Air Compressor Tank -- When to Retire

[Beerhippie]

I still haven't actually inspected tank so don't know extent of damage. I started it up a couple weeks ago and it ran great but tank developed a pin hole while I was standing there. Compressor has been in storage at my buddy's place it's still there i need to bring it back next time I go upstate. First thought was welding it which would probably require cutting out any damaged area and replacing damaged steel. After researching I'm leaning towards buying a new tank but they are not cheap.

Check with a local industrial/commercial compressor dealer/distro. I've bought several 60-80 gal. reservoirs from my guys for $100-$200 each. Used, but hydrotested. I use these around the brewery as "surge" tanks for things like keg washers that want a big burst of air (or CO2) NOW, but usually just sip the air for controls/pneumatics.

 

[DennisDoesEverything]

Ideal timing is the day before it fails.............................I retired one with a date code of 1932 about 10 years ago, I got from my grandpop after he passed had it for more then 20 years when I rolled it over I saw 4 - 1/8" pipe plugs in the bottom in a strange pattern my uncle later said yea I remember helping pop stand it up and drill and tap the spots that were leaking...................in the early 60's

**** why didn't I think of that before throwing out a 60 years old tank I received.

I replaced the compressor, set the tank up outside, and couldn't get full pressure. Went to investigate and I heard the bottom of the tank going ping ping hiss. (It was developing new leaks in real time.)

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

[IMG alt="lothian"]https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/data/avatars/m/285/285795.jpg?1621443407[/IMG]

lothian​

New member​

JoinedDec 10, 2015Messages1LocationNC

• Jun 4, 2020
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I own a 17yo Craftsman air compressor (model: 919167240). It operates perfectly.


This thread is close to catching up on the number of posts that it originally received in 2020.
OP was a true one time poster. Joined in 2015 first post in 2020. Maybe will surface again soon.
Last seen Jun 25, 2023

 

[Death Row Dave]

Its a total force calculation on the tank at 150 pasig that will make one give some thinking is it worth , keeping it or purchasing a new one

 

[littlebean]

It probably (definitely) doesn't answer your question but we have a compressed air tank at work still going strong that was installed by the Ministry of Works in the late 40's..............

 

[MoonRise]

I still haven't actually inspected tank so don't know extent of damage. I started it up a couple weeks ago and it ran great but tank developed a pin hole while I was standing there. Compressor has been in storage at my buddy's place it's still there i need to bring it back next time I go upstate. First thought was welding it which would probably require cutting out any damaged area and replacing damaged steel. After researching I'm leaning towards buying a new tank but they are not cheap.

Unless you are an ASME 'rated' pressure vessel fabricator with an "R" stamp and KNOW exactly EVERYTHING that is required in the fabrication of a pressure vessel per ASME Code requirements

YOU
DO
NOT
WELD
ON
A
PRESSURE
VESSEL

PERIOD.

(If you are making the original pressure vessel, then you need the ASME "U" stamp.)

Do you KNOW the EXACT alloy of steel that the tank is made of? If not, then you do NOT even consider welding on the tank.

Do you have an approved WPS for welding on that exact steel alloy? If not, then you do not weld on it.

Etc, etc.

Yeah, new pressure tanks are not cheap.

New anything isn't cheap anymore. A couple of years ago (maybe pre COVID?) I remember TSC had a Black Friday deal on a 60 gal 11 cfm Dewalt compressor for under $500. Just a pretty standard 60 gal unit, not an industrial beast or anything. I passed it up. Now that same unit is ~$800+ maybe 5 years later.

But even that is less expensive than having an air tank suddenly burst and then damage stuff nearby (see above video examples). And an order of magnitude less expensive than if an injury or worse occurs.

Air tanks are supposed to fail 'gently', but they don't always do so. And that is the problem when they don't follow the 'plan'.

Air compressor tank with a leak = it is no longer an air compressor tank

Turn it into a grill or chiminea or yard art or whatever, but it is no longer a SAFE pressure vessel.

 

[cgrutt]

Unless you are an ASME 'rated' pressure vessel fabricator with an "R" stamp and KNOW exactly EVERYTHING that is required in the fabrication of a pressure vessel per ASME Code requirements

YOU
DO
NOT
WELD
ON
A
PRESSURE
VESSEL

PERIOD.

(If you are making the original pressure vessel, then you need the ASME "U" stamp.)

Do you KNOW the EXACT alloy of steel that the tank is made of? If not, then you do NOT even consider welding on the tank.

Do you have an approved WPS for welding on that exact steel alloy? If not, then you do not weld on it.

Etc, etc.

Yeah, new pressure tanks are not cheap.

New anything isn't cheap anymore. A couple of years ago (maybe pre COVID?) I remember TSC had a Black Friday deal on a 60 gal 11 cfm Dewalt compressor for under $500. Just a pretty standard 60 gal unit, not an industrial beast or anything. I passed it up. Now that same unit is ~$800+ maybe 5 years later.

But even that is less expensive than having an air tank suddenly burst and then damage stuff nearby (see above video examples). And an order of magnitude less expensive than if an injury or worse occurs.

Air tanks are supposed to fail 'gently', but they don't always do so. And that is the problem when they don't follow the 'plan'.

Air compressor tank with a leak = it is no longer an air compressor tank

Turn it into a grill or chiminea or yard art or whatever, but it is no longer a SAFE pressure vessel.

Thanks for that i already stated I'd probably just look for a new tank. But your post has me thinking does any of what you said apply to personal use? And if so who would even know or care what I do to my own property for my own use? Esp if I go through the process of hydro testing repair to provide some assurance it's safe to use.

 

[cgrutt]

Oh, and @MoonRise

No use

YELLING

AT

ME

IN

ALL

CAPS

LOL

 

[richfinn]

We all had to replace our tanks after eight years service and were then issued with tankless replacements going forward after they realized how much it would cost (UK), not really sure if was company policy based on a Health and Safety recommendation or government policy??

 

[johnre]

But your post has me thinking does any of what you said [about pressure vessels] apply to personal use?

But of course; it's been well established that pressure vessels will only fail catastrophically when in industrial / commercial application, never in personal application.

And if so who would even know or care what I do to my own property for my own use?

The emergency responders in your community who have the unpleasant task of dealing with the carnage of a tank failure will know.

 

[mike93lx]

Thanks for that i already stated I'd probably just look for a new tank. But your post has me thinking does any of what you said apply to personal use? And if so who would even know or care what I do to my own property for my own use? Esp if I go through the process of hydro testing repair to provide some assurance it's safe to use.

No one is going to arrest you or fine you for welding on an air tank in your own garage. No one implied that would happen, either

Doesn't mean it's smart, though

 

[cgrutt]

But of course; it's been well established that pressure vessels will only fail catastrophically when in industrial / commercial application, never in personal application.


The emergency responders in your community who have the unpleasant task of dealing with the carnage of a tank failure will know.

Oh, I supposse if I had an R after my WPS (whatever that is) I would have known that, huh? First off, I already stated (not only in the comment that was quoted but also in other comments) that I was leaning towards buying a new tank without even inspecting the damage I get it. Secondly I even went as far as posting another thread showing catastrophic tank failures and warning others not to repair their tanks. But my point was you don't necessarily need government/industrial certification to make safe repairs to your own property for personal use. Everything stated could have been said without the theatrics.

No one is going to arrest you or fine you for welding on an air tank in your own garage. No one implied that would happen, either

Doesn't mean it's smart, though

It was a serious question and I never said or implied any of that either.

 

[BurtEggley]

Lord why does everyone want to argue. Some people don't mind a risk and some people do. I have a good friend with permanent injuries who was thrown 40' when a parts washer exploded because his boss said why the heck should I pay more for a new pump motor that is certified for flammables. That said, I have been looking for a hydrotesting lab in the CA Central Valley who will test compressor tanks. All I see listed are scuba, industrial gas and paint pellet gun tanks as "what we service." I also looked for new tanks and only found the Speedaire ones. One compressor is 25 gallon and one 20 gallon. Both have motor mounts where there is a bracket on the motor and another on the tank, and they are held by a pivot so that the motor weight keeps the belt tight. One compressor was knocking but someone suggested retightening the drive pulley on the pump, which I did. It didn't seem loose but that stopped the knocking. Unfortunately I could not find a torque setting for it so I did about "that" much. Anyway, if anyone knows a place that will hydro these, or a place that sells and ships tanks other than the speedaire, please post it. Same for torque settings on devilbiss made compressors.