View Full Version : Tank Storage
GeorgeG
03-25-2008, 12:13 PM
Hi guys (and gals)
Question for you all;
How do you actually store your gas when you're not using it?
Where is it located?
Do you leave the regs, hose and torches attached?
I've read quite a bit about what the best practice is, but I'm wondering, as a beginner, how many actually abide by it?
At least one question I have is "should they be kept in my garage?" What do you all do? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
whateg0
03-25-2008, 12:19 PM
If the apparatus is being kept in the garage, I leave the regs hooked up and sitting on the welding cart. The only time I take the regs off is when I am transporting the bottles. Some people do bleed off the pressure, but many do not. I do every now and then, but not very often.
Dave
I take the regulator off my (mig) tank and store it in the tool box with all the
other welding toys (i mean tools :-) so that I can then put the cap back on
the tank.
Since my tank is in the garage, where the wife rummages around, the car
(very) occasionally puts in an appearance, and random critters have been
known to sneak in, I figure it's just better for all concerned if the regulator is
safely put away and the tank is kept capped.
f
GeorgeG
03-25-2008, 05:02 PM
If the apparatus is being kept in the garage, I leave the regs hooked up and sitting on the welding cart. The only time I take the regs off is when I am transporting the bottles. Some people do bleed off the pressure, but many do not. I do every now and then, but not very often.
Dave
When you bleed off the pressure, what pressure are you referring to? Whatever is left in the regs?
hankj
03-25-2008, 05:18 PM
All my gases are in the garage (actually, there hasn't been a car in there in 12 years, so is it really a garage?:rolleyes:), with the regulators mounted. My O/A torches are on quick connects. I pop the hoses off the torch to make it easier to roll up the hoses without beating up the torch and handle.
When I'm done for the day with an O/A rig, I shut off the bottles and bleed down the lines. I have do data to support it, but it just seems the regulators will be happier over time without pressure sitting on 'em.
My MIG gases seem to bleed themselves down. I just shut the valves and walk away!
Hank
Rocky D
03-25-2008, 08:08 PM
When you bleed off the pressure, what pressure are you referring to? Whatever is left in the regs?
Yes, some folks let the pressure off by opening the valve on the torch after the tank has been turned off, or on a MIG, they turn the tank off and hit the trigger to let the gas out of the line. I don't, however and most all the weldors I know don't either...they bleed off by themselves. When transporting tanks in welding truck or in your non welding truck the regulators must be removed, it's the law.
and it makes sense...the regulators bouncing around on a vehicle can cause them to break off at the stem...I had it happen, once. :eek:
GeorgeG
03-25-2008, 09:04 PM
All my gases are in the garage (actually, there hasn't been a car in there in 12 years, so is it really a garage?:rolleyes:), with the regulators mounted. My O/A torches are on quick connects. I pop the hoses off the torch to make it easier to roll up the hoses without beating up the torch and handle.
When I'm done for the day with an O/A rig, I shut off the bottles and bleed down the lines. I have do data to support it, but it just seems the regulators will be happier over time without pressure sitting on 'em.
My MIG gases seem to bleed themselves down. I just shut the valves and walk away!
Hank
Is there any concern about having the gases in the garage if its attached to the house? How about cold temps? Does below freezing make any difference, hazard or otherwise? How often do you check for leaks?
whateg0
03-25-2008, 09:35 PM
As long as you aren't leaking gobs of welding gas into a tightly sealed garage, there is more danger of a spark being forgotten about until it has ignited a dust bunny under the bench. Just keep things tight - no leaking bottles - and watch for fire for 15-30 minutes after any hotwork and you'll be fine. The gasoline in the 5 gallon jug or in the gas tank is probably as dangerous as most of the stuff we mess with when handled properly.
Dave
GeorgeG
03-25-2008, 10:20 PM
Thanks, that gives me some confidence.
hankj
03-26-2008, 11:05 AM
George,
If you are leak free at some point, periodic pressure drop checks will tell you if a leak has developed. Turn on the valve, set some arbitrary pressur on the regulator, then turn off the valve. Leave it for ten minutes, then check the pressures. If there has been any drop, you have developed a leak.
To isolate it, turn on the tank valve again to repressurize, then turn it off, and unscrew the regulator adjusting screw all the way. Wait ten minutes. If the low pressure gauge has dropped, the trouble is down stream. If the high pressure gauge has dropped, the trouble is between the tank and the regulator.
FYI, I have never had a leak develop on an O/A rig that was caused by storage!
Every time I remove a regulator or replace or remove a hose, I do a full bubble test on the removed parts when I put things back togeter.
Hank
GeorgeG
03-26-2008, 02:00 PM
Hank, I think I understand the first part, but the second part is a bit unclear.
When you say downstream, what is your reference point? Downstream of where exactly - the regs?
Rocky D
03-26-2008, 03:41 PM
Hank is calling the gauges high pressure and low pressure, they would be better described as tank pressure and line pressure gauges. "Downstream" indicates the direction of flow from the point of origin, (in this case he was talking about the line pressure gauge) out to the torch. Hope this helps.
hankj
03-26-2008, 05:37 PM
Yup, like Rocky said.
"Downstream" would be the regulator to hose connection, the hoses, the hose to torch connection and the torch valves.
Hank
GeorgeG
03-26-2008, 06:42 PM
Yup, like Rocky said.
"Downstream" would be the regulator to hose connection, the hoses, the hose to torch connection and the torch valves.
Hank
OK, got it. Thanks.
pturner
04-02-2008, 11:26 PM
I hate to disagree with rocky, but in the south, the regulators don't have to be removed, the valves must be guarded. Easy way to do this is to remove the regulators and replace the caps. But legal also is to use a valve cap that allows the regulaters to remain. Look at 7784A32 at www.mcmaster.com. This meets US DOT regs. Individual states can have tighter rules.
I used these for security as well. The O2 one locks, and the C2H2 one lets you add a regulator lock. I've bought them, and made my own, and both made several states DOT's happy.
ace4059
04-03-2008, 12:46 AM
pturner,
rocky is in CA. they have all sorts of weird rules and regulations. They even have warnings on ammo that reads "Being shot with a bullet can cause Pb posioning". :eek: well maybe not that. sad thing is most ppl from Ca. dont know what Pb even stands for (and no rocky it is not a PB and J). :p
Rocky D
04-03-2008, 11:21 AM
pturner,
rocky is in CA. they have all sorts of weird rules and regulations. They even have warnings on ammo that reads "Being shot with a bullet can cause Pb posioning". :eek: well maybe not that. sad thing is most ppl from Ca. dont know what Pb even stands for (and no rocky it is not a PB and J). :p
It's not???? :( Here's a sign in North Texas.
http://stupidstreetsigns.com/funny/signs/images/Stupid%2BSigns_All_Street%2BSigns/What%2Babout%2BSlowing.jpg
http://www.innocentenglish.com/img/sign6%5B1%5D.jpg