Old acetelyne tank

[Big Barn]

You might want to find out if you're going to able to swap this tank out for a full one or get it filled before you expend too much energy and money on it. It probably needs tested before another refill. I suppose if it's actually full it would be worth an adapter.

Even if it’s a partial tank it’s a small gamble to take (buying the adapter) considering the cost of acetylene.

 

[radios1]

look here, you may have a "#3" tank, which has a CGA 300 fitting, adapt that to your CGA 510 regulator and you're in business. Torch Tank Cylinder Sizes | Contenti be very careful of the size tips you use on that small tank, it's maybe 75 CU.FT. and can only supply 1/7 of that at the most. 10.7 CU.FT tips!!.. if you draw too much too fast, you'll suck up acetone, which will not only destroy your regulators and hoses, but also make the tank explode from the depletion of acetone, which keeps the acetylene dissolved in the tank!!.. BTW, a full tank of acetylene regardless of the size, has a pressure of 250PSI.

 

[Big Barn]

look here, you may have a "B" tank, which has a CGA 520 fitting, adapt that to your CGA 510 regulator and you're in business. Torch Tank Cylinder Sizes | Contenti

If so, see post #14.

 

[WranglerX]

All the number for adapter and fitting are fine BUT until we know exact valve body on tank most information is just that, nothing is a fact...

What bothers me is bolted on top plate on top of cylinder, it is a big enough tank to take valve safety cap.... Its either a very old cylinder or a larger one than we thought....

Here is spec for CGA 300 valve...

Dale

 

[Big Barn]

Here is an acetylene tank of mine with the bolted top plate Dale mentioned. Considerably larger than a B tank. CGA 300 fittings



With these CGA fittings. Western part numbers for reference.

 

[aczlan]

What bothers me is bolted on top plate on top of cylinder, it is a big enough tank to take valve safety cap.... Its either a very old cylinder or a larger one than we thought....

Is it bolted on, or does it have 2 pressure relief plugs in it?
Looks to me like those might be hollow plugs filled with lead (or something similar) that will melt and vent the gas at a certain temperature or pressure.

Aaron Z

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Given to me .it feels full .wont hook up to my regulators.any adapter available?The oxygen tank he gave me works great.View attachment 580043View attachment 580044

This may be the one you need: https://smile.amazon.com/Thoroughbr...8-8&keywords=acetylene+cylinder+valve+adapter

Cylinder weight from full to empty is not detected by feel. Did you crack the valve? If not much pressure you take to exchange for a full one. They will charge you a tank hydro test and a new valve. If not they probably will not fill it either. Those valves went away long ago. I used to have an adapter long ago during the phase over. Now lost in the shuffle. That was back when acetylene generators were in vogue.

Ron

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Here is an acetylene tank of mine with the bolted top plate Dale mentioned. Considerably larger than a B tank. CGA 300 fittings

View attachment 580105

With these CGA fittings. Western part numbers for reference.
View attachment 580106

Bolted top plates are a standard feature. That is how they get the acetylene absorbent into the cylinder.

Ron

 

[dieselcrawler]

Cant tell for sure from the OP pictures, but that look just like what I have... gauge has a nipple/flared kinda end with nut/male threads that are left hand, and my tanks are also male threads, but right hand, and the tank fitting matches/is the mate to, the kinda flare end from my gauge. There is a brass adaptor, with female threads that match each, one end RH, the other LH. If I remember, I'll look tomorrow for any brands or part numbers on tge adaptors I have, I've got 2 or 3.

 

[yomax4]

The Bolt on the top is definitely filled with lead. Designed to melt when there is a fire and keep the tank from exploding.

 

[aczlan]

Bolted top plates are a standard feature. That is how they get the acetylene absorbent into the cylinder.

My suspection was correct, those are NOT bolts to hold the top plates on (not enough of them and they appear to be hollow with a lead core), they are relief plugs:

Source: https://trainex.org/osc2012/uploads/516/40_Sec 5 - Cylinder Identification 2.pdf (PDF page 24).

Aaron Z

 

[escavader]

Thanks for the replys.i did get an ad apter fro. My local welding gas company.6 bucks.i gamble 6 dollars on a chance its a full tank the oxegan tank with it was full.
My company said they will not take it for refill or exchange though.
Thank you for the responses

 

[radios1]

Thanks for the replys.i did get an ad apter fro. My local welding gas company.6 bucks.i gamble 6 dollars on a chance its a full tank the oxegan tank with it was full.
My company said they will not take it for refill or exchange though.
Thank you for the responses

did they say WHY they won't take it for refill or exchange??. I've heard of that if another company has their stamp on it, identifying it as the property of that company, but without that stamp, it's a COC(customer owned cylinder) and gets refilled or exchanged. note that I'm not aware of any other place besides Praxair that refills Acetylene tanks, since it's so dangerous to do that!..

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Try a different supplier. Replacing valves are a common thing. I just had to pay for replacing an O2 cylinder valve that was damaged. Don't ask the price, I did not even look at it as it was included in a $300 order of several tings.

Ron

 

[yomax4]

Old Acetylene tanks went through some sort of regulation 10-15 yers ago. I'm not sure what it involved but I remember Praxair selling hundreds of old WS Avetylene tanks to some Mexico company for just above scrap price to not have to re-certify them. They paid a big fine for it.

 

[Lelandwelds]

Boy, i am glad somebody figured out tanks arent bolted together! There's a disaster in the making!

Tanks are welded together. The porous mass is sort of pumped in on a vibrating table when it is mfg. Acetone is the liquid that acetylene is dissolved in. Swapping valves on an acetylene tanks is a ***** and involves a bit of danger. The tanks need to be empty to revalve anyway. Best not to monkey around with the things. I have seen the autopsy photos and damage from the "jobs gone wrong".

CGA 300 is still used in some places to keep cylinder fleets captive. Theres an obsolete british thread that looks like that too.