yep, if you want the Exact Same tanks back, expect to wait a week to a month to get them refilled, depending on where the local transfill is. There are very, very few acetylene plants left in the US, so even longer for that tank. That’s assuming they can keep track of the tanks through the process. The industry has a pretty bad record of tracking individual cylinders. They do not refill tanks owned by another company; that’s against the rules however. There are ways to determine company ownership based on the neck ring and serial numbers stamped into the tanks.
Bet that was way more than you wanted to know, but that’s what you get here
I got the (possibly mistaken) impression that, even if I didn’t get the tanks back, i’d have to fott the bill to get them tested.
What’s a bigger consternation now is: I can’t find a community college type course within 60 miles of my house! I’m searching for Colorado continuing education and anything that’s shop/machine/welding related is in Pueblo, Trinidad, and Greeley or further. (I’m in Parker Co.)
I figured Redrocks Community College, CU denver, or somesuch would have something, but they have a much more business oriented curricula.
I guess my thought would be: What are you hoping to accomplish?
If this training is strictly for safety purposes (and the creative vision is your own) I would venture that the internet, VHS instruction tapes and a trip to a welding shop or your gas supplier may be all you need to learn the mechanics of handling the rig, and all of the safety things you should know.
OTOH, if you’re looking for creative classes that’s another story. I think you’re thinking the right way in wanting to stay safe, but I don’t know that a full blown course is necessary.
I might be wrong, and I’m open to be corrected. But I do know MANY (and I mean MANY) people who have never taken a course and are quite proficient. I took a 2 day course from J.W. Harris (a company that makes many brazing products) and learned from guys who brazed. (which didn’t involve much time at all)
Don’t skimp on safety. But this isn’t rocket science either.
(I don’t think you’ll foot any bill. I would be amazed if they looked at your tank at all. They’ll likely take your empty and give you full ones)
Bob: thanks for the links, I’ve found the courses, and the descriptions, I just haven’t found the calendar. If they’re predominantly day courses, I’m SOL.
Raindog: I’m pretty reasonably versed in the safety aspects (cover up or you’ll sunburn, never look at the arc, freekin’ hot metal looks the same as cold), it’s the techniques I’m relatively unschooled in. (how to set mixture, what rods work for what metal and gauge)
As far as my goals, I’m looking at learning about metalwork. All aspects. Just because. I’ve got a pretty good handle on working with aluminum on a lathe (threading, turning, boring, interrupted cuts, getting to a specific dimension) and the speeds and feeds on a minimill with some minor work in steel.
What I lack is the last 5-10% you get in a classroom. I’ve managed to learn stuff like ‘don’t leave the chuck key in the chuck’, but I don’t know what I don’t know.
There used to be a place around here, but I can’t find it. Wheat Ridge or Lakewood or something… Might have to wait until fall semester gets closer. Red Rocks used to have cool classes like welding, home brewing, private pilots license, stuff like that. But as you’ve noticed it’s gotten boring since I graduated (coincidence?).
I’ll try to remember the other place I’m thinking of.
When you say “Community College” are you including Technical Schools. Around here that is where I would look for a welding class. As a matter of fact I have and they do. I just need to get around to taking it.
If you are paying recurring deposits/rental fees for tanks, then the owner of those tanks (the shop), foots the bill for certifying/hydrotesting them every so many years. If you own your own tank you have to pay for that test to be done somewhere, and when you drop off a tank to be filled and request that you get back your exact, specific tank you may have to give them some time to fill that one.
No rental fees are being paid and the company that might own them is no longer in business. Based on my current useage and how much is still in the tanks, they may NEVER need refilling.
But in the 2 states I’ve worked in this was not the case. As I stated above you didn’t own 2 specific tanks, but 2 general tanks. I highly doubt most places would even go for the idea that you want your own tanks returned to you. The logistical nightmare of keeping track of 2 tanks among thousands of tanks being transported to the filling facility and to the hundreds of disributors they sell to would be more trouble than it’s worth.
I own 2 tanks. I don’t own any specific tanks. I return them to my distributor when they’re empty. They give me 2 full ones. Some look new, some look worn. I don’t care, and they don’t either. I have never, ever, had someone look at the tank. I’m sure that the facility that fills the tanks must look at such things. But the wholesale shop that stocks and sells the tanks doesn’t, IME. I would venture that the obligation to make sure the tanks are in good legal condition is borne by the filler of the tanks, not the wholesalers they sell to. (or the end users like me who buy from the wholesalers.) I’m reasonably sure that if I went to my wholesaler and told them I wanted those specific tanks back (and I was willing to wait the days/weeks to get them) they would look at me and say “no”. (right after asking me what I was on)
I don’t believe the end user is ever responsible for testing the tanks, or paying for the testing. It’s part of the service/cost of buying the gas. Maintaining the tanks is a cost of selling more gas.
I do own two specific tanks. CO2 in this case, which may be why we’re having different experiences. My local shop, which also does the filling, required they have up-to-date stamps. I could have gone with one of their more traditional usage plans and paid, say, 20 dollars to give them my old tank, uncertified, and get back a general, certified tank full of CO2, and then 20 each time thereafter. But I opted to pay the 25 or so to get mine certified and then only 12 bucks per CO2 fill after that in my specific tank. I’m not sure how many other gases it’s normal to be able to do this with, though. It sounds like you’re renting from a high-volume place.
I’m not an expert, and I don’t buy or rent all the gases that these places offer, but I’m willing to bet that if these places are providing you with bottles that require recertification, at a cost, then that cost is somehow built into your ‘ownership’ of the item.
