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 In part 1 I touched on some basic things for a guy thinking about learning to weld. In this article I will assume that you have decided to "Do It". When I went to get my tank of CO2/Argon I was clueless. I left the Praxair shop confused and decided to do some homework. If you decide to rent the tank, you will pay a fee for rental in addition to the cost of the gas. If you have an owners tank you only pay for the cost of the gas. I decided I wanted to own my tank. When looking to buy a tank how do you know if it's a rental or an owners tank?

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More great stuff, Don!
I made the mistake of buying the little gas bottle, bad move! It doesn't last long at all, get something bigger than the 20.

As others have mentioned get a big bottle. and 80/20 or 85/15 is a good all around mix for most MIG set-ups working with mild steel. I didn't get the 100# tank mainly because of storage and no fitting on my cart well/ making it harder to move. But my 80# tank was only $10 more than the 56#. Jim next time you need gas ask them about trading in your tank. Most shops around here will buy buy your tank at like 75% of original cost if it's there tank (meaning you bought it from them) You may loose $15-$25, but it saves you more than that in time and aggravation running back and forth filling up. Not to mention the little bit of gas left in the tank every time you fill up.

Don I would suggest cheep welding blankets before vinyl shower curtains. Harbor freight sells them for $5-$10 all the time. Yes they still burn though faster than a good one but they will last longer and protect your stuff better. Keep up the good work.

I disagree on size and buying
When yopu 1st get your welder you have got it for a project...well the home user usually has.
If its a big project, intially hire a larger bottle...at the end of the project or when get closeto finishing, dont have another immediatly in mind....THEN buy a smaller bottle.

Personally I still hire my bottles...it works out to about $US15 per 3 months.

You do have a point. For someone that doesn't really do much in the way of welding often say once a yr or less renting a bottle the size they need or even a bit bigger and just returning the tank when there done saves space and is cheaper. But for me if I'm going to store the bottle for when I need it and pay about $50-$75 yr I'll end up paying full price for that bottle in 2-3yrs. And if I'm renting it's like buying another bottle every couple of yrs. Now don't get me wrong I have rented bottles in the past and plan to again for special gas mixes for specific projects. For example the stainless exhaust I plan on installing this spring. I'll rent a bottle just bigger than I think I need and only rent it for the month.

Harley, why don't you just send me an article & some pictures? You seem to have no trouble typing out your thoughts. Maybe you can do the more avanced sections when I am done with the basics.

Basically when one boils it all down one vis talking 'saving' difference between options, over several yrs of 1 or 2 dollars a week....is that enugh to even consider an major issue as against renting owning over things like convinience.

My issue with renting is "bringing the bottle back"
The gas store is an hour drive, each way. Works much better for me to get my bottle filled when I start a project, then forget about it until the next project.

As far as the "lil bit of gas left in the bottle" my source wieghs the bottle before and after filling and charges for the difference. Only pay for what I use.

Yep I see that..
I have a 1.7 mile trip down the road to service depot, but only open 5 1/2 days a week.
If I have my own bottles, have to go thru to Penrose, about 20/30 mins away, wait to be filled...5 days a week.
And If Im feeling lazy, delivery same day so long as ring before 10am. 5 days a week...which doesnt apply to owning my bottles