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Air Compressor “Remove from use”date

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nh_yota

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Mar 10, 2015
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Location
Seacoast New Hampshire
I have an Ingersoll-Rand GarageMate portable upright compressor that I bought new 18 years ago. I only use it maybe a couple of times a year when working on my truck and drain what little water it accumulates after every use. I think it will outlast me.
 

TailGunner3000

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Sep 5, 2019
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362
Location
New Jersey
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?
This was close to forty years ago, so details have faded with time. But to my best recollection, it did not damage anything else as it blew out towards the open space in the middle of the garage. The garage door was open. The explosion caused the compressor to bounce off the wall behind it and land on the floor. Also, and this is just a guess, but I probably kept it at or around 100 psi. The explosion just peeled open the tank, so I don't recall there being any shrapnel.
 

mm08822

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Jan 13, 2012
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5,881
Location
NJ
Now we are just being silly
A sarcastic extreme. Point being, if i drained it every time i infrequently used it once a month, that won't be a concern. As compared to running 40 hours a week and draining only water started pouring out.

Time based vs. use based can be very different extremes.

Would be better to state, pressure test recommended after x. Then, let the customer determine their fate knowing how well they followed operating/maintenance instructions.
 

zendriver

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Dec 10, 2014
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Location
Indiana
A sarcastic extreme. Point being, if i drained it every time i infrequently used it once a month, that won't be a concern. As compared to running 40 hours a week and draining only water started pouring out.

Time based vs. use based can be very different extremes.

Would be better to state, pressure test recommended after x. Then, let the customer determine their fate knowing how well they followed operating/maintenance instructions.
Fair enough.

My answer to your question is no you shouldn’t throw it out if you don’t want to

My guess is that date is precautionary may be based on what the engineers think of a useful safe life of a steel high pressure tank

Or maybe it is just another scam against a consumer. Companies manufacture, steel buckets. They don’t seem to put an expiration date on them. :dunno:

Personally, I don’t know paying for a Hydro test on $100 air compressor. It’s really that cost-effective.
 

N_Jay

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Nov 1, 2016
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1,166
How many of those huge "compressor explosions" are bad pressure switches and stuck (or missing) relief valves?

vs.

Just a rust issue that didn't start leaking first?
 

zendriver

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Dec 10, 2014
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Location
Indiana
How many of those huge "compressor explosions" are bad pressure switches and stuck (or missing) relief valves?

vs.

Just a rust issue that didn't start leaking first?

I would agree that most probably just start leaking

What I’ve seen in videos, it’s when the cheap *** owner decides to patch welded is when things get interesting
 

N_Jay

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Nov 1, 2016
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When I got my (very used) compressor, I specifically looked for a vertical tank, because the end caps are thicker than the sides, and (in my always humble opinion) they drain better.

When I pressure tested it, I put a quart on ATF on top of the water, and let it drain slowly so the inside got at lease a fresh coat of oil after the water.
I also ended up putting in a tube of grease, and I know not all comes out so the bottom around the drain probably has a good coat of that.
 
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danielbuck

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Apr 15, 2014
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have access to a borescope? Could pull one of the fittings and take a look inside, see how bad it looks. Chances are, it'll have rust in it, but you might be able to see if it looks like it's surface rust, or if it's eating into the metal deeply.
 

N_Jay

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Nov 1, 2016
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1,166
I did, and it looks dirty inside.
When I drain it, the water uds more "muddy" looking than rusty looking.
I truly am. It worried at all.
 

Citation

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Jan 20, 2016
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Indy
Or maybe it is just another scam against a consumer. Companies manufacture, steel buckets. They don’t seem to put an expiration date on them. :dunno:
It also might be a CYA for the mfr. They don't want to get sued because a 30 year old compressor with unknown service history blew and hurt someone. I guess it would be like Ford getting sued because a 1988 truck frame failed. How many years before we don't hold Ford responsible for a rust related structural failure.
 

zendriver

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Location
Indiana
It also might be a CYA for the mfr. They don't want to get sued because a 30 year old compressor with unknown service history blew and hurt someone. I guess it would be like Ford getting sued because a 1988 truck frame failed. How many years before we don't hold Ford responsible for a rust related structural failure.
Ford trucks have an expiration date? :confused:
 

Citation

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Jan 20, 2016
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Indy
Ford trucks have an expiration date? :confused:
They don't but at some point I think it's fair to say it's not really on Ford if a rusted 1952 F100 cracks while being driven down the highway. I wouldn't feel the same if a 2024 F150 frame cracked.
 
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