Oxygen Tanks vs. a Concentrator for Glassblowing: What You'll Really Pay
Glassblower cost guide
Oxygen tanks vs. a concentrator: what glassblowers really pay
Tank refills add up fast, and they never stop. Enter how many tanks you use each week to see what that costs you in a year, in money and in hours of driving and waiting, and when making your own oxygen pays for itself.
The short answer
- Tanks are a cost that never ends. Every refill, every exchange, every cylinder rental, every delivery fee, for as long as you work.
- Tanks cost you time, too. Driving to pick up, waiting on refills, loading and hauling heavy cylinders. A concentrator sits in your studio and makes oxygen whenever you need it.
- A concentrator is a one-time cost. After that, you pay only for electricity, roughly 11 cents an hour for a 10 LPM unit.
- Most small and mid-size torches run well on one 10 LPM concentrator. High-volume studios run several concentrators together for more flow, often three, four, or more, or use a HomeFill to fill their own cylinders.
- Tanks still make sense for some setups, like torches that need high pressure. We'll tell you honestly if that's you.
Calculate your tank costs
Type in how many large oxygen tanks you go through in a typical week. The other boxes are filled in with common numbers, so change any that don't match yours.
Your time
That works out to an average of about 6 LPM, so you'd run 2 concentrators together, like many high-volume studios do. The electricity and payback above already include all of them. Text Patrick your torch model at 828-380-6287 and he'll confirm the right setup.
Based on a large oxygen cylinder holding about 251 cubic feet (about 7,100 liters), $200 a year for two cylinder rentals, and each 10 LPM concentrator drawing about 600 watts at 18 cents per kWh. We size your setup at one concentrator for every 10 LPM of average flow, worked out from your tanks and torch hours. Typical fills run $20 to $40 or more, and cylinder rentals about $50 to $120 per cylinder per year. Your supplier's prices, fees, and cylinder sizes may differ, so enter your real cost per tank.
What it adds up to
Four common setups, using average flow, not maximum torch output:
| Your setup | Tanks per year | Tanks at $40 each | Tanks at $100 each | Concentrator power per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobby beadmaker3 LPM, 2 hours a day, 3 days a week | About 8 | $520 a year | $990 a year | About $34 |
| Regular lampworker6 LPM, 4 hours a day, 5 days a week | About 53 | $2,310 a year | $5,470 a year | About $112 |
| Full-time studio9 LPM, 6 hours a day, 5 days a week | About 119 | $4,940 a year | $12,050 a year | About $168 |
| High-volume studio30 LPM, 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, 3 concentrators | About 395 | $16,000 a year | $39,710 a year | About $505 for all three |
Tank totals include $200 a year in cylinder rental. They don't include driving time, gas, or lost studio time swapping tanks. In remote areas, many glassblowers pay $100 or more per large tank.
The time tanks take from you
Money is only half of it. For a regular lampworker going through about 53 tanks a year, swapping 2 tanks per trip at about an hour each, here's what tank runs cost in time:
And that's when everything goes right. Add the days your supplier is closed, the refill that isn't ready yet, the trip you make because a tank ran dry halfway through a piece, and the strain of lifting cylinders that weigh well over 100 pounds full. With a concentrator, there's no trip, no wait, and nothing to haul. You turn it on and get to work.
The hidden costs of tanks
Refills that never end
Every tank you empty is another bill, for as long as you keep working. Prices tend to go up, not down.
Rentals, deposits, and fees
Most suppliers charge yearly cylinder rental, deposits, and delivery, hazmat, or environmental fees on top of the gas itself.
Driving and waiting
Every pickup means time in the car, time at the counter, and sometimes waiting days for a refill to be ready. That's time away from your torch.
Loading and hauling
Full cylinders are heavy and awkward. Getting them in and out of the car and into your studio, over and over, is hard work and easy to get hurt doing.
Running out mid-project
Tanks always seem to run dry at the worst time. A concentrator makes oxygen whenever it's plugged in.
Storage and safety
High-pressure cylinders have to be secured upright, chained or strapped, and kept away from heat. A concentrator just plugs into the wall.
High-volume studios: run multiple concentrators
Bigger torches and busy studios don't have to go back to tanks. Many high-volume setups run several concentrators together, joined through a manifold into one oxygen line to the torch. Each 10 LPM concentrator adds about 10 more liters per minute, so you add units until you cover your torch's flow.
Scale up to your torch
Two concentrators give you about 20 LPM, three about 30, four about 40, five about 50. A Nortel Mid-Range (up to about 34 LPM) or Major (up to about 43 LPM) at full output can take four or five.
A backup built in
If one unit needs service, the others keep running, so you can keep working at a smaller flame instead of shutting down.
One thing to know: adding concentrators adds flow, not pressure. If your torch needs high pressure, a HomeFill or tank setup may still be the better fit. See our HVLP setups, or text Patrick your torch model and he'll tell you exactly how many concentrators it takes.
When tanks still make sense
A concentrator usually wins if
- Your torch averages about 10 LPM or less, or you can run multiple concentrators for more
- Your torch runs at 20 PSI or less. High-pressure 10 LPM concentrators like the AirSep Intensity and Drive DeVilbiss put out up to 20 PSI
- You work regularly, week after week
- You pay a lot per tank, or spend hours driving to pick up refills
- You're tired of running out mid-project
Tanks may be the better fit if
- Your torch needs more than about 20 PSI, like the 35 PSI GTT Phantom or Mirage
- You only light your torch a few times a year
- Your torch needs more flow than several concentrators together can supply
Not sure where your torch falls? Our Glassblower Oxygen Concentrator Guide lists pressure and flow for GTT, Carlisle, Bethlehem, and Nortel torches, and our guide to how many concentrators your torch needs sorts torches into one-concentrator, multi-concentrator, and tank setups. Or text Patrick your torch model and he'll tell you straight.
The middle option: fill your own tanks
A HomeFill system uses a concentrator to fill your own oxygen cylinders at home. It's a great fit if you like the steady pressure of tanks but are tired of paying for refills, or if your torch needs higher pressure than a concentrator puts out directly. One of our customers in Hawaii was paying over $100 for every large tank exchange. Now she runs Invacare Platinum concentrators and fills her own tank at home.
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See all HPLV and HomeFill setups, or HVLP setups that combine concentrators for more flow.
Shop 10 LPM concentrators for glassblowing
Every reconditioned concentrator is inspected, serviced, cleaned, and tested before it ships. No prescription is needed for glassblowing or lampworking.
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Why Bradshaw Oxygen
Make your own oxygen. Keep the money.
Patrick has helped glassblowers all over the country move off tanks, from beadmakers to full-time studios. Tell us your torch, your glass, and how long you work, and we'll recommend a setup that fits, including telling you when tanks are still the better choice.
Common questions
How long does a large oxygen tank last for glassblowing?
A large cylinder of about 251 cubic feet holds roughly 7,100 liters. At an average of 6 LPM, that's about 20 hours of torch time. At 10 LPM, it's about 12 hours. Larger flames empty it much faster.
How much electricity does a 10 LPM concentrator use?
Most 10 LPM concentrators draw about 585 to 640 watts. At 18 cents per kWh, that's roughly 11 cents an hour, or about $112 a year for 4 hours a day, 5 days a week.
Can I run multiple concentrators together for a bigger torch?
Yes. Many high-volume studios run three, four, or more concentrators together through a manifold, adding about 10 LPM of flow with each 10 LPM unit. Combining concentrators adds flow, but it doesn't raise pressure. If your torch needs more pressure than a concentrator puts out, a HomeFill or tank setup may be the better fit. See how many concentrators your torch needs, or check your torch in our Glassblower Guide.
Do I need a prescription to buy a concentrator for glassblowing?
No. A prescription is only required for medical use. Glassblowing, lampworking, jewelry, and studio torch work don't need one.
Can I pay over time?
Yes. Financing options like Shop Pay Installments, Affirm, and PayPal are available at checkout on eligible purchases, subject to approval. For many artists, a monthly payment costs less than what they were spending on tanks.
Cost figures are estimates for comparison only. Tank prices, rental fees, delivery charges, and cylinder sizes vary by supplier and region; electricity rates vary by location. Always follow your torch manufacturer's setup and safety instructions, and confirm your torch's pressure and flow requirements before choosing an oxygen system.