MIG weld tank exchange question?

ress · Post by **ress** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:43 pm

Ok I am new at welding so please bear with me. So I took my new 80cf tank into praxair and exhanged it in for a refilled one. When I got it back home I noticed that the tank I got was about 4-5 inches shorter than my orginal. I know it is shorter because I have another 80cf tank back at home. The new tank also has a label saying 95cf. I am confused, why is this tank shorter?

fortyeye · Post by **fortyeye** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 6:52 pm

Tanks are rated in cubic feet based on their physical size and their maximum pressure (I know this as a former SCUBA instructor). Size can be deceptive. Material that the tank is made from also has a role in the limitations of usable gas from a tank. If, in fact, you have two tanks of the same maximum pressure (filled to that maximum) and different size ... as you suspect, the smaller tank has less usable gas. My guess would be that Praxair has a fleet of various sized tanks filled to various operating pressures and they charge the same price based on the usable gas within each tank.

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:41 pm

That's my experience.. if they aren't picky - you can go out and find a VERY close size one and put it into rotation.