Transporting acetylene (and other) tanks?

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I know you can't use an acetylene tank in anything but vertical due to the acetone coming out & doing naughty things to seals... However can you transport the tank laying down?I'm asking as I have a pickup truck & when I acquire some tanks here shortly I'm wondering how hard it's going to be to transport them. Depending on the size of the tank I end up getting I really couldn't properly secure it vertically to the side/corer of the bed as it would be too top heavy for where I could strap it down.Can I transport the acetylene (oxygen & argon as well) tanks laying on their side lashed to the bed of the truck & just make sure they stay vertical overnight or what not before using them?Devin
Reply:i always transported ace tanks upright.  argon tanks doesn't matter.  I've seen argon bottles being used while laying on its side.  thats safer then having a big argon tank falling over and causing other damages.
Reply:you can lay ace tanks on their side to transport, but you need to stand uprightand let them RECOVER before using if i remember they can be tilted at an angle no more than 45degreesif that is wrong  i'm sure someone will tell  the right angleidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:I've transported tanks in about every position except upside down. When discussing transportation, the main goal is "secure". Laying down in the bed generally isn't secure, just outta sight. It's real tuff to really secure a tank from rolling, sliding and banging around laying them down in the bed and if there is any kind of minor collision or tink at all you've got some heavy tubular bombs flying all over the place. If a guy has a truck and plan on transporting things like tanks and so-on some tie downs and/or D-rings are a must. Get that taken care of before you go for your tank. Whether youst stand them up or lay them down, they need to be tied down tight.
Reply:I've got a good set of D rings on the bottom of the bed itself & was planning on lashing the tanks to those already. Should be set then.Mythbusters did has done a couple good ones showing the power of a compressed cylinder. The best one as them dropping basically a guillotine on a 5ish foot tank's valve. After plowing through a cinder block wall & a wood wall it finally embedded itself disturbingly deep into the concrete wall off the old ammo bunker they were using.I'm suitably paranoid about transporting, protecting and generally owning these rockets/bombs.
Reply:I remember reading somewhere about OSHA making a stink about guys not having tanks transported vertical on rig trucks.  Something makes me think AWS but I only paid passing notice to the thread. I believe the flap was over reg's requiring tanks to be stored and transported upright. If you are a hobbyist, OSHA doesn't apply, but it will be tough to explain why you were not following general established procedures if you have an issue..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 DSWI remember reading somewhere about OSHA making a stink about guys not having tanks transported vertical on rig trucks.  Something makes me think AWS but I only paid passing notice to the thread. I believe the flap was over reg's requiring tanks to be stored and transported upright. If you are a hobbyist, OSHA doesn't apply, but it will be tough to explain why you were not following general established procedures if you have an issue.
Reply:Sweet, if horizontal is good enough for DoT & it won't destroy the valve at the top, it's good enough for me.Devin
Reply:allways screw on the safety capidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:Ok here's the correct info you're seeking since no one has mentioned how long to stand upright before using once it's been transported horizontally. .. I've transported tanks Horiz just fine.. secured well of coure however due to the acetone you'll want to stand it upright and leave it upright for around 2 hours prior to using it. This gives it proper time for the acetylene and acetone to go back to normal in the balsa, charcoal system. This of course was before I built myself a skid with bottle holders to hold them in the upright position. Hope this helps.
Reply:Originally Posted by fallonSweet, if horizontal is good enough for DoT & it won't destroy the valve at the top, it's good enough for me.Devin
Reply:[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejEJGNLTo84[/ame]
Reply:My garage is no where near an OSHA site, so no worries there. I'm familiar enough with safe tank handling & cap usage stuff. I was just worried about not melting any valves/seals with acetone if I were to lay the tank down to drive it the 2 miles home.
Reply:Originally Posted by fallonI know you can't use an acetylene tank in anything but vertical due to the acetone coming out & doing naughty things to seals... However can you transport the tank laying down?I'm asking as I have a pickup truck & when I acquire some tanks here shortly I'm wondering how hard it's going to be to transport them. Depending on the size of the tank I end up getting I really couldn't properly secure it vertically to the side/corer of the bed as it would be too top heavy for where I could strap it down.Can I transport the acetylene (oxygen & argon as well) tanks laying on their side lashed to the bed of the truck & just make sure they stay vertical overnight or what not before using them?Devin
Reply:hav ben weldin for mite  neer 30 yrsan ownlee own a pikem-up truk an always layd down me tanxto get em an breeng em home tyed them dom with capsonhever had on problims with eny of em KEEP THE SECURE SO THEY DON 'T ROLLand you will be fineidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:Originally Posted by JohnnyWelderYou're a welder. You can make something better.
Reply:Originally Posted by fallonTherein lies the problem... The little skill I had a decade ago has atrophied. And I'm in the process of re-acquiring the equipment, so I don't yet have the tools to weld anything.Devin
Reply:Like I said, you can transport them Horiz as long as they're secured, as long as you place them upright for 2 hours prior to using them to keep the acetone from drawing into the lines. Make SURE the caps are on and that they won't be banging around.