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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Propane tank for air???

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Scott in NNY

03-04-2006 10:18:00




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Wouldn't a propane tank, empty and washed out of course, be plenty safe to use for tank on air compressor? Have two five horse compressors, an emglo and a speedair, and was thinking about using a 100# tank that was given to me. Tank is in good shape and not that old and both compressors currently have leaks in their original tanks. This seems safer than welding the old tanks anyway.




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Rickstir

03-14-2006 06:51:38




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 Re: Propane tank for air??? in reply to Scott in NNY, 03-04-2006 10:18:00  
Talk to tank mfgs. The guys on the bar-b-que pages would like to use old tanks. But the people who make the tanks tell them never to cut into an old tank. They say the propange permiates into the tank and will explode. If your application is BBQ you can buy seconds from the mfgs. If you want it to hold pressure better off buying new.



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nw_bearcat

03-08-2006 05:53:30




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 Re: Propane tank for air??? in reply to Scott in NNY, 03-04-2006 10:18:00  
My dad has used two of them for about 20 years as portable air tanks. much nicer for blowing up a tractor tire in the field with 2-100# LP tanks in the back of the pickup than making 40 trips with a small air tank. I don't know how he got them clean, he had them before i was big enough to know where they came from.



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Langoley

03-05-2006 07:08:42




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 Re: Propane tank for air??? in reply to Scott in NNY, 03-04-2006 10:18:00  
For what it is worth!!!There WAS A man in Charleston Wv. A few years ago(1998 i think)that used a 100 lb. propane tank a an air tank on his B model Mack,mounted on the headboard just behind the cab.When the tank exploded the shrapnel killed the man!!!



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Bus Driver

03-04-2006 14:16:38




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 Re: Propane tank for air??? in reply to Scott in NNY, 03-04-2006 10:18:00  
More than 30 years ago, I used a 100# propane tank for a air compressor tank. Still is doing fine. The odorant is methyl mercaptan, a substance given off by rotting vegetables, particularly cabbage. The MM evaporates slightly slower than does propane. Neither propane nor the MM penetrates or "soaks into" the steel of the tank. Put some air pressure into the tank and release it. Repeat as necessary. When the smell is gone, the tank can be safely welded if desired. And the smell WILL leave. I have done it on several propane tanks.

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Stan in Oly, WA

03-05-2006 10:18:01




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 Re: Propane tank for air??? in reply to Bus Driver, 03-04-2006 14:16:38  
Bus Driver,

Methyl mercaptan is produced (or maybe released) in the digestion of asparagus, and later acts as an odorant in the urine of the asparagus eater. Until a few years ago, it was commonly believed that some asparagus eaters produced methyl mercaptan, and some didn't. Recent research (?!) determined that every asparagus eater produces methyl mercaptan and excretes it, but some people can smell it and some can't.

You've got the kind of nimble mind that stores odd bits of information like that, like it or not (unless you've discovered a way to regulate the intake as I, unfortunately, never have) and I thought you might get a kick out of that. Course, you've probably already heard it.

All the best, Stan

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smilie

03-04-2006 14:05:56




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 Re: Propane tank for air??? in reply to Scott in NNY, 03-04-2006 10:18:00  
if your going to use a propane tank, you should definitely mount it upside down to facilitate draining. i had a friend that used one some years back. he just set his right side up on the floor nest to his compressor. after about 4 years, he was puming up one day, and kaboom. you guessed it, bottom rusted until it got weak and he shot the damn thing right through the roof of his garage. still laugh like hell about it. told him he missed his calling. should have been a rocket scientist. be careful.

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Charles (in GA)

03-04-2006 11:19:22




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 Re: Propane tank for air??? in reply to Scott in NNY, 03-04-2006 10:18:00  
Seems to me we went around about this same thing not very long ago. If your old compressor tanks are leaking, and not something simple like a leaking fitting, possibly a weld rusting thru, you certainly need to scrap them, BEFORE they blow up.

If your two compressors are both two stage, thus 175 tank pressure, I have found that most such new compressors give the test pressure as 200 psi. You really should invest in new compressor tanks. These are both good units. Sell the propane tank or use it for what it was intended for, you will get a $100 or so selling it.

Problem is, the tank as a replacement part is darn near as much as a whole new compressor or equal quality. What you need to do is find someone with a very late model compressor with that cheap pump and motor stuff on it that has gone south, and get it just for the tank.

Charles

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jeffcat

03-04-2006 10:30:38




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 Re: Propane tank for air??? in reply to Scott in NNY, 03-04-2006 10:18:00  
You will NEVER get rid of the stink in the tank. I bought a couple of brand new ones for portable air tanks, and they work great. Emglo is making units again so you may want to check out the cost of a new tank. go bigger if you want. My $.o2 Jeffcat



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Jon Hagen

03-04-2006 12:13:43




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 Re: Propane tank for air??? in reply to jeffcat, 03-04-2006 10:30:38  
For what it is worth, a neighbor told me he was using an old 100# propane tank for an air storage tank. He mounted it upright and used it for over a year with the constant propane stink.
He said he was told to remount it upside down with the fitting on the bottom. He did so and claimed the stink was gone after a few tanks of air.Could the fix really be that easy ???



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