I have an acetylene tank, B tank, and I was curious if someone could help me figure out if it is in date or out of date.The only things stamped on the tank are HL130440B and 1CC-8AL.Thank you
Reply:Just go exchange it for a full one. I've never seen anyone look for a date on one of those.
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roblem is only one place around here does tank swaps, thats tractor supply. And I dont have one of their tanks so they refuse to take it. Other places just fill them around here, not to mention TSC charges $150 for a tank and $45 for a swap, used to get mine refilled for $20 but that place closed down years ago.
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icts of the cyl top would help. Acet cyl are not hydro tested like HP gas cylinders, but do require a retest IIRC. My small "B" that I can lay my hands on right this instant shows a retest stamp similar to the rest of my gas cylinders. Usually its a 2 didgit month followed by a symbol or small 4 digit test code, followed by the year of the test. I swap all my cylinders so I never have any issues with retests on my Acet cylinders. The only ones I do actual hydros on are my breathing gas cylinders that I get refilled rather than exchanged..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Ok, got multiple pictures of tank, those are the only stamps on the whole bottleLast edited by Diesel.; 03-12-2011 at 08:02 PM.
Reply:I think you're going to have to look under the labels. I see part of a number near the upper left corner of the one which says "Dissolved Acetylene".
Reply:OK, peeled them off, only thing under them stamped is 9C62, the C looks long though so dont think its a C
Reply:In the 2nd pict I see what looks like "9C7" but I can't tell exactly. That "C" may be the test facility symbol I was refering to before. If it is a test symbol, then the 9C62 would be a test date from 1962. That wouldn't surprise me as I've got an old stamped "B" size Prestolite cylinder similar to yours that dates from the 40's. A "B" size cyl thats used only occasionally will last quite awhile, so that might well be the last time it was tested if it wasn't used much.You might also want to add your location to your user CP at the top left. Someone here near you might have a good suggestion as to where to swap cylinders rather than TSC..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Thats what it looks like, so the there really is no date interval for testing, just more or less a visual quality check by the place that does swaps or fills?
Reply:I believe there is an interval for testing. I don't know if it's every 5 years ( 10 years if a star follows the test stamp) like most other cylinders. I could be wrong for acet since it's not a HP gas like say Argon. Acet may be similar to propane. Propane cyl need to be recerted, but go thru a different test than HP gas cylinders and I know they are good for more than 10 year IIRC. Most places don't look that close at propane cylinders.I was thinking more the fact that small acet cylinders often can sit unused for awhile and so still have gas but possibly be out of date. I picked up most of my small acet cyl from private users who haven't used them for years and they are still more than 1/2 full..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Just FWIW.... I just had a 125 and 75 {oxy-acy} retested and filled. Both done and filled for 125$.
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iesel,An acetylene bottle should never be laid down on it's side like that.If you don't understand what you're dealing with with acetylene, then you need to do a little homework.If you stood the bottle up and opened the valve, you can almost be assured that you will trash your regulator and possibly cause more potential damage if you tried to light the torch.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Im storing it on its side, I give it about 5 hours standing to allow the acetone filler to get re-absorbed.I have other tanks as well, but I have never needed to get any tested, this one is the oldest, and I bought it used.
Reply:Originally Posted by Diesel.Problem is only one place around here does tank swaps, thats tractor supply. And I dont have one of their tanks so they refuse to take it. Other places just fill them around here. . .
Reply:there is a place up here that fills while you wait.Dynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:Originally Posted by rlitmanWhoa! No they don't.Nobody fills acetylene tanks while you wait!
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ots of people fill tanks while you wait.I'm still standing by my statement. The OP was asking about acetylene.Nobody refills acetylene while you wait.CO2, sure; propane, no problem; oxygen, absolutely; argon, positively; helium, of course; but acetylene, never!
Reply:How long do acetylene tanks take to fill? Just curious as I've never gotten to visit an acetylene plant.
Reply:Originally Posted by farmallHow long do acetylene tanks take to fill? Just curious as I've never gotten to visit an acetylene plant.
Reply:Originally Posted by rlitmanWhoa! No they don't.Nobody fills acetylene tanks while you wait!
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OT regulations requirethat the shell of all acetylene cylindersbe inspected and requalified on a periodicbasis. Typically, for a cylindermanufactured after 1991, the shell isrequalified within 10 years of manufactureand every 10 years thereafter.Shells manufactured prior to 1991must be requalified by 2001, and every10 years thereafter.
