlike Microsofts tactics to use it's market position to eliminate competition. Let's dance said the elephant to the chickens!

Regards,
Bernie

Rock