60 Gal Air Compressor Tank Sprung a Leak! Fix or Replace?

[south_paw]

Bought my IMC Bel-Air 5hp 60 gallon compressor new in 2000. Yesterday it sprung a pinhole leak at the bottom of the tank. What scares me is that the leak is not at the drain valve. It's leaking directly through the tank metal. It must have rusted through. Scary stuff. So I drained it and haven't turned it on since. The cheap guy in me is saying, weld it up and you will be fine. The cautious guy in me is saying, never use it again, just buy a new one you dummy

What say you?

 

[CNGsaves]

Let's SEE pics . . . how bad is it ??

If it's already rusted through in just 15 years for 60 gal tank (assume it's vertical), then likely has had water sitting in tank much of that time. I'd recommend junking the tank. Lots of CL bargains on screaming loud Craftsman oil-less compressors that you can "harvest" a tank and junk CM oil-less.

 

[turnpikecrusier]

Junk it! It's not worth the risk, tanks are easy to find.

 

[south_paw]

Thanks, it is a vertical and I am guilty as charged. I rarely drained it. Learned my lesson, from this point on I will have an auto drain. It's a pin hole leak so there isn't much to see in a picture Good idea on checking CL. Thanks.

 

[xtremek]

Everyone says old tanks are easy to find, but I've been looking for over a year now and haven't seen one tank over ten gallons. That being said, I tried to repair mine, but didn't have any luck. Back to CL.

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ ^ OP has plenty of area of CL bargains to search for . . . since location is Earth !!

 

[Cyberbear]

Don't understand what your fear is, never heard or read about a rusty air tank exploding. Since they're made to hold pressure, I've patched mine with great success and no problems or any additional leaks. Try tapping the rusted tank area and see what it sounds/feels like in order to ascertain the extent of the rust damage.
If you are set on finding another tank with unknown rust damage, perhaps it's time to first cut off the bottom of your vertical tank and simply replace it with a new tank head that you have professionally welded on. Might be easier than adapting a used tank to your old set-up. Replacement tank heads are cheaper than a new tank, with less risk of buying an unknown quality tank. You will also have the opportunity to paint the inside of your existing unit.

 

[readhead]

It can be repaired but you will be chasing leaks as more holes appear. As a welding shop we are not allowed to repair pressure vessels only because we don't have anyone with that certification. Pick up a used compressor with an oil less pump. Throw the pump away and use the tank.

 

[Heavymetalmechanic]

I just picked up a 60G vertical tank for free due to a hole in the bottom. I cut the tank up to make a few fire pits out of. The steel is so thin where the water sat that I was able to push a screwdriver through it with a light tap with a wooden mallet.

The odds are good that yours is in similar condition. It's not worth the risk, or the cost to have it repaired. Bite the bullet and try to find an 80G used tank, if your compressor/motor assembly can handle constant duty.

 

[volleyball]

Not much of a demand for old tank. I have one and the only response I got from someone that wanted to make a smoker out of it. Could not sell it for that

 

[DekeT]

Don't understand what your fear is, never heard or read about a rusty air tank exploding. Since they're made to hold pressure, I've patched mine with great success and no problems or any additional leaks. Try tapping the rusted tank area and see what it sounds/feels like in order to ascertain the extent of the rust damage.
If you are set on finding another tank with unknown rust damage, perhaps it's time to first cut off the bottom of your vertical tank and simply replace it with a new tank head that you have professionally welded on. Might be easier than adapting a used tank to your old set-up. Replacement tank heads are cheaper than a new tank, with less risk of buying an unknown quality tank. You will also have the opportunity to paint the inside of your existing unit.

Don't take this advice.

 

[south_paw]

Thanks all. I bought a new compressor. It will be delivered this week. For those of you that think rusty tanks don't explode, please search it up on youtube.

Here is my new replacement.

 

[readhead]

Excellent choice. About ten years ago a shop here in town had the bottom of the tank blow out. The rest of the compressor bounced off the ceiling and landed on a customer car. Things like this do happen.

 

[Caman]

 

[CGT80]

Now that is the way to fix a tank

My compressor pump took a dump but the tank doesn't leak. I would love to fix it with a Salor Beall unit, but for now I am running a cman oil lubed unit that is similar in output and I will plumb it to the old 60 gallon tank for more storage.

I was going to suggest looking into having the tank checked by ultrasound. There is a local place, to me, that inspects welding tanks, but I don't know if they do ultrasound or would do a compressor tank. They do propane as well.

While tank explosions don't seem common, I would not chance it with an old leaking tank. Trash it or have it professionally repaired and re-certified.

OP, was your motor and pump pretty worn as well? It seems that the pump is more likely to fail than the motor and people want stupid prices for pumps that they try to sell used, on craig's list. The working units are usually 3 phase and more often 7.5hp and bigger rather than 5hp.

It seems that a whole new compressor is the best bet, if it is in the budget. It is also easy to write off the cheaper units and talk one's self into the $1500-$2500 price range.

 

[2004.5cumminsman]

I made my own tank, 36" .500 Wall pipe, two end caps. I also am certified at welding pressure vessels. It is buried beside my house under my concrete. Completely coated in canusa coating, and I jeeped it after looking for holidays. I hydro tested to 500# for a hour.

If you have a reputable fab shop in your area, they will make a tank for you. Mine is NG mainline pipe rated for 1250WP and that was at 45% SYMS

 

[Stainless169]

South_Paw.. I bought that same compressor a few years back. I put an electric drain on it and have never looked back. You get what you pay for.

 

[Caman]

and I jeeped it after looking for holidays.

What does this mean?

 

[stikman56]

It can be repaired but you will be chasing leaks as more holes appear. As a welding shop we are not allowed to repair pressure vessels only because we don't have anyone with that certification. Pick up a used compressor with an oil less pump. Throw the pump away and use the tank.

I say this

 

[ford33]

That's a nice fix you selected. Enjoy.

 

[2004.5cumminsman]

What does this mean?

It is when you take a long metal spring,about a 1 in diameter that fits tight around the pipe, hook the ground to the pipe and the spring acts as the positive, when you roll it over the pipe, if there is a spot with no coating it Will arc and sound a buzzer. It checks for coating defentciese.

 

[toplessHO]

I made my own tank, 36" .500 Wall pipe, two end caps. I also am certified at welding pressure vessels. It is buried beside my house under my concrete. Completely coated in canusa coating, and I jeeped it after looking for holidays. I hydro tested to 500# for a hour.

If you have a reputable fab shop in your area, they will make a tank for you. Mine is NG mainline pipe rated for 1250WP and that was at 45% SYMS

how do you drain it?

 

[toplessHO]

now thats scary

 

[2004.5cumminsman]

how do you drain it?[/QUOTE
The tank is placed at a slight angle, it has a siphon tube running in from the top to the low spot.

 

[Strouty]

Most people think that air tanks are never going to explode. My Dad said that to me the other day, he said it will just leak out air. I cringed at the thought. I think OP made a great choice on a new compressor!

 

[Caman]

It is when you take a long metal spring,about a 1 in diameter that fits tight around the pipe, hook the ground to the pipe and the spring acts as the positive, when you roll it over the pipe, if there is a spot with no coating it Will arc and sound a buzzer. It checks for coating defentciese.

Learn something new everyday! Thanks!