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                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, DC  20549


                                   FORM 8-K

                                CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of
                     the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


              Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): 
                                April 27, 1998


                                 AIRGAS, INC.
             ______________________________________________________
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



   Delaware                1-9344               56-0732648  
_______________    _______________________    _____________
(State or other    (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of                                Identification
incorporation)                                 No.)



                   259 North Radnor-Chester Road, Suite 100
                            Radnor, PA  19087           
                   _________________________________________
                    (Address of principal executive offices)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (610) 687-5253
                                                    _______________














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Item 5. Other Events.
        ____________

   On April 27, 1998, Airgas, Inc. reported its earnings outlook for the
fourth quarter ended March 31, 1998 and that its earnings for the fourth
quarter will be impacted by the near-term effects of its "Repositioning Airgas
for Growth" initiative and impending divestiture of several non-core
businesses, and expects to take a one-time special charge related to the
repositioning program.  This announcement is described in the press release
attached as Exhibit 99 and incorporated herein by reference.


Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
         __________________________________________________________________

(a)  None

(b)  None

(c)  Exhibits.

     99  Press Release dated April 27, 1998






































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                                  Signatures
                                  __________


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                         AIRGAS, INC.




                    BY:  /s/ Thomas C. Deas, Jr.
                         _______________________
                         Vice President & 
                         Chief Financial Officer


DATED:     April 27, 1998