Fire Extinguisher Experts Please

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My brother in law continues to give me stuff as he downsizes, today he gave me this old carbon dioxide fire extinguisher. Is it worth doing anything with? Besides making a bell?Last edited by bigb; 11-28-2019 at 06:41 PM.Miller Challenger 172Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC 225/150Miller Maxstar 150 STLVictor 100CVictor JourneymanOxweld OAHarris O/ASmith O/A little torchNo, that's not my car.
Reply:They're good to keep in the kitchen or next to the BBQ. If the stove or BBQ grill catches fire, the CO2 will extinguish it without ruining your food like a dry power wouldMiller Multimatic 255
Reply:Those old bottles have numeric stamps 0n them for the hydro testing that are required every 5 years.  I believe that after 5, or something like that, hydro tests they are retired. Not absolutely sure...but that is my take.If it has pressure use it...might not be able to refill though...price was right!
Reply:The Kidde Co. had a big recall so before I sent the bad one back I went outside and let it rip. 4-5 seconds of fun.Ernie F.
Reply:It looks like a dot steel cylinder with first hydro in 58.  If it is-  there is no end of life on the cylinder as long as it keeps passing hydro and visual every 5 years. CO2 doesn't  go " bad". If its charged id continue to use it as such. When the hydro is current it can be filled.Last edited by kize; 11-28-2019 at 10:53 PM.
Reply:If it is still charged I would put the pin back in it and use it as a fire extinguisher!If it is empty you can make whatever you want out of it since co2 has no harmfulcomponents or residue.
Reply:I always preferred CO2 for engine fires, and electrical fires on large equipment, our electricians got pissed if someone used dry chemical on an electrical fire on a Locomotive.You have to be aware of STATIC electricity with CO2.Last edited by CAVEMANN; 11-29-2019 at 10:00 PM.IMPEACH BIDEN!NRA LIFE MEMBERUNITWELD 175 AMP 3 IN1 DCMIDSTATES 300 AMP AC MACHINEGOD HELP AMERICA!“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream".RONALD REAGAN
Reply:I'll take all the CO2 extinguishers I can get since dry chem is messy. They aren't cheap new so I'd get a good large one hydro'ed and put it to work. I'd at least swipe the hose and nozzle to connect to a CO2 nipple to leave on my CO2 cylinders when not in use. I leave plain nuts/nipples on them already. Besides welding I use CO2 cylinders for powering pneumatic impacts in the field (via a fixed pressure Western 200 psi regulator) and seating tires my air compressor won't manage. If you invert a vapor withdrawal cylinder it becomes a liquid withdrawal cylinder.  I keep that in mind since though I've plenty of extinguishers I like to be prepared. I have enough CO2 cylinders to scatter anywhere convenient. High pressure industrial gas cylinder life approaches a century (the reason you can still find old Linde pre-WWII cylinders stamped with a swastika "for luck" still in use!) so if it passes a visual and it's full I'd use it and if empty I'd have it serviced.
Reply:Never had a CO2 extinguisher. I buy several dry chemical units a year, More as gifts. In 1979 dad & I were having issues with a fuel filter at the carburetor of a 1976 Ford van. We had replaced a few filters on road. Each replacement bought another 1000 miles trouble free. 10 miles from home, it quit. I put a new filter in but didn't connect fuel line. I stood there with a plastic dish to catch fuel, hoping to check for contaminants. Those were the early years of 60,000 Volt ignitions, but they hadn't yet developed spark plug wire insulation up to the task. As he turned it over there was a flash! I ran for the extinguisher, he was already handing it to me. Fire out in a second, mess took hours!When Seth was maybe 10, he was offended by some canoe rack brackets on the front bumper of the Jeep. He HAD to have them off! I was in a hurry, best way was an acetylene torch. I was over the grease pit. There was some oil spill, saturating sawdust absorbent. A tiny flame developed. I always blow out little spot fires with compressed air. I noticed, asked him to get the air hose. It took longer for him. It had grown a bit. Compressed air, by then enhanced the flame! I grabbed an extinguisher! NOTHING happened. I grabbed another, NOTHING happened. I sent Seth for another to his grandfather's house. He came back with a near empty box of baking soda.By then I'm desperate! the grease pit is a hole in the concrete floor 5' deep. Flame was from bottom of pit, licking the sheetrock ceiling 14' above. I smashed the end off the first extinguisher, dumped it into the pit. It extinguished the fire.In 1996 I was in process of building a new garage. It was bitter cold. I bought used two 15000 BTU radiant propane heaters. They were unusual, heat only you without heating air. I should have been more careful, they were made in Ireland. As far as I know Irish inventors invent bombs. These were not exceptions. 15 minutes in it burst into flame! Inside the cabinet was a 20 LB propane tank engulfed in flame. Flame was several feet high. First extinguisher useless! Second extinguisher, also useless! Third, useless! I tried to push it out of the building using a ladder, that tipped it over, made it angry!I ran to the house for another extinguisher, It worked. Buy good extinguishers. Test them often. DO NOT try to use old extinguishers.An optimist is usually wrong, and when the unexpected happens is unprepared. A pessimist is usually right, when wrong, is delighted, and well prepared.
Reply:not the same extinguisher but this is what i did to a stainless one that wouldn't hold a charge.

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i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:

Originally Posted by Willie B

Buy good extinguishers. Test them often. DO NOT try to use old extinguishers.
Reply:The CO2 type is just like tank If still has CO2 it is good. But you need how must it weight is full. If it needs fill odd the will need to test first be for filling.Dave

Originally Posted by bigb

My brother in law continues to give me stuff as he downsizes, today he gave me this old carbon dioxide fire extinguisher. Is it worth doing anything with? Besides making a bell?