Ok Orchidians,
Here’s my new trouble with acetylene tanks…
I found a place to BUY one, I found a place to FILL it…but now I
need to know HOW to get it home once I do all that.
What do you do?
How do you get it filled ? Do you bring it in or have the gas
delivered? Transport it in your car? If so, how?
Any specific regulations I need to know about?
I live in Illinois, far Chicago suburbs (Kane Co.) if there are any
locals around to help me out with this.
THANKS!!!
Dan
Here in New York, we can transport it in the back of an open
pickup. It can not be transported in either a car, van or pickup
with a camper top.
Judy Shaw
I bring my tanks in to have them refilled. A lot of places will tell
you that you must trade in your brand new tank for one of theirs
every time you refill. The reality is that they will do it while you
wait, just request it. Some are very busy and may tell you to come
back another time. One told me they never refill while you wait, but
I straightened them out right away. If I tell them I need it to make
jewelry, they’ll often tell me I have to trade for one of their very
used tanks. When I tell them I’m a dentist (no, Kevin, I’m not one
either, heh heh), they go right ahead and refill mine. I guess
dentists need pretty tanks in their rooms.
I drive an SUV that has tiedown rings in the cargo area. I use
bungee cords or cargo straps to secure the tank. You need to use
whatever is available to you, but make absolutely certain that the
tank can NOT roll around while you’re driving. Or at any other time,
for that matter.
James in SoFl
on trading tanks,
there is a down side to keeping your own tank. every five years or
so depending on your state most tank cylinders have to be pressure
tested to insure they’re still safe. this test will result in a safe
sticker or the tank being drilled if it fails and then you get to
buy a shiny new tank again .this never can happen if you swap tanks
routinely.
my two cents dave
as a second penny i just view a beat up tool as being more
experienced in the work place . 
Hi all,
A few fact about acetylene tanks (B-size tanks = 40 cubic feet). The
tank are fill with pith (looks like a very porous plaster) then they
put acetone into the tank.
The acetylene is dissolved into the acetone make it stable. Sort of
like a French dip sandwich. Acetylene is explosive over 15psi, so do
not crack it up trying to get a hotter flame. You only need 5psi for
anything. Including cutting apart a battleship. I have always traded
in tanks and there is only one thing to look out for. That is
condition of the valve stem and regulator seat. Do accept a tank
with a damage regulator seat. The thread should all be there and not
damaged. The valve nut should be tight.
The reason taking a tank home in your car is frowned on is that you
might lay the tank on its side. The acetone will go into the valve
and then into your regulator and eat up any rubber gaskets it come in
contact with. This could get dangerous when the pressure goes over
15psi (pounds per square inch). Regulators can and have exploded as
shown to me by a welding teacher. If you must lay a tank down, when
you get home stand it upright and leave it for a day, till a the
acetone has settled back into the tank.
If you are truly worried about the appearance of your tank (paint
appearance is not a safety issue). Go to the lumber yard and get a
peace of sewer pipe wide enough to hold the tank and tall enough to
cover just the tank but not the stem. Screw it to your bench so the
tank can’t knock over. This is safer and will look good. Breaking
off a valve stem is a very bad thing. You never want that to happen.
Sorry to scare you kids to death, but this is a serious business and
these aren’t toys. They can and will kill you, if you don’t treat
them with respect and know what your doing. I suggest taking a
beginners welding course to learn more about safety. Jewellers have
flown by the seat of the pants for to long now.
Jim Zimmerman
@Jim_Zimmerman2
to Jim Zimmerman et al
The reason taking a tank home in your car is frowned on is that you might lay the tank on its side. The acetone will go into the valve and then into your regulator and eat up any rubber gaskets it come in contact with.
I happen to have an extra full tank of acetylene; and have, for
quite a long time, been storing it on its side. Should I bring it
back to the gas company to be changed out (apprising them of the
situation, of course) rather than using it?
I’ve never had any problems with this and am under the impression
from the companies that fill the tanks is that now a synthetic ring
or gasket is used. Waiting to hear on this
Ray