Air Compressor “Remove from use”date

[rdbjr57]

I have a 6 gallon Bostitch compressor I bought 12-14 years ago. Hasn’t had a lot of use, but more so since I retired in 2024. Looking at the manual today I saw something giving me cause for concern. It said that with age, the compressor is subject to rusting from the inside and eventually blowing a hole in the tank.

It said to take the compressor out of service at the end of the calendar year shown on the warning label on the compressor. Mine says 2024.

My question for the group is whether you would take it out of service. Being the cautious type, I’m leaning of doing just that.

thanks…

 

[mike93lx]

Have you ever drained it?

If so, and it isn't half full of water, I'd run it.

 

[rdbjr57]

Have you ever drained it?

If so, and it isn't half full of water, I'd run it.

Yes, I drain it most times I use it. I fired it up to the 150 psi capacity today and when I drained it afterward, some water came out. More than just a drop or two but not much more.

 

[mike93lx]

OK, follow up... Do you want to save money or have us help you justify buying a new, ultra quiet compressor?

 

[Old tool guy]

Was the condensate water nasty brown?

 

[rdbjr57]

OK, follow up... Do you want to save money or have us help you justify buying a new, ultra quiet compressor?

In my old age I don’t need the shiny new toys

 

[rdbjr57]

Was the condensate water nasty brown?

What little there was, yes…

 

[mike93lx]

In my old age I don’t need the shiny new toys

Gotcha.

It's just fine. The tank will last a long time if it's drained periodically

 

[zendriver]

What's really impressive the OP still has the user manual.

Agree if whatever water comes out, is not including chunks of rust, I think I'd go with it.

My Homier "speedway series" compressor tank is surely expired, but it probably does not have 10 hours run time on it. Any water that comes out, is always gray and oily so the tank is probably well protected with compressor oil.

 

[mikedodge]

I have one of those small twin tank compressors, don't know how old I got it used. I got a couple years use out of it until one day I heard it hissing and saw it was leaking out of a little spot on the tank. That was it for me. I got another one and haven't used it since.

I'd run it until it shows the first sign of problems. If it's been drained regularely it should last a while.

 

[Old tool guy]

is always gray and oily so the tank is probably well protected with compressor oil.

many years ago i read somewhere to turn the compressor upside down, open the valve, pour oil into the tank, and roll it around to coat the inside with oil.

 

[Bert_]

"Remove from use date"? Sounds more like a way to increase compressor sales rather than any real concern about safety.

 

[cgrutt]

Personally I'd just use it but if you are concerned about integrity of tank you can hydro test it to 1.5 times max working pressure (about 225 psi based on your 150 psi max). There are some DIY ways to hydro test with stuff you may already own but inexpensive pumps such as this are available on Amazon, etc.



Testing the tank with water removes the risk of it failing catastrophically under compression. I'd also make sure your safety release valve is functioning as it's supposed to.

 

[loganb]

It's a risk mitigation tool. This way if in 10 or 20 years the tank blows and someone decides to threaten a lawsuit the manufacturer can show that they said the lifecycle of the product was clearly identified at original date of sale, incident occured past that, no legal liability on them as the mfg.

This is going to be a more common practice as a certain design of Kidde fire extinguisher back to early 70's had to be recalled as something was failing in the handle/valve assy. They had no expiration date or replace by date.....so could be asserted that the product was still good. So it's cheap risk mitigation for companies to put expiration dates on the product and limit recall and product liability risk.

 

[rlitman]

...This is going to be a more common practice as a certain design of Kidde fire extinguisher back to early 70's had to be recalled as something was failing in the handle/valve assy. They had no expiration date or replace by date.....so could be asserted that the product was still good...

The recalled ones I'm familiar with were made in the early 2000's, and the replacements still don't have an expiration date.
Pressure vessels have a date of manufacture, and may be stamped with a date of inspection. The expiration date is nonsense, and 6 gallon compressors don't even have ASME tanks.

What I'd be concerned with is what that tank is made from. If it was an aluminum tank (as can be found on many portable compressors now), I'd be much more concerned.

 

[micromind]

I've never seen an expiration date on a compressor. My guess is they had one develop a leak or maybe even explode and the lawyers wrote that part in the instructions.

I would run it until there's an actual reason to stop using it.

 

[mike93lx]

If it was an aluminum tank (as can be found on many portable compressors now), I'd be much more concerned

Why?

 

[cgrutt]

It's a risk mitigation tool. This way if in 10 or 20 years the tank blows and someone decides to threaten a lawsuit the manufacturer and show that they said the lifecycle of the product was clearly identified at original date of sale, incident occured past that, no legal liability on them as the mfg.

This is going to be a more common practice as a certain design of Kidde fire extinguisher back to early 70's had to be recalled as something was failing in the handle/valve assy. They had no expiration date or replace by date.....so could be asserted that the product was still good. So it's cheap risk mitigation for companies to put expiration dates on the product and limit recall and product liability risk.

I agree and the standard likely assumes the product was used extensively over its life cycle. Barring abuse I'm sure a seldom used portable compressor has many more years of service than the 10-year manufacturer's stated lifecycle. Same with prescription drugs...

 

[GeoBruin]

Why?

Aluminum is much more susceptible to fatigue cracking than steel. Steels have an endurance limit which is often about half the ultimate tensile strengh. The steel can be subjected to a load below this limit an effectively infinite number of times without risk of failure due to fatigue.

Not so for aluminum. Aluminum alloys usually have a high stress fatigue limit or a specified number of cycles before they are expected to fail (or to drop below an acceptable margin). The fact is, aluminum will eventually fail when subjected to even small stresses over many (often millions or tens of millions) cycles.

For something like a compressor tank that is constantly expanding and contracting, this distinction is very important.

 

[rdbjr57]

Thanks for all of the responses! I’ll be keeping on using this until I see a good reason not to.

 

[rlitman]

Why?

GeoBruin correctly pointed out fatigue stress, and that's a very real concern with aluminum high pressure cylinders. It's no less a concern with compressor tanks (which see a lot more stress cycles than high pressure cylinders), but I'm more worried about the welds. While structural steel welds can be tricky, all the ASME compressor tanks I'm familiar with are plain old mild steel, which is as forgiving as it gets. Aluminum is anything but forgiving. Remember that, when the meme guy with sandals, fingers wrapped in electrical tape and a cereal box and sunglasses on his face is the guy welding your portable compressor tank.

 

[N_Jay]

"Remove from use date"? Sounds more like a way to increase compressor sales rather than any real concern about safety.

Sounds more like Corporate Legal wrangling with Product Management over liability reserves.

 

[NHtoolguy]

"Remove from use date"? Sounds more like a way to increase compressor sales rather than any real concern about safety.

I got a free oil-less direct-drive pancake compressor from a work associate. He was going to throw it away because he was nervous about the tank integrity, and had cut off the electrical plug. I, as an inveterate scrounger, took it home and installed a new cord. I've been running it for several years without issue. I do drain it every time it's used, though. I'm cautious about safety, but not wracked with anxiety the way many are today.

 

[zendriver]

Sounds more like Corporate Legal wrangling with Product Management over liability reserves.

Is the tank explodes at 13 years and 11 months they can be successfullysued for selling a faulty product.

 

[N_Jay]

Is the tank explodes at 13 years and 11 months they can be successfullysued for selling a faulty product.

Did you follow all the instructions?

 

[zendriver]

Did you follow all the instructions?

Uuuuhhh, yes, I did!

 

[N_Jay]

Uuuuhhh, yes, I did!

And that is why they need a reserve

 

[zendriver]

And that is why they need a reserve

Not sure What that means, but in reality, it’s a steel tank, subject to high pressure, continuously changing temperatures, creating condensation, which eventually can lead to standing water in the bottom of the tank

At least, in my opinion, it does not seem realistic that a an air compressor tank will safely last forever.

 

[Old tool guy]

, took it home and installed a new cord.

Of course you used an osha and ul approved plug and torqued the screws properly.

 

[NHtoolguy]

Of course you used an osha and ul approved plug and torqued the screws properly.

I'm not sure it's OSHA approved, but I used a UL-listed extension cord of the same gauge and length. I've found it's less costly to buy an extension cord and re-purpose it for original cord replacements. Or, as a scrounger, I salvage cords from worn out appliances if they're in good condition.

 

[mike93lx]

I'm not sure it's OSHA approved, but I used a UL-listed extension cord of the same gauge. I've found it's less costly to buy an extension cord and re-purpose it for original cord replacements. Or, as a scrounger, I salvage cords from worn out appliances if they're in good condition.

The FBI are on their way

 

[NHtoolguy]

The FBI are on their way

I'm sure I'm on a lot of government lists by now.

 

[TailGunner3000]

My first upright air compressor was bought pretty well used. It sat just inside my garage so I could use air tools in the garage and fill tires etc. outside. I was fortunate I was outside when it exploded. I can tell you that's an experience you don't soon forget. Being young and stupid, I generally left it pressurized and rarely drained it.

When I replaced it, I put it outside and build a heavy wooden enclosure around it. I also learned how to properly maintain it. Lesson learned.

 

[micromind]

My first upright air compressor was bought pretty well used. It sat just inside my garage so I could use air tools in the garage and fill tires etc. outside. I was fortunate I was outside when it exploded. I can tell you that's an experience you don't soon forget. Being young and stupid, I generally left it pressurized and rarely drained it.

When I replaced it, I put it outside and build a heavy wooden enclosure around it. I also learned how to properly maintain it. Lesson learned.

I've never seen a compressor explode.....how much damage did it do to other stuff in then garage? Did it blow out the windows and/or doors? What pressure was it at when it blew?

 

[mark-NJ]

This is a controversial topic, and the participants seem to be split: "it's fine, just use it" vs. "you're going to die...or at least get your legs blown off".

I won't say "I'm in the second group", but if you check out youtube, you will find enough aftermath stories about catastrophic tank failures that it made me say "hmmmm...". There's even a video of a guy taping some sort of on-line shop video...he's talking and in the background you hear *BOOM*! Surprised & stunned, he said "WTH was THAT?" On camera his investigation reveals that his compressor exploded while he was recording. It isn't staged.

My compressor was about 20 years old. It runs fine, but as for the tank? Who knows? And have I diligently drained it after every use? Honestly?...not even close. And it was located under my bench, so if it were to explode while I was standing there, I would have been hurt, for sure.

So I decided to separate my compressor from my tank.

Replacement Campbell Hausfeld tanks are absurdly expensive, but truck air-brake tanks aren't. And they're stronger, have thicker steel, are coated to protect from extreme elements (road salt), and have a much higher operating pressure. I bought one and put it on a stand behind my shop and ran some "K" copper through the wall. I put in one of those tip-valves for a drain, with a conveniently-located pull wire. And by making it easy to drain means I do (now!) drain it fairly regularly.

But the interesting part was the old tank: I cut it in half with a cutoff wheel. What I saw was frightening. Heavy popcorn rust was everywhere, and big loose sheets of rust were laying there. I also wire-wheeled off the rust around the cut edge and took cross-section measurements of the tank wall thickness, The bottom of the tank was significantly thinner than the top and sides. Like half the thickness of the cleanest parts. There's absolutely no denying that the structural integrity of the tank was compromised. Compromised to the point of failure? Was I on borrowed time? Can't say. But what I saw really made me glad I undertook this project.

This isn't a warning, and I'm not trying to convince or scare anyone. But what I saw was eye-opening.

The usual caveats: apply: YMMV, discard as you see fit, etc.

EDIT: Here's the live explosion video I mentioned...

And here's the inside of an old tank (not mine). Skip to about 6:40....That rust was created at the expense of the steel.

 

[mm08822]

"Remove from use date"? Sounds more like a way to increase compressor sales rather than any real concern about safety.

Or a lawyer looking to CYA and boost sales - what a real corporate hero!

 

[zendriver]

Or a lawyer looking to CYA and boost sales - what a real corporate hero!

Aren’t these two things that literally every company that ever existed wants to do?

Lawyer was just doing what they were hired to do

 

[Whitworth]

Many things have an expiry date. Tires, cans of green beans, fire extinguishers, etc. If they fail due to age, that can be a problem for the user.

6 gallon compressors are as cheap as dirt. There are plenty of YouTube videos featuring exploded air compressors.

 

[mm08822]

Aren’t these two things that literally every company that ever existed wants to do?

Lawyer was just doing what they were hired to do

Yup, ultra conservative at the consumers expense.

So if the compressor was never used, should I throw it b/c of the calendar?

 

[Old tool guy]

Yup, ultra conservative at the consumers expense.

So if the compressor was never used, should I throw it b/c of the calendar?

Unless you want to be sued. Just imagine if it is past the date and somebody trips over it, breaks a leg. Lawyers gonna sue your a$$ for every dime you have.