Price for argon

[monte55]

My 336 cf argon tank is getting low. My LWS says $85.02 plus haz material fee. What are you guys paying? I'm in the Kansas City Missouri area.
I'm at 700 psi. When should I go for refill?
Thanks
Nick

[welderman23]

id run it till its GONE...

$85.02
i think i pay like $62 at the LWS

[ShieldArc]

$30 for the big tank. They get the argon free from the air outside. :

[monte55]

$30 for the big tank. They get the argon free from the air outside. :

Are you saying you pay $30 for a 300 cf plus argon tank refill?

[ShieldArc]

Yes i am, gas is a money maker for them!!!!!!!!

[monte55]

Are you a pro welder with frequent trips to your local LWS? I am not. Could make a difference.

[jake]

it was about $40 for my #300 tank haz mat fee for argon??? i dont remember payin that!!

[ShieldArc]

Are you a pro welder with frequent trips to your local LWS? I am not. Could make a difference.

I do get a price break. I cant believe the mark-up. All i can say is shop around and-or ask for a price break.

[Synchroman]

The last time I exchanged a 160 cu. ft. cylinder of Argon, Airgas got $75.00 with all of the fees and taxes. I'm going to find another LWS.

[tacmig]

The mark-up on most gas sales is service and cost based. While many gases are pulled in from the outside, someone needs to refine the 80/20 (Nitrogen/Oxygen) natural air into workable shielding gas along with several other blends. Labor is not cheap nor is maintaining the necessary permits, licenses and not to mention insurance for HazMat and explosive gases. In addition gas suppliers also maintain the cylinders and valves. Every year each cylinder requires hydro and burst testing that is done and certified by outside sources. So while the cost of the product may be next to zero, providing it to you can cost lots of $$. With that said, being a smaller shop or hobby welder with less demand, you should perhaps find a smaller supplier with less overhead and more incentive to earn your business. Our gases are brought right to our shop from Praxair once a month and change out on average about a dozen 125CF #4 shielding cylinders, a few acetylene and Oxy and every once in a full moon Helium. And all I can tell you is I'm paying about 1/2 of what you are delivery included! Look around a bit, you have got to get a better deal than that even with the cost of service!

Good Luck..

TacMig