Torch bottle size

Josh in Pa · Apr 3, 2013

I am getting ready to buy a torch, planning on a smith lifetime torch. The biggest gas bottles that I can own and exchange with the local company is 75 cf acetylene and 92 cf oxygen. Bigger tanks must be rented. Are these big enough for a typical small farm, or do I need to rent bigger bottles?
Josh

JMOR · Apr 3, 2013

Should be fine for the occasional work/repair/etc. If you were going to be cutting up combines for the scrap yard or using a rosebud a lot of the time you would appreciate the larger tanks. I have 10 tanks and only occasionally use the large sizes, because the smaller are more manageable for me to handle. No matter the size, unless you have more than a single pair, you will run out in the middle of a job, sooner or later.

Hogleg · Apr 3, 2013

I am using the bottles that are about 2ft tall. Use for occasional metal cutting and to tack together parts sometimes. Stick weld the rest. I exchange them every 1 to 2 years. I like them because they are portable. I built a holder that I can lift into the truck to transport to the job. Works nice to repair in the field if necessary. Oxy cost around $24 last time I exchanged one. I tend to use Oxy more than Acyt. Cutting torch use...

My 2 cents...

John

Anonymous-0 · Apr 3, 2013

I am looking for a new setup as well. I just bought a Victor torch, new hoses and regulators.
Now i need to get the tanks and the gas.

I was thinking of getting the 2 foot tall (maybe 60cf or 80cf).

First, where would i go about getting the tanks? I've checked craigslist off and on, and they are hit and miss. Can i get these at a farm supply or somewhere like Airgas?
Second, what would you recommend Acetylene in one tank and Oxygen in the other? Do some use Propane?
Thanks,

rustyfarmall · Apr 3, 2013

(quoted from post at 14:05:48 04/03/13) I am looking for a new setup as well. I just bought a Victor torch, new hoses and regulators.
Now i need to get the tanks and the gas.

I was thinking of getting the 2 foot tall (maybe 60cf or 80cf).

First, where would i go about getting the tanks? I've checked craigslist off and on, and they are hit and miss. Can i get these at a farm supply or somewhere like Airgas?
Second, what would you recommend Acetylene in one tank and Oxygen in the other? Do some use Propane?
Thanks,

Depends on where you live. Here locally, I know a couple different places. Sometimes, the internet is not the place to look. You may need to go old school and check the yellow pages, or visy a few repair shops in your area and ask where they buy it.

Leroy · Apr 3, 2013

The company I have been with for 30 years said the size I have they cannot sell anymore only rent them but since I bought them that long ago I can still keep owning them and exchangeing them. Buy several of the smaller ones if you need that much on hand but in one year you will pay as much in rent as to buy them.

504-1 · Apr 3, 2013

You should NOT use a rosebud on a tank that small ever! Acetylene has some nasty properties, too much draw on a tank and it can explode, too much pressure it can explode. Check with other suppliers in your area, we will sell a 125 CF ox & 140 CF AC(#4)anything larger we only rent. It is just a matter of money,a company borrows money to buy tanks and then sells the tanks, then borrows more money to pay for more tanks. Buy a tank and collect rent on it for 30 years and make money.

showcrop · Apr 3, 2013

I use the small ones and they seem to last a year or so, but I have to be careful in the spring to keep checking them.

rockyridgefarm · Apr 4, 2013

Your first stop should be the closest welding shop. If they don't have a lease program, they'll know who does. I just set up a torch for myself yesterday. Both welding shops here in town have a lease program. I got the "large" oxygen tank - about 5 feet tall. It's $150 for a 5 year lease and $21 per exchange for me.

I was gonna get acetylene, but the shop owner told me acetylene is a waste of money as it costs 3 to 4 times more than propane per fill, plus you have to lease those tanks as well. He runs propane, as does the other shop and both the scrapyards in town.

I guess several people around here dropped propane a couple years back when it was all but unavailable after a big disaster at an acetylene plant down south? You can get propane ANYWHERE - gas stations, hardware stores, Big Box stores.

Jury's still out if I made the right decision.

Torch bottle size

Josh in Pa

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JMOR

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Hogleg

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Anonymous-0

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rustyfarmall

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Leroy

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504-1

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showcrop

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rockyridgefarm

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