thoughts on air

[warpedredneck]

We've bought a new house with a 32x36 shop, it has remnants of a propane furnace, i think i'll put a gas furnace in it,
I would like to turn the old propane tank (outside) into a air tank for the compressor (so i can have more volume), is this a bad idea?
thanks for your input folks

 

[Gary S]

It is a good idea as I see it. A propane tank is designed to hold much higher pressures than your air compressor will ever subject it to, and extra air storage is a good thing.
Sitting outside, it could cause some problems with moisture if the outside temperature is a lot different from inside, but at moderate temperatures it should be OK.

 

[930dreamer]

The propane tank will need a small drain valve for water removal.

 

[trbomax]

Old propane pigs are great storage tanks,but need some prep work. I use then to store gas and diesel
The propane has the smell added to it in the form of an oil.This precipitates out and typically an older tank will have a gallon or two of it in the bottom.If the tank does not have a botton drain(some do,some dont), its not really suitable anyway,but if so you need to pull that plug and drain the residue out. Warning,do it as far from the house/shop as you can because the stink will stay in the ground for up to a year.Then flush it well with soap and a power washer.. You dont want the oil in your air,or the stink in your shop.
I store fuel in them under pressure,they are connected to my air system and regulated to 35psi.This is enough to allow the use of automatic nozzels when I am "blowing" the fuel out into a vehicle,and by storeing it under pressure,you do not lose any of the "highs" in the fuel . Loseing the highs is what causes it to go stale.

 

[D.J.]

Better make sure the propane tank is not a rental from the supplier or they may be very upset to find out you've modified thier tank. Also + 1 on draining any residue in the bottom of the tank and if the mercapatin (sp) residue gets loose the fire department will be dispatched and they will spend numerious hours looking for the gas leak. Ask me how I know. Read about departments looking for a gas leak where a recycler was dismantling a old pump hauled one to a metal yard thru various areas of coverage and numerous departments were dispatched to the leaking gas odor.
________
DEMEROL REHAB FORUMS

 

[trbomax]

Better make sure the propane tank is not a rental from the supplier or they may be very upset to find out you've modified thier tank. Also + 1 on draining any residue in the bottom of the tank and if the mercapatin (sp) residue gets loose the fire department will be dispatched and they will spend numerious hours looking for the gas leak. Ask me how I know. Read about departments looking for a gas leak where a recycler was dismantling a old pump hauled one to a metal yard thru various areas of coverage and numerous departments were dispatched to the leaking gas odor.

Two exelent points! Didnt think about that since I bought mine outright,and where I live no ones gonna smell anything except me!

 

[warpedredneck]

this tank is about 200 pounder, and belongs to the house, thanks for the info folks

 

[Scramblur]

If you don't use it for that, make a smoker out of it. I'd like to have one.

 

[6768rogues]

On a hot day, a full tank of propane will have about 125 lbs. of pressure. I wouldn't put 175 lbs. of air in one.