Air Tank Blow up photo ?

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I was reading a thread just last night that was about an old air compressor tank that let go , had a pic of it sitting in a wheel burrow.Was it even on this forum ? Anyways mine has ALOT of big rust flakes I got out of it when I got it, last guy never drained it, but all I was worried about was a leak, or at the worst a hole blow out.Never did I think it could blow up from a bad rupture...I was wanting a bigger tank anyways, so off the motor/pump and will be looking for a 30 gal or more LP tank to convert....Take this 20 gal tank and make a grill out of it...... I'll post pics when I get started !
Reply:Mike,If you make the drive over to Canton, Ga. and I'll give you a used 60 gallon ASME certified tank.Free!You'll have to fabricate the mounts for your compressor, but this is a welding site so that shouldn't be a problem.Mike
Reply:I've had a lot of old crusty tanks and I've never seen one explode, but I have seen a LOT of them with leaks from rust in the bottom.I truly believe that a tank won't rupture just from rust, you're much more likely to have a pinhole develop and let the tank bleed down first. Something else needs to occur for explosion. Like a faulty pressure switch coupled with a faulty pressure release bringing the tank pressure up too high.That said, it's your life or those around you.
Reply:Originally Posted by chicksdigwagonsI've had a lot of old crusty tanks and I've never seen one explode, but I have seen a LOT of them with leaks from rust in the bottom.I truly believe that a tank won't rupture just from rust, you're much more likely to have a pinhole develop and let the tank bleed down first. Something else needs to occur for explosion. Like a faulty pressure switch coupled with a faulty pressure release bringing the tank pressure up too high.That said, it's your life or those around you.
Reply:Originally Posted by TEKI have personally seen air tanks pop....and I have pictures....give me a min(or two) to find them...
Reply:Yikes!
Reply:my family used to own a glass factory in the old country (taiwan) and we have had at least one compressor blowing up.  Well, only one that I remember anyway.  I was 4 years old at the time, and it nearly killed my infant brother.  that's more then 30 years ago, 4 year olds didnt have digital cameras at the time
Reply:I haven't cut mine open yet to see how bad its pit'd inside but I can still hear things moving around in it.Got the wheel brackets cut off, need a cut off wheel or get someone to cut it open with a plasma....Its going to make a cool grill for sure.... I'll use bed frame rails to build a frame and legs for it....I'll take pics of the insides when I can !
Reply:One of my buddies had one blow up in his garage.  Luckily, it was under a heavy workbench, but still had enough force to destroy the bench and send shrapnel up through the tin roof.  He was in the garage when it happened, said his ears rang for a week afterward.  He thought the safety valve must have stuck on it.I posted on here about this problem a couple years ago.  Our compressor at work is a horizontal tank, about a 60 gallon, and it had rusted out on the bottom.  My boss' boss had a welding shop weld a 3/8 plate on the bottom 1/3 of the tank, and now it's back in use.  This compressor is 40 years old, and I know if the bottom was rusted out and leaking, the ends can't be much better.  To make matters worse, there is no ID tag on the tank of any kind now, no certificate of a safety test, no ANSI spec., no nothing.  I am scared to death of this air tank and don't know what to do.  Our state boiler/pressure vessel inspector said compressor tanks are not in their jurisdiction, and even OSHA didn't seem to want to help out.  BTW - I work for a state agency.
Reply:Hydro it.Oh, there might not be standards or requirements for testing of low pressure pneumatic tanks but there are certainly standards and requirements for testing relief valves.  Toss on a real ASME rated relief valve and then they'll have to test it regularly.
Reply:Originally Posted by 76GMC1500Hydro it.Oh, there might not be standards or requirements for testing of low pressure pneumatic tanks but there are certainly standards and requirements for testing relief valves.  Toss on a real ASME rated relief valve and then they'll have to test it regularly.
Reply:Depends on its size.  Just bought a Quincy QR325 for $1700.  This compressor runs off a 5 horse 3 phase motor.  A new motor is another $300ish.  I couldn't tell you what a tank costs.  If you get the ones with iron cylinders, these are rock solid compressors that will run for 10k+ hours.
Reply:A guy I worked with almost got killed when his little garage compressor blew up on him last fall.    His face/throat was all cut up, he looked like he went 12 rounds with Tyson.    The neighbors thought a bomb went off.browndogwelding.com@welderassassinMy Blog on The Fabricatorfacebook.com/BrownDogWelding