Caution on buying new torch outfits.

[CoyoteFlatz]

This is an email that was received this morning regards to China made and imported cylinders. These come in torch outfits purchased from some of the online discount companies.


All -

Please keep your eyes out for these style tanks. They DON'T
have DOT markings on them at all. In the past they were
stenciled "Made in China" on these tanks. It looks like
they have stopped that. They still have the same color on
the 21 cf Oxygen tank along with the same blue hand wheel.
The MC Acetylene was silver this time, but it still has the
same red handle on it. Please keep an eye out for these.
We can't take these tanks in. From a company standpoint
they are just scrap metal. Thanks for your help in keeping
these out of the system.
Thanks

 

[laser3kw]

how long before China hears about that and starts stamping them with bogue "DOT" stamps / certification numbers?

 

[Zeke]

I think that will stop the retailers first. One of these things bursts and if the factory can't be held liable, the seller will be. Thanks for the heads up even though I would not have been a buyer of dinky tanks.

 

[383 240z]

Thanks for posting this, even if it only helps one of us. Keith

 

[cyamaha2007]

Good to know thanks

 

[justanengineer]

Thanks for posting. Ive often wondered about some of our imported products from a safety standpoint as many of the things like UL protection that used to be pretty standard are missing from them.

 

[joel63]

Thanks for the heads up.
I use this size tanks all the time.

 

[rlitman]

Yikes.
I read somewhere else about counterfeit fire extinguishers coming in from China. This is not much different.

 

[G_P]

Are these the HF torch sets?

 

[rlitman]

I do not think so. All the sets I have seen at HF used Chinese sourced torches, but American sourced cylinders. My guess is eBay.
I know that HF is the bottom of the market and proud of it, but even they would not stoop that low.

 

[CoyoteFlatz]

Are these the HF torch sets?

I can't say where these came from...the company refills many cylinders a day from there 18 stores plus other dealers both in Washington and Alaska. All I can say is these aren't the first ones we've seen and like the email says they are worth no more than scrape metal. In fact the acet. cylinder may carry a cost to dispose.

Good Luck,
Don

 

[ptschram]

I can't say where these came from...

Oh yeah? Some company felt strongly enough to send that info out.

That is, IF some company really did that. If they felt so strongly to send such info out, would they not want it shared???

Without substantiation, it's just internetz BS.

 

[rlitman]

I believe he means that he does not know the source, not that he is withholding it.

 

[WWIIjeep]

Without substantiation, it's just internetz BS.

It originated with the Compressed Gas Association, Inc. (CGA), the US compressed gas industry's professional association, which writes most of the recommendations for dealing with the filling, inspection and periodic re-certification of compressed gas cylinders. Many of the CGA recommendations are directly incorporated in 49 CFR, the portion of the Code of Federal Regulations pertaining to Department of Transportation (DOT) rules and regulations.

Specifically, Bulletin SA-23, dated 20 AUG 2012, which reads in part (as transcribed from my hard copy of same):

Recently, several acetylene fill plants across the United States have received motor car (MC) size acetylene cylinders for recharging that did not have the required DOT markings....

We recommend that all companies that operate acetylene charging plants and/or requalification facilities alert and train their employees about this problem. Any cylinders without all of the required DOT markings as stipulated in 49 CFR 178.35 pose an unacceptable safety risk....

"Motor car (MC) size" cylinders as noted above are the small 10 cubic-foot sized cylinders commonly used in portable torch kits. They are so-named because that size of cylinder was originally used for acetylene lighting systems on automobiles before the advent of electric lighting. I mention this because most people now are probably unaware of their original use and size designation.

This isn't the first such report of inappropriately-marked compressed gas cylinders. It's been reported as an occasional problem since the 1990s or even earlier, and is covered by inspection procedures listed in CGA publications C-1 and G-6.

 

[CoyoteFlatz]

I believe he means that he does not know the source, not that he is withholding it.

I'm sorry I miss stated... Correct I Do Not know where they came from.

A customer comes in with MT cylinders and an employee exchanges them and the company is out!!

Thanks for that,

Don

 

[dragginbalz]

I work for a welding supplier and I did have a customer a few months ago purchase a kit from HF and brought the cylinders to exchange. The O2 was NOT stamped with a DOT marking so I refused it. The MC (in his kit anyway) was a DOT cylinder. I advised him to go back to HF and demand DOT cylinders otherwise they were junk. We (as a distributor) can get fined for filling or transporting a non-DOT cylinder. If you are in the market for one of those kits, I would strongly suggest taking a look at the cylinders prior to leaving the store.