So how many of you guys that use C02 for OBA actually exchange your bottles or get them re-filled? Especially guys with nice powertanks and stuff, I can't imagine exchange those. Just curious cause I've recently moved and all the the places around here just exchange except for like one fire equipment place that'll inspect and re-fill. I've always got my bottles re-filled, it's due for an inspection though.

I exchange my 20lb tanks... no clue why you would ever buy a fancy powertank :flipoff2: get a nice regulator and the normal AL c02 tanks are the same :D

I have a 5lb tank I need to swap out next for a 10lb or 20lb upgrade :D

I have a 20lb AL tank I've had for about 6 years, never exchanged. Nothing fancy about it, just have a nice powertank regulator on it.

I need to find someone to fill for me in the KC area. Local place does exchange ONLY and last time I got home before I saw I had a steel bottle:mad3:
got it switched out again last week to aluminum. :)
I have a 5 I need filled as well

I need to find someone to fill for me in the KC area. Local place does exchange ONLY and last time I got home before I saw I had a steel bottle:mad3:
got it switched out again last week to aluminum. :)
I have a 5 I need filled as well

I got the 5 for backup ARB... gonna just upgrade to the 10 or 20 so I can use it for tires too :D

I need to find someone to fill for me in the KC area. Local place does exchange ONLY and last time I got home before I saw I had a steel bottle:mad3:
got it switched out again last week to aluminum. :)
I have a 5 I need filled as well

Well if your ever in the wichita area I found one place that does it out of the seven or so places I've called :shaking: http://www.kansasfire.com

Check out the fire extinguisher service places in your area. There's normally a ton of them, and they have the best prices on CO2 refills that I've found. All of them actually refill the tanks too, not just swap them

My welding supply refills while I wait. They exchange all of their bottles, but when I walk in with a nice powertank bottle they know to just refill it.

I have a 5lb tank I need to swap out next for a 10lb or 20lb upgrade :D

i have a 20 lb tank, and am looking for a 5 lb tank. interested in an exchange of some sort?


edit: and to add to the thread, i just get mine refilled by one of the local beer distributors

Dropped my Alum CO2 off yesterday for its 5 year inspection. Means I've had that tank for 10 years, 2nd inspection.....


I exchange all my cylinders except one, a small Aluminum one, my place (Matheson Tri-Gas) refills but its usually a day or two lag. They dont inspect.

So you have to think about that cost in the long run. $50 every 5 years over exchanging, but like Blacksheep said even in exchanges you dont always have a choice to get a lightweight aluminum one.

Some paint ball stores may be able to refill.I had one in town refill mine last time.
Also check with beverage distributors.The ones that do the fountain services.

My welding supply store tells me straight up that if I have a tank I want back, take it to someone else.

I asked them to reclassify a nitrous oxide tank for argon use and they told me they would expect the main shop to lose my tank and that it would probably take a year to get it back, if I got it back.

I exchange my tanks with them. Anybody want to swap two Nitrous tanks for a nitrogen and argon tank?

i have a 20 lb tank, and am looking for a 5 lb tank. interested in an exchange of some sort?


edit: and to add to the thread, i just get mine refilled by one of the local beer distributors

Probably not worth it to got o PA from CA.
Even if we put it in our luggage :laughing:

My welding supply store tells me straight up that if I have a tank I want back, take it to someone else.

I asked them to reclassify a nitrous oxide tank for argon use and they told me they would expect the main shop to lose my tank and that it would probably take a year to get it back, if I got it back.

I exchange my tanks with them. Anybody want to swap two Nitrous tanks for a nitrogen and argon tank?

They wouldn't swap out the nitrous tank for argon and let you pay the difference ??? That's what I've done for upgrading and changing contents.

Probably not worth it to got o PA from CA.
Even if we put it in our luggage :laughing:

i'll just drive out there. whats your address? just kidding.

My welding supply store tells me straight up that if I have a tank I want back, take it to someone else.

I asked them to reclassify a nitrous oxide tank for argon use and they told me they would expect the main shop to lose my tank and that it would probably take a year to get it back, if I got it back.

I exchange my tanks with them. Anybody want to swap two Nitrous tanks for a nitrogen and argon tank?

If a company my business used told me that, I would probably tell them to kiss my arse and find another supplier.

Here in Houston, we have so many choices, it is not even funny. 5 min from my shop is Old Hempstead Hwy which has welding suppliers lined up one after another. AIRGAS is who I usually use since they will either fill or exchange ( my choice) and I usually want my AL CO2 tanks refilled. My steel CO2 bev tank gets exchanged.

They wouldn't swap out the nitrous tank for argon and let you pay the difference ??? That's what I've done for upgrading and changing contents.

They are pharmaceutical grade. The inventory of bottles is such that this is a PITA for them. They really didn't cost me anything so I'm not upset. I'll find somebody who wants them.

If a company my business used told me that, I would probably tell them to kiss my arse and find another supplier.

Here in Houston, we have so many choices, it is not even funny. 5 min from my shop is Old Hempstead Hwy which has welding suppliers lined up one after another. AIRGAS is who I usually use since they will either fill or exchange ( my choice) and I usually want my AL CO2 tanks refilled. My steel CO2 bev tank gets exchanged.

If you only knew. I quit using my old supplier of 18 years because they started getting snotty over my having a $100 outstanding balance. 18 years! I'd bought expensive exotic gases (I used to own a testing lab and bought all sorts of weird mix gases) from them for years and they got all pissy over a lousy $100? The owner died and his kid took over and then all Hell broke loose. I couldn't get away from them fast enough.

We have THREE gas suppliers in Fort Wayne that I know of. The one I use is closest to me, the next closest is the one I WON'T do business with and the remaining one is on the other side of town, easily an hour trip for me.

My welding supply store tells me straight up that if I have a tank I want back, take it to someone else.

I asked them to reclassify a nitrous oxide tank for argon use and they told me they would expect the main shop to lose my tank and that it would probably take a year to get it back, if I got it back.

I exchange my tanks with them. Anybody want to swap two Nitrous tanks for a nitrogen and argon tank?

OK. just fill them first. will you throw in some balloons?:grinpimp:

OK. just fill them first. will you throw in some balloons?:grinpimp:

Silly hippies!

They are pharmaceutical grade. The inventory of bottles is such that this is a PITA for them. They really didn't cost me anything so I'm not upset. I'll find somebody who wants them.



If you only knew. I quit using my old supplier of 18 years because they started getting snotty over my having a $100 outstanding balance. 18 years! I'd bought expensive exotic gases (I used to own a testing lab and bought all sorts of weird mix gases) from them for years and they got all pissy over a lousy $100? The owner died and his kid took over and then all Hell broke loose. I couldn't get away from them fast enough.

We have THREE gas suppliers in Fort Wayne that I know of. The one I use is closest to me, the next closest is the one I WON'T do business with and the remaining one is on the other side of town, easily an hour trip for me.

We are a bit spoiled with our availability of supplies here in Houston. I can call up a vendor I know and he will meet me at his shop to fill my bottles on the weekend if needed. All within 5 miles of my house.

We are a bit spoiled with our availability of supplies here in Houston. I can call up a vendor I know and he will meet me at his shop to fill my bottles on the weekend if needed. All within 5 miles of my house.

Sadly, the father of the guy who now owns the welding supply shop was like that. He and his wife were regular visitors at my parent's home. When his kid took over after the father's death, things went downhill fast.

It wasn't so bad when my shop was in the same industrial park as my gas supplier, but now that I live in the country, I have a 15 mile trip to the gas store that can take 45 minutes depending upon day of week and time of day.