Gong from a med. oxygen E cylinder?

[garfish]

Hotfoot and others-

At the scrap yard today I found a bin of steel medical oxygen E-sized cylinders ( approx. 25" L x 4.5 dia ) with what I have learned is a CGA 870 valve in them. Bought 2, thinking about Hotfoot's gongs. The yard man says these are empty, but cylinder safety is like gun safety. I opened the valve, but don't really know about 870 valves and don't know if the valve and regulator 'couple' to release the gas or if the gas should just stream out when the valve is opened.

Put the cylinder very gently in my bench vise and put a 12" crescent on the valve body, very gently torqued it, but couldn't budge it with cautious force. Is it stuck or is there a bunch of pressure on it inside?

I'd like to pull the valve to be safe and then cut the cylinder bottom off to see what kind of sound it makes.

Any insights into 870 valves and/or removing this one. Pic attached.

[Harvuskong]

I do not know where you are located, but I would take those things to a welding supply store and see about getting them checked out.

You might have two useable oxygen cylinders for a O/A torch.

I think that the valves can be changed out to a standard valve for O/A torch useage.

That is IF they can pass the pressure test. And that could be the reason that they were in the scrap yard, they failed the test.

The reason that you were not able to remove the valve is because they are installed very, very, very tightly. Just as tight as the valves are installed in the oxygen bottles used for the O/A torches.

What was the price for them in your area??

[Winger Ed.]

If you open that valve stem, whatever is in there will be released.
A way to double check is to blow air into it with the valve open.
No fittings or anything, just a blow gun should work.
When you stop the air, and the valve is indeed open, you will hear some air rushing back out.
Don't expect alot-- we're talking presurizing that tank to about 3-5 psi. for a few seconds.

If you can make air go in & out of it like that,,
I'd go ahead an cut the bottom off and start competing with Hotfoot.

If you cut/saw the valve off, rather than un-screw it, the hole will probably be about 1/4" or so.
If the tank isn't too heavy, you could thread it and make a neat hanging point with a eye-bolt.
Its also a handy size to hang a 'clapper' for making a windchime or bell out of a larger cylinder.


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[garfish]

As to price. I just heap my pile on the scale and the guy pulls on his beard and
comes up with a price, which I balk at and he lowers it 20%, and we have a deal. Some where around 30cts per pound for steel scrap junk.

[Hotfoot]

Ahhh....another beauty about to be born! I'd clamp 'er down good in a vise, then re-visit that valve with a wrench and a leverage pipe. It will come out!....in some cases (usually those pesky Freon cylinders) I cut the valve right off with my grinder w/ a cutting disc (as Ed W. talks about, above). When you get it to un-screw, a small hitch ball (old scrap one) will screw right in, or just drop an eye bolt through (as per Ed, again), with a little loop tacked on the bottom first (to hang a clanger from) ...I use fence staples for that. A scrap croquet ball will fit right in there, and makes a"hard" clanger. You'll have fun trying all the different wood densities and metal properties for clangers.

[petersenj]

That valve is made to use a "wrench" that usually has a chain looped around the valve. I have some wrenches that fit them. I will post a picture this evening. If you turn it and no gas comes out it is empty.

They have to pass hydro test to be good. plus being steel have to pass a ring test cause rust can grow on the inside. Chances are if in the junk yard it has failed. I am really surprised the yard took it with the valve still in it. I recycle the AL ones all the time and they won't even touch it with the valve still attached. I rarely even see a steel one still in use because of rust problems. Everyone went to Al. That actually looks like an aviator cylinder. Is it a dome on the bottom or flat? I am actually trying to sell a bunch of Al ones on another board that has a classified section.

[garfish]

I opened the valve, watched the gate/ball move, put it in the bench vice and with a big Crescent and a cheater, slowly removed the CGA 870 and all was well with both cylinders.

The bottom is flat (stands upright). Now to cut the bottom off.

Hotfoot, if you're listening, any advice on how much to cut off to get a nice tone? The bottle is about 24" long x 4 1/4" dia. I imagine shorter is a higher pitch and I'd like a deeper sound ( as deep as the little size will give). I don't know if I'll put a clapper in it or make up a hammer/striker to tap it.

Thanks.

[Hotfoot]

I opened the valve, watched the gate/ball move, put it in the bench vice and with a big Crescent and a cheater, slowly removed the CGA 870 and all was well with both cylinders.

The bottom is flat (stands upright). Now to cut the bottom off.

Hotfoot, if you're listening, any advice on how much to cut off to get a nice tone? The bottle is about 24" long x 4 1/4" dia. I imagine shorter is a higher pitch and I'd like a deeper sound ( as deep as the little size will give). I don't know if I'll put a clapper in it or make up a hammer/striker to tap it.

Thanks.

I just cut about 1 1/4" off the bottom on the chop saw, them If I don't care for the tone, I can always chop more, but the tone is greatly affected by the choice of clapper material and bulk.

[David Lutz]

Garfish,

Did you ever make your gong? I've seen the medical oxygen cylinders on ebay and I've wondered if they are too small to have a good sound?

Thanks,

David L.

I opened the valve, watched the gate/ball move, put it in the bench vice and with a big Crescent and a cheater, slowly removed the CGA 870 and all was well with both cylinders.

The bottom is flat (stands upright). Now to cut the bottom off.

Hotfoot, if you're listening, any advice on how much to cut off to get a nice tone? The bottle is about 24" long x 4 1/4" dia. I imagine shorter is a higher pitch and I'd like a deeper sound ( as deep as the little size will give). I don't know if I'll put a clapper in it or make up a hammer/striker to tap it.

Thanks.

[Hotfoot]

I get mine free, both the steel and aluminum. The steel makes a nicer gong in this size...the aluminum tends to be bit high-pitched for my taste, but some folks prefer that. Once the cylinders get up to the 30" tall size or so, the aluminum starts sounding very good, with the right clanger. I'd think to price plus shipping would make buying them online prohibitive.

[David Lutz]

I thought these weren't too bad price wise. $9.99 and free shipping if you spend $30. I was just reluctant to buy a few of them if they didn't sound very good.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Medical-Oxygen-E...742.m153.l1262

Maybe they'd be good for something else. I just can't think of anything.

David L.

I get mine free, both the steel and aluminum. The steel makes a nicer gong in this size...the aluminum tends to be bit high-pitched for my taste, but some folks prefer that. Once the cylinders get up to the 30" tall size or so, the aluminum starts sounding very good, with the right clanger. I'd think to price plus shipping would make buying them online prohibitive.