Beware of Old Aircompressors

[OLDSAM]

After filling the tank with water, use a low volume, high pressure pump. Manual test pump is easiest, with a small piston and a long handle. Don't have to add much water.

[PeteP]

I saw a SCUBA tank rupture with about 2300 PSI in it. Went completly thru the roof of the dive shop to points unknown. I used to set and wait for my tank refill, after that I come back and pick it up.

BTW.. drain my vertical 30 Gal compressor every night. Old USAF habits die hard!

[Marc DeGirolamo]

Drain the tank regularly, and even doing that will not guarantee that it will not do this. Usually it will start leaking first and at least give some warning. glad no one was injured..

[humptybump]

Originally Posted by DaleB

Regarding tank drains... for you guys with vertical tanks, are your drains dead center in the bottom of the tank or off to one side?

This has been an interesting thread. My compressor tank is under pressure full time. Tank pressure us set to 175 psi and output is set to 100 psi and another drop down in the paint room.

It's a old vertical tank. While the drain is on the side, it has an interval weighted "snake" that drops to the bottom of the tank.

[BillL]

Originally Posted by az_gila

How do you easily get 150 psi water at home?

You can put a 1/2 pipe standing out the top and use a hand pumped grease gun with a zerk fitting. The grease will float and be the first thing out the top when done. Easily controllable too.

[PJSeipel]

I have a vertical tank with a valve on the bottom. I replaced the valve with a brass elbow and a length of nylon tubing (rated to 250 psi) and another valve at the end of the tubing. That way, any condensation that forms in the tank drains into the tubing sitting under the tank. I can then use the valve on the end of the tubing to release any stored water. I drain it about once a week.

I had the Harbor Freight automatic drain for a while before I replaced it with the tubing and found that it tended to get stuck in the open position quite often.

PJ Seipel
RV-10 #40032

[waterboy2110]

Originally Posted by N15JB

I wonder how many of us drain our tanks on a regular basis. I have known forever that I should, but rarely did. After having one tank rust through(while unpressurized) I finally put a HF auto-drain on each of my compressors. It is surprising how much water blows out after even short term use.

Drain mine every session. Lot's of red **** all over the rag I keep under the drain.