Michael_in_DE
Well-known member
Be safe out there friends. If you're getting a rusty bung (hehe) is time to start shopping for a new one.
Probably old news: compressor explosion
- Thread starter Michael_in_DE
- Start date
Be safe out there friends. If you're getting a rusty bung (hehe) is time to start shopping for a new one.
MileHighRover
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2018
- Messages
- 1,118
That's pretty crazy. The more of these I see and hear about, the more my two stage, 80 gallon compressor gives me the heebie jeebies.
Gigem
Well-known member
Ho Lee Fuk!
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Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
vavet
Well-known member
Wow...that is sobering. I have a 20 year old craftsman. It hasn’t seen heavy use during that time, still 20 years old. Maybe it’s time,
richfinn
Well-known member
We have to replace all pressure vessels on our company issued compressors at eight years old, annual inpections too!!!
Not sure what the regs are for non commercial/home owners in the UK
That could have been really nasty
Not sure what the regs are for non commercial/home owners in the UK
That could have been really nasty
I am not discounting the video by any means, I have great respect for compressor blow outs, but that tank has been repaired at the drain bung . the explosion wasn't the first sign of trouble with this tank
Packard V8
Well-known member
Yes, the smaller Craftsman compressor tanks were the cheapest thinnest junk. Yes, since they had no drain, they're dangerous crappage.
No, real compressor tanks with drains are not usually a problem. The commercial tanks with ASME ratings, I've never heard of one exploding from pressures the compressors mounted on them will generate.
jack vines
No, real compressor tanks with drains are not usually a problem. The commercial tanks with ASME ratings, I've never heard of one exploding from pressures the compressors mounted on them will generate.
jack vines
gtsgarage
Well-known member
I have the exact same thing. Definitely have used it over the years but it’s sat for quite a while now that I found my Milwaukee m12 tools.
Honestly that was enough maybe time to let it go.
Always nervous when I turn it on and then do try to keep a little bit of distance. But I’ve been absolutely horrible about draining it after using it so I know there’s got to be a lot of water and rust in there.
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Cruzan80
Well-known member
Yeah, take another look at the bottom, and you will see "repairs". This is part of the reason I do prefer a vertical tank, but even horizontal tanks are good with actual specs, not homeowner fixes. "But, Ive welded plenty of these without a problem...."
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Sent from my Phone 2 using The Garage Journal mobile app
welder4956
Well-known member
First thing I saw as well. Someone attempted to repair a leak around the drain bung. Once it leaks the first time, it is time for a new tank. The problem is oxygen pitting from standing water in the bottom of the tank. The pinhole that pops through first is just the tip of the iceburg compared to the additional pits all around it that you can't see from the outside. Even when the first leak is repaired, the other pits are still active and will grow until a larger area fails.
SuperCat
Well-known member
Just recently saw this video - it is a security camera video of an air compressor exploding in a home garage. YouTube: 3 minutes long:
Air compressor explosion safety video footage of actual explosion
Air compressor explosion safety video footage of actual explosion
macgee
Well-known member
Are you draining your tank after each use/day? Are u leaving the drain valve open to hep dry it out.
Do you see dark rust water coming out of tank?
Thankfully tank explosions are unusual but they do happen and being a little pro-active and giving your compressor some love helps extends its life and really helps.
Do you see dark rust water coming out of tank?
Thankfully tank explosions are unusual but they do happen and being a little pro-active and giving your compressor some love helps extends its life and really helps.
jmarkwolf
Well-known member
akalian
Well-known member
Before I knew about this danger, I repaired one of my compressor tanks that was leaking. I brazed the pinhole leaks, and the tank held pressure. Just like the tank in the video, the repairs were done around the drain bung.
I was shooting the breeze with one of my friends an mentioned that I fixed the leaking tank and the expression on his face made me take notice. He told me, yelled actually, that I was just asking for trouble and to get rid of that tank...NOW. I could tell he was serious about this and I checked out some youtube videos and disconnected the tank that day.
A bit later I had a garage sale and sold the compressor and the cabinet that I built for it, but without the tank. One guy asked why, and I told him I brazed the tank, and he simply said, "hey if it don't leak, what's the big deal." Nontheless the compressor sold without the tank.
So as others have said, this tank had problems and welding on it probably was the ultimate cause of the failure.
The lesson here is simple. If your compressor tank is leaking air it's time for a new compressor.
.
I was shooting the breeze with one of my friends an mentioned that I fixed the leaking tank and the expression on his face made me take notice. He told me, yelled actually, that I was just asking for trouble and to get rid of that tank...NOW. I could tell he was serious about this and I checked out some youtube videos and disconnected the tank that day.
A bit later I had a garage sale and sold the compressor and the cabinet that I built for it, but without the tank. One guy asked why, and I told him I brazed the tank, and he simply said, "hey if it don't leak, what's the big deal." Nontheless the compressor sold without the tank.
So as others have said, this tank had problems and welding on it probably was the ultimate cause of the failure.
The lesson here is simple. If your compressor tank is leaking air it's time for a new compressor.
.
logical
Well-known member
I have a little trouble believing that tank was drained regularly and if it was did they make sure it was sitting so that the drain was the low point in the tank. Who knows what stress the welding repairs added to the factory seams.
Clealy his tank blew up but I'm not ready to say nobody should have an air compressor in their garage.
Sent from my garage.
Clealy his tank blew up but I'm not ready to say nobody should have an air compressor in their garage.
Sent from my garage.
pepi
Well-known member
Good advice .....
metlmunchr
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2011
- Messages
- 1,278
Rather than worry about an older tank, you can purchase a pressure testing pump and have the ability to do your own tests at whatever interval makes you comfortable.
A hand operated test pump capable of 700 psi is available from Amazon for less than $60. Add a hydraulic hose from Tractor Supply or similar farm store and a few fittings, and you're ready to safely test any air tank for less than $100.
FWIW, my bigger compressor is a 5hp single stage 80 gallon Quincy made in 1953. Its cutout pressure is set at 125psi, which is the max recommended for these compressors. Considering it was 65 years old at the time, I tested it at 225 psi a couple years ago, and it passed with no issues. Obviously, going by age alone is no reason to scrap a tank.
Its strange to me that there appears to be no source for reasonably priced replacement tanks, online or otherwise. Passing thru Tractor Supply recently, I looked at a 3+ hp compressor with 60 gal ASME tank on sale for $500. Yet when you look for a 60 gallon code tank, prices run $600 to $800+ with shipping on top of that. TS had, at the same time, one of the same compressors marked "customer return no warranty" for $275. It showed no evidence of ever having been piped or wired up. I didn't need it, but thought later I should have bought it at that price just for the tank alone.
A hand operated test pump capable of 700 psi is available from Amazon for less than $60. Add a hydraulic hose from Tractor Supply or similar farm store and a few fittings, and you're ready to safely test any air tank for less than $100.
FWIW, my bigger compressor is a 5hp single stage 80 gallon Quincy made in 1953. Its cutout pressure is set at 125psi, which is the max recommended for these compressors. Considering it was 65 years old at the time, I tested it at 225 psi a couple years ago, and it passed with no issues. Obviously, going by age alone is no reason to scrap a tank.
Its strange to me that there appears to be no source for reasonably priced replacement tanks, online or otherwise. Passing thru Tractor Supply recently, I looked at a 3+ hp compressor with 60 gal ASME tank on sale for $500. Yet when you look for a 60 gallon code tank, prices run $600 to $800+ with shipping on top of that. TS had, at the same time, one of the same compressors marked "customer return no warranty" for $275. It showed no evidence of ever having been piped or wired up. I didn't need it, but thought later I should have bought it at that price just for the tank alone.
At the very least after doing something as stupid as welding the leaky bung, he should have had the brains to lower the max pressure to 120.
I have an older cman that has not been welded that is only used outside and pressure was lowered to 120 from 155. And this is a thickwalled tank, not a paper one like the video.
I have an older cman that has not been welded that is only used outside and pressure was lowered to 120 from 155. And this is a thickwalled tank, not a paper one like the video.
ndnchf
Well-known member
Wow - that is very sobering indeed. I have a craftsman 5hp, 20 gal horizontal tank I bought new at least 25 years ago. Never had a problem with it, I drain it a couple times a year. It may be its time to retire it...
bctexas
Well-known member
An autopsy of a leaking tank by Mr. Pete aka Tubalcain. Sure shows why patching is a bad idea....
ndnchf
Well-known member
Wow - thats scary!
vavet
Well-known member
oops.posted in the wrong thread
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Unless you KNOW exactly what you are doing
YOU
DO
NOT - NOT - NOT - NOT
Repair / fix / weld / braze
A pressure vessel.
At all.
"Know" means knowing the EXACT alloy the the pressure vessel is made of. Complete with the material conformance certification.
And its heat treatment, if any.
And having an approved ASME WPS, including test certification and welder certification and process certification.
Pretty much you would NEED to be an ASME R-stamp certified facility.
No joke, no kidding, no playing around.
Your compressor tank develops a pin hole or leak? Take that tank out of service IMMEDIATELY. Scrap it, cut it up, turn it into yard art or a BBQ grill or anything OTHER THAN a pressure vessel.
Turn down the tank pressure and 'repair' the tank? NOPE. Condemn the tank IMMEDIATELY and take it out of service as a pressure vessel.
YOU
DO
NOT - NOT - NOT - NOT
Repair / fix / weld / braze
A pressure vessel.
At all.
"Know" means knowing the EXACT alloy the the pressure vessel is made of. Complete with the material conformance certification.
And its heat treatment, if any.
And having an approved ASME WPS, including test certification and welder certification and process certification.
Pretty much you would NEED to be an ASME R-stamp certified facility.
No joke, no kidding, no playing around.
Your compressor tank develops a pin hole or leak? Take that tank out of service IMMEDIATELY. Scrap it, cut it up, turn it into yard art or a BBQ grill or anything OTHER THAN a pressure vessel.
Turn down the tank pressure and 'repair' the tank? NOPE. Condemn the tank IMMEDIATELY and take it out of service as a pressure vessel.
The 'DeWalt' 3.7 hp 60 gallon air compressor at Tractor Supply?
Check the tank tag carefully and the manual too (available online from TSC). That tank has a LISTED 10 year lifetime. Stamped right on the tank tag. The manual mentions something about CPSC and the tank lifetime limit.
HenryAZ
MEMBER EMERITUS
My tank stays pressurized all the time, and I open the bottom drain valve every day. Water vapor shoots out under pressure every day. Then, about two months ago, to install a new pressure switch I drained the entire tank. What surprised me was when it got down to almost no pressure, additional water started draining out.
vavet
Well-known member
Since we’re on the topic of air compressor corrosion, I did a little disassembly on my home compressor, a 22 year old, 25 gallon Craftsman vertical. There was a lot of ferrous material in the drain plug so the air drains out in spurts as things moved around. I never really thought about why it did that before.
These pics were taken looking down into the bung for the outlet with a flashlight shining into the input bung.
The surface at the bottom looks pretty gnarly, but the outside bottom looks like new. I used an ultrasonic tester on the bottom dome. The thinnest I measured is 0.119, but the bung is about 3 inches across, so it’s hard to get right in close to the lowest point.
These pics were taken looking down into the bung for the outlet with a flashlight shining into the input bung.
The surface at the bottom looks pretty gnarly, but the outside bottom looks like new. I used an ultrasonic tester on the bottom dome. The thinnest I measured is 0.119, but the bung is about 3 inches across, so it’s hard to get right in close to the lowest point.
vavet
Well-known member
nynexit
Well-known member
This one showed up in my feed the other day. Scary ...