Portable air tank
- Thread starter John T
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85Hokie
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BX-25D ,PTB. Under Armor, '90&'92-B7100HST's, '06 BX1850 FEL
Be careful there....I am not sure what the normal WORKING psi is of PROPANE, but most people will place well over 100 PSI into a portable container. But I betcha you will NEVER have a problem!
speaking of this topic, a good read :
https://forums.iboats.com/forum/oth...s/220436-what-psi-are-propane-tanks-rated-for
speaking of this topic, a good read :
https://forums.iboats.com/forum/oth...s/220436-what-psi-are-propane-tanks-rated-for
You used to be able to buy an adapter for old propane cans and Freon cans. I still use one. I still use one, though the capacity is not much. I regularly fill to 130 psi. Gauge is redlined at 160.
I was told by a salvage operator a few years back, it was illegal to use a propane tank like that for air. I asked him who was going to catch me, he said he didn't know if he got caught with one it would get confiscated and him fined. I'm still using it!
I think he was referring to a tank OSHA certified.
I think he was referring to a tank OSHA certified.
Lil Foot
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1979 B7100DT Gear, Nissan Hanix N150-2 Excavator
Saw a WWII aircraft oxygen tank converted to use as a portable air tank at an estate sale yesterday.
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I'm surprised... I thought for sure I'd get more doom and destruction warnings... 
I probably wont use it much... I whipped it up to blow the water out of my home made pool heating solar gizmo. AKA 250' of poly black tubing in a coil.
Old man winters comin....
I probably wont use it much... I whipped it up to blow the water out of my home made pool heating solar gizmo. AKA 250' of poly black tubing in a coil.
Old man winters comin....
I think I read somewhere freon gets to 275# (or something like that) when it set in the sun in those tanks. I don't see why it won't work just fine for air, except our watchful govt. (has to find something to keep everyone busy!)
I bought one of these years ago at Princess Auto (Canadian Harbor Freight). At the time it was advertised as converting a propane tank in to an airpig. Probably liabilities stopped the advertising but they're still available. The plus side is it has a safety blow off, and limited number of joints (possible leaks).
Its a pretty simple swap. Pull the valve out of an empty tank, purge it to make it safe and non flammable, then screw the manifold in. Add a gauge if the particular one didn't come with it. ( It may need a 1/2" to 3/4" npt bushing. I believe the tank is 3/4" npt)
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Air-Tank-Ma...309168?hash=item1cb5fc83b0:g:~~MAAOSwaZRbdCbh
CMA. I have no affiliation with eBay or this seller, I just did a quick search and picked one as a sample. I am no way promoting or suggesting that this is right or legal. Just adding to the conversation!
Its a pretty simple swap. Pull the valve out of an empty tank, purge it to make it safe and non flammable, then screw the manifold in. Add a gauge if the particular one didn't come with it. ( It may need a 1/2" to 3/4" npt bushing. I believe the tank is 3/4" npt)
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Air-Tank-Ma...309168?hash=item1cb5fc83b0:g:~~MAAOSwaZRbdCbh
CMA. I have no affiliation with eBay or this seller, I just did a quick search and picked one as a sample. I am no way promoting or suggesting that this is right or legal. Just adding to the conversation!
Thats a neat little gadget.
although filling via shrader valve is kinda slow...
and most air gauges are 1/4"npt unless you use a mini I guess...
I like the blowoff valve feature.... I will be adding one as soon as I can figure out how to plumb it... without sticking out any more.. This will make filling much easier..... fill it till it pops off.
one more note,
Getting the propane valve out of the top is a B*ll buster... I made a tool and had to strap the tank down.
there is sometimes a float assembly (1/8" npt) on the bottom side ... which should be removed.
armylifer
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I use an old scuba tank to air up tires after a 4 wheeling excursion. The scuba tank holds 3000 psi and will fill at least 8 truck tires from 10 psi to 35 psi. Getting the tank refilled in a scuba shop take a current certification for the tank and a PADI certification. In any case the rank can also be filled from a shop air compressor but those are typically only about 150 psi or less. I have seen some old scuba tanks for sale in my local dive shop for as little as $75. BTW yo You can buy the tire air Chuck and adaptor at the dive shop too. Air refill cost varies but can be as little as $4.
Lil Foot
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1979 B7100DT Gear, Nissan Hanix N150-2 Excavator
I've been using a 20lb CO2 cylinder for a portable air tank for about 30 years.
It never sees more than 150psi, and my only complaint would be that it is heavy.
It never sees more than 150psi, and my only complaint would be that it is heavy.
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CaveCreekRay
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An alloy dive tank or a tank like Bill's CO2 tank would be my first choice. Alloy does not corrode like steel and is overbuilt for the pressure.
Gotta play the Safety Nanny now that we are talking about compressed air...
Everyone, PROMISE ME you will go drain your compressor tank today, tomorrow, or some time this week.
If you have an older tank and have not looked inside, many have an a inspection port in the bottom, often where the drain screws in. I leave my drain just barely leaking a teensy-tiny bit so it auto drains, especially important through the humid days of summer. (Keep a margarine container under it to catch the rusty water!)
A friend gave me a small compressor he had used for years. I pulled the inspection port and the inside had a nice rust layer where it held a fair amount of moisture for some time. I was able to get a finger on the rust and it was smooth so I do not believe it had eaten too much metal. I oiled the tank with light oil and let it drain a week before sealing it back up and using it. Great little compressor.
Another friend got one from a buddy to use rebuilding cars. His neighbor on the cul de sac was a car guy and also had an old compressor he had inherited from his dad. My buddy was in his garage one day and heard what sounded like a bomb blast going off. He ran out and saw smoke and dust coming out of his buddies garage. Then, he heard his buddy yelling, "WHAT THE..."
His compressor tank ruptured while he ran to the kitchen for more coffee. A piece of the tank embedded itself in the front of his car. Other smaller pieces were in the wall. It would likely have been fatal to anyone in the garage and for anyone who managed to survive, the explosion would have likely ruptured ear drums.
Upon hearing about the explosion, my buddy's wife insisted he send his "old" compressor to the dump and she sent him out to get a new one.
As for the light alloy tanks like the WWII oxygen tank, I would NEVER use those. Aside from interior corrosion, aluminum starts to stress crack after repeated pressure cycles. Airliner fuselages show signs of this after a few years as cracks begin to form and that is only after an 8.65 psi differential. Pumping up to 100 psi accelerates the stress cracking. Notice the wrap banding on that tank? Its for stress, an to keep the tank from exploding in case it takes a round. Remember, most of those WWII aircraft were designed to last only 2-300 hours before they were lost in combat.
Be safe out there...
Gotta play the Safety Nanny now that we are talking about compressed air...
Everyone, PROMISE ME you will go drain your compressor tank today, tomorrow, or some time this week.
If you have an older tank and have not looked inside, many have an a inspection port in the bottom, often where the drain screws in. I leave my drain just barely leaking a teensy-tiny bit so it auto drains, especially important through the humid days of summer. (Keep a margarine container under it to catch the rusty water!)
A friend gave me a small compressor he had used for years. I pulled the inspection port and the inside had a nice rust layer where it held a fair amount of moisture for some time. I was able to get a finger on the rust and it was smooth so I do not believe it had eaten too much metal. I oiled the tank with light oil and let it drain a week before sealing it back up and using it. Great little compressor.
Another friend got one from a buddy to use rebuilding cars. His neighbor on the cul de sac was a car guy and also had an old compressor he had inherited from his dad. My buddy was in his garage one day and heard what sounded like a bomb blast going off. He ran out and saw smoke and dust coming out of his buddies garage. Then, he heard his buddy yelling, "WHAT THE..."
His compressor tank ruptured while he ran to the kitchen for more coffee. A piece of the tank embedded itself in the front of his car. Other smaller pieces were in the wall. It would likely have been fatal to anyone in the garage and for anyone who managed to survive, the explosion would have likely ruptured ear drums.
Upon hearing about the explosion, my buddy's wife insisted he send his "old" compressor to the dump and she sent him out to get a new one.
As for the light alloy tanks like the WWII oxygen tank, I would NEVER use those. Aside from interior corrosion, aluminum starts to stress crack after repeated pressure cycles. Airliner fuselages show signs of this after a few years as cracks begin to form and that is only after an 8.65 psi differential. Pumping up to 100 psi accelerates the stress cracking. Notice the wrap banding on that tank? Its for stress, an to keep the tank from exploding in case it takes a round. Remember, most of those WWII aircraft were designed to last only 2-300 hours before they were lost in combat.
Be safe out there...
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Lil Foot
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1979 B7100DT Gear, Nissan Hanix N150-2 Excavator
CCR's post reminded me of another incident I should mention. During my firefighting days, I used to get a magazine called "FireChief" that had a monthly feature that chronicled investigations of various unusual fires, hazmat incidents, explosions and such. One investigation explored the cause of a compressor tank explosion that had killed the owner. The fine details escape me, but the investigation showed the man had gotten an old tank that was quite rusty inside, so he rigged some sort of pressure washer setup, & cleaned the inside of the tank. He felt it needed a solvent wash inside, so he used either lacquer thinner or gasoline to rinse the tank. Yup, you guessed it. The first time he filled it, it dieseled, and it blew up.
Moral of the story, use common sense when cleaning a tank.
Moral of the story, use common sense when cleaning a tank.