acetylene tank threaded:now what?

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A few weeks ago, I took my acetylene and oxy tanks to be filled. The guy at the welding supply usually switched my empty acetylene tank for a filled one and fills up my oxygen tank again.   After a month of delays and procrastinations ie, snow flurries, frozen locks I was ready to get back to practicing my gas torch welding. .but a big problem has come up, the last acet tank i had came with a nice little dial i could easily turn on/off. this tank I have now is or rather was just a tiny square knob thingy. I tried to use a crescent wench to turn it, but no go. I tried to turn it a couple of times, but it wouldnt turn and I didnt want to risk damaging it.  Monday I called the gas supplier, and he told me i could use the crescent or monkey wench, so tried it a couple more times, still not budging. I called the supplier up again and a different guy tells me I need a really small wench called a key. It only cost a dollar, so I go and pick it up. Well today, I tried the key on the small square knob, but my worst fear was realized, I had threaded the square knob. now what happens? will i have to buy a whole new tank?
Reply:Take it back for another, their tank, their problem. You're renting the tanks so it's theirs. Never could figure out why they ever came up with the square instead of a normal wheel....Mike
Reply:like mrmikey said..just a bit of terminology..threading is making threads using a tap(female) or a die(male)stripping a thread is the act of fuffing up the threads what you probably did to the little square stem would be best described as rounding off...next time use a box wrench (or the key) of the right size or really get on it tight with a visegrip..
Reply:I hate those little square stems on the small cylinders, but thats all my place ever has. I always seen to loose the little square hole wrench thats designed to turn them. I found an old valve knob from a SCUBA cylinder will fit that square stem, and now I keep 2 in the box with the soldering torch stuff (so I can misplace one at a time ) Most scuba shops can get you one cheap if they don't have a few dead valves laying around. Some guys I know will use a set of small vice grips on theirs, but I hate doing that unless I have no choice. Attached Images.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:Or you can buy the tool that does it, so that the bottle isnt mangled for the next guy.Syncrowave 350Coolmate 3Millermatic 251Spoolmatic 30A
Reply:I don't see how they can sell these anymore. If you have a fire and need to shut the tank off then you get the joy of fumbling with / finding a wrench to shut it off.Plain stupid and way outdated.Use the proper size wrench next time
Reply:Originally Posted by feetfatsIf you have a fire and need to shut the tank off then you get the joy of fumbling with / finding a wrench to shut it off.
Reply:You could cable the wrench to a loop so it hangs from your regulator, ensuring one will always be available with each regulator.Thin, coated cable and small swedges are cheap at most hardware stores. Drill a hole or tack a washer to the end of the wrench, loop cable through and swedge, them loop other end of cable around regulator where it won't get in the way. Crimp swedge, life is good. Works for drill chuck keys too.
Reply:I have my drill press chuck key on a key-bak. My favorite holder for a B or MC cylinder key is a dog choke collar.  The kind with the chain, and a ring on each end.  Open one ring, and put the second hole of the dog-bone shaped key in there, and close it back up.  The second ring hangs nicely from the tank valve, so even you've got a place the hang the key when it's not on the valve.I have to admit that I've never had to deal with a key on my larger cylinders.  I just always ask for a cylinder with a knob, and my LWS has been nice to me.
Reply:thanks, you were right, they took it back no problem.  Originally Posted by mrmikeyTake it back for another, their tank, their problem. You're renting the tanks so it's theirs. Never could figure out why they ever came up with the square instead of a normal wheel....Mike
Reply:idk if its just my shop but in my shop n the pony tanks i have, i get a t wrench with it and if i loose it he used to charge me a dollar but the more you go back to the same guy the better he treats you but that in monticello ny so it must be diffrent everywhere else......and yea return that thats why you own "a tank" not that tank.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWI hate those little square stems on the small cylinders, but thats all my place ever has. I always seen to loose the little square hole wrench thats designed to turn them. I found an old valve knob from a SCUBA cylinder will fit that square stem, and now I keep 2 in the box with the soldering torch stuff (so I can misplace one at a time ) Most scuba shops can get you one cheap if they don't have a few dead valves laying around. Some guys I know will use a set of small vice grips on theirs, but I hate doing that unless I have no choice.
Reply:Originally Posted by himsa169idk if its just my shop but in my shop n the pony tanks i have, i get a t wrench with it and if i loose it he used to charge me a dollar but the more you go back to the same guy the better he treats you but that in monticello ny so it must be diffrent everywhere else......and yea return that thats why you own "a tank" not that tank.
Reply:thanks Originally Posted by weldbeadlike mrmikey said..just a bit of terminology..threading is making threads using a tap(female) or a die(male)stripping a thread is the act of fuffing up the threads what you probably did to the little square stem would be best described as rounding off...next time use a box wrench (or the key) of the right size or really get on it tight with a visegrip..