Presto-O-Lite acetylene tank

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Hey everybody. Gotta quick question. I recently bought a set of oxy/acet torches. The gentleman i got it from also gave me full tank of acetylene.  Its an old Presto lite tank with the cursive welding "Presto lite" on the side. It has an offset valve and a plug in the bottom where the gauge used to go i think. The thing is, im only going to cut with the rig and im using oxy/LP. Also, the valve on the tank doesnt even fit my regulator. What do i do with this tank? I dont want a full acetylene tank just laying around. Thanks!
Reply:I couldn't attach pictures so heres a link to some. Thanks again.    http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/tls/3670740220.html
Reply:Plug on the bottom is the fusable plug that is designed to let go if the cylinder is in a fire, not for a gauge.I'd do what you did and post it on CL to see what you can get. Your asking price is high though. I can get one of those "B" sized acet cylinders for $75 full from the LWS. I've picked them up off CL for as little as $15 to up around say $35-45. I see them all the time listed for $100-125 with the air acet torch and spare tips.Another option would be to take it to your LWS and see if they will do a trade in on a cylinder you can use. I've swapped 75 CF acet cylinders straight across on occasion for 60-80 cf mig cylinders, just paying for the gas. With a smaller cylinder like that you will probably have to pay the cost difference between cylinder sizes as well as the gas..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:Sounds good, thanks for the response. I lowered my price to 75 or best offer. I could use a larger oxygen tank or maybe a 100# LP tank. Maybe ill take it to my LWS and ill make up the difference.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWPlug on the bottom is the fusable plug that is designed to let go if the cylinder is in a fire, not for a gauge.
Reply:Darn, Now I went and learned something new today... .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:Originally Posted by DSWDarn, Now I went and learned something new today...
Reply:That is some interesting stuff. Its a pretty cool looking tank, i wouldnt mind keeping it if it wasnt full. Is there any safe way to empty it without burning it off? It needs cleaned up but structurally it seems solid. No rust or anything around the bottom ring where id think there might be some. If i can empty it, i think it would look nice painted up on a shelf. Thanks guys.
Reply:I wouldn't vent it.  Why not burn it?  The adapter to fit your regulator should only be around $5.As a side note, do you have the proper grade T hoses to use with LPG?
Reply:I'd get a torch and burn off the acet doing something useful.  They only cost from 75 cents to $2.25 ... in 1917.  "USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:I dont really do that much cutting or gas welding. It would take ne awhile to even use up a "B" tank. Actually i dont do any gas welding at all. I guess i could keep it until its empty. Im just the type where everything needs to be in its place and as of now, this tank doesn't have a place and its gonna irritate me. In regard to the type T hose, no i dont. I know i should and its the industry standard but everything ive been told by old school welders and pipe fitters is that its not absolutely necessary.  If thats incorrect,  id certainly like to know.
Reply:First, I probably have the Adapter you need sitting on a shelf for $5.Second, the hoses brittle with age due to something in the chemical makeup of Propane.
Reply:How much is a set of Type T hoses? Is the type t also fine with acetylene?  What do you need to know from me to know if u have the fitting? I think my regulators are Harris
Reply:Grade R hoses are rubber.  They are for acetylene only, and the exterior will degrade in the presence of oil.Grade RM hoses are also acetylene only but are like "oil resistant" shoe soles, in that oil on the exterior will not dissolve them.Unfortunately, propane will slowly dissolve these two types of hoses from the inside out.  The big issue with that is you cannot see the hose failing until it fails, as the damage is hidden.Grade T hoses are fine for acetylene, propane, any fuel gases, whatever.  Honestly, if your hoses don't look tip top, just replace them.  Search for "grade T hose" on eBay or Amazon, or wherever you like to shop.  New hoses won't break the bank.As for the adaptor.  There are several kinds of acetylene fittings (every oxygen you deal with would be the same).  I have seen smaller regulators that are made to fit right on an MC (CGA-200), and some that fit right on your B tank (CGA-520).  But regular sized acetylene regulators come with one of two fittings.  Either CGA-510 POL (this is the same fitting as a BBQ tank that has left handed threads which screw into the valve), or CGA-300 (right handed threads that wrap around the valve).  You need to know which one of those two kinds of regulators you have, before choosing an adapter to put it on a B cylinder.
Reply:Okay, so i might as well just pick up a set of Grade T hoses so i dont have to worry about it. Thats no problem. My current regulator is sized to fit right onto an MC tank. So i need an adapter to go from that to my B tank and when thats empty i'll need an adapter to connect to a BBQ size LP tank.
Reply:So, ive concluded that my acetylene regulator fits onto an MC tank. I dont mean to sound like a dumbass, but im going to. Can anyone give me a part # for for 2 adapters? I need one to go from my MC sized regulator to my B tank and another adapter from my MC reg to a regular BBQ sized LP tank? Thank you.
Reply:Why do you think that?  The MC tank's exterior threads are a little smaller than the B's.  Is your regulator's nut too small to fit on a B cylinder?Most of the regulators I've seen that only fit an MC have "A" sized hose fittings (for a plumber's torch).  I've never seen one with "B" sized hose fittings for a welding torch, but that doesn't mean they do not exist.These small regulators generally don't have two gauges.  Does yours?  Can you provide a picture?I'd say to take the regulator to a local welding gas supplier and get the fittings there.  They're not expensive.  I would also not step up two adapters like that.I'd get one to fit the regulator to a B cylinder, and one to fit it directly to a POL BBW sized tank.
Reply:I guess i just assumed because i have a small acetylene tank that my reg will fit on but my B tanks fitting is too large. This set that im referring to is just a portable lil thing. Its Lincoln/Harris. I think it says porta a tote or torch or something on it.  It was brand new for $100 on Craigslist. I just wanted the regs, hoses and handle to use on larger tanks.   I meant that i wanted 2 different adapters for my regulator. One so i can use whats left in my presto lite acetylene tank and another adapter to go from my regulator to a BBQ LP tank.
Reply:Is this the adapter i need to hook my reg to a LP tank?        http://www.ebay.com/itm/Acetylene-Re...item5d37403194Also, my torch is a Harris. Is this the tip i need to cut with LP? http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Propane-Cu...item2ebc042286I dont think ill be cutting anything thicker than 1/2".  Whats the best all around tip size? 00? 01??
Reply:Just got back from my LWS. I went to get the adapters and got a few empty tanks i had layin around exchanged while i was there. $42 for 20 cu ft oxy and 10cu ft acet in case anyone is wondering. He didnt have either adapter i needed. All i got was an 01 cutting tip for propane.  I saw online that theres a Uniweld FV600 adapter that says its for MC reg to small propane tank. How small are they talkin about? Is this for a 20# LP?
Reply:Keep the tank for welding and use propane or nat gas for everything else . Pick up any adapters you. Need look at a western catalog
Reply:I think thats what ill do. I think i found the adapter to hook my MC regulator to my prestolite tank. Soes this look correct?     [ame]http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0088LA81O/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER[/ame] I still cant find the right adapter to hook into a LP tank. The weekend guys at my LWS are useless and i wasnt allowed into the 'employees only' room to look through their fittings.
Reply:My link didn't work. It should have taken you to this....  Forney 87801 Adaptors for B Tank 40 Cubic-Feet CGA 520 To CGA 200 Regulator
Reply:[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Forney-87801-Adaptors-Cubic-Feet-Regulator/dp/B0088LA81O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363472191&sr=8-1&keywords=acetylene+regulator+adapters[/ame]There's the link. The Forney 87801 Tank to Acetylene Regulator Adaptor is used to convert a CGA-520 "B" 40 cubic feet (CF) acetylene tank to a CGA-200 "MC" style acetylene regulator.
Reply:That works, thank you. So if i get that adapter, i can use my regulator on "B" tanks, correct? So then all i will have to find is another adapter to hook into an LP tank? Finding that is proving quite troublesome!''Is this the adapter i need to hook my reg to a LP tank? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Acetylene-Re...item5d37403194''The one you listed IS NOT CORRECT. That is for the disposable propane cylinders.The AMAZON is correct for ''B'' tank to ''MC ''regulatorMay help to contact regulator manufacture on the propane adapter for correct terminology . Might not hurt to ask if that regulator is compatible with propane to be safe.
Reply:I think i will contact Harris before i go any further. Thanks for the advice.  It seems that im putting the cart before the horse. I never thought it would be this hard to find a simple adapter.
Reply:Originally Posted by rlitmanAs for the adaptor.  There are several kinds of acetylene fittings (every oxygen you deal with would be the same).  I have seen smaller regulators that are made to fit right on an MC (CGA-200), and some that fit right on your B tank (CGA-520).  But regular sized acetylene regulators come with one of two fittings.  Either CGA-510 POL (this is the same fitting as a BBQ tank that has left handed threads which screw into the valve), or CGA-300 (right handed threads that wrap around the valve).  You need to know which one of those two kinds of regulators you have, before choosing an adapter to put it on a B cylinder.
Reply:I looked at the pic before i read what you had typed and thought it didnt look right because both ends of that adapter are female. But you're right. I looked everywhere for that 2nd fitting you linked to. I ended up ordering an adapter to go from my CGA200 to the B tank(CGA510??) Then i had to order western part 317 i believe, to go to the LP tank. I wish i wouldve read your response here first. That extra connection i have to make is just another place for a possible leak. Do you think it'll be a problem?