I have a DeVilbiss compressor with a 432 pump on it and it's an awesome setup. Even on big jobs on the cnc plasma table, it keeps up with everything. However I was looking at my tank last night and saw the date stamp on it says 1953!! At what point should I worry about my tank needing replaced? I love my compressor and won't be replacing it, but should I start looking for a newer tank? Or just run it until it leaks or blows-up from age? Is that something to worry about?
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Compressor Tank Age
- Thread starter Ralphxj
- Start date
I have a DeVilbiss compressor with a 432 pump on it and it's an awesome setup. Even on big jobs on the cnc plasma table, it keeps up with everything. However I was looking at my tank last night and saw the date stamp on it says 1953!! At what point should I worry about my tank needing replaced? I love my compressor and won't be replacing it, but should I start looking for a newer tank? Or just run it until it leaks or blows-up from age? Is that something to worry about?
150 psi I wouldn’t worry about it at all. I have a certified 3000 PSI gas cylinder from Airgas with a date code on it all the way back to 1927. That thing has seen a lot of history.
Open it up and have a look inside, I used a borescope. I retired my 1990 Swan compressor last year, it was just too rusty inside. Mine was horizontal, those tanks are seemingly harder to get all the water drained out than vertical tanks with the drain at dead center bottom of the tank.
dr_clyde
Well-known member
Age isn't always indicative of problems.
Just take out one of the plugs and have a peek inside. If there aren't huge chunks of rusted metal everywhere you should be fine.
As long as its drained regularly they last a really long time.
Just take out one of the plugs and have a peek inside. If there aren't huge chunks of rusted metal everywhere you should be fine.
As long as its drained regularly they last a really long time.
md21722
Well-known member
Compressor tanks start rusting the day they are made. A new compressor will often let out rusty water until they 'skin over' then the water drain is clear. Inspect inside condition for water pooling in odd areas or metal flaking off. Larger old tanks tend to be very thick even in smaller sizes and can last a very long time. I have a 60 gallon horizontal tank from 1959 that's 3/16" heads and shell. I have seen more problems from smaller portable 20-30 gallon horizontal units with water pooling and rusting problems. When inspecting through the inlet or outlet be aware that light refraction can make deposits look like pitting. Use a coat hanger or something of that order to verify.
Make sure the tank pop up valve is in working order, I did a redneck hydro test on a 1957 tank I have.