Anyone here a Pneumatics specialist?
*Nick raises hand
I don't want to piss on anyone's chips, but Buffer-tanks such as the one you're describing
ARE specifically designed as pressure vessels. Not only that, but they can usually take a far greater beating than air compressor tanks.
A compressor's tank failing is
extremely rare. Tanks usually go pourous without ever getting weak enough to "explode". Most air-tank breaches are a result of people messing with safety valves, using innapropriate tanks (water storage tanks etc) or in some really rare cases, using the wrong oil in the compressor itself, (it can lead to an explosive gasseous mix in the tank with obvious results) or just being plain incompetent idiots. What ever the cause, it always results in people running about screaming about how the only thing that can withstand compressed air is a compressor tank. These are usually the same people who insist upon deflating bike tyres for international flights. *rolleyes*
First things first: From what I understand you simply plan to fill this tank at the pressure your exising compressor can supply, to enable to you to lug a little air around? Unless the tank is pretty large, it'll be little use for anything other than topping up a tyre...
A compromised bladder shouldn't cause a pressure vessel any issues when compared to their Compressor counterparts. Compressor tanks spend most of their time with water swilling around in the bottom: A stunning amount of people never remember to drain them.
There are however some other things you should consider. If you slash the bladder where it sits, you'll end up with rubber contaminating your airlines, or even flapping over the outlet and blocking it. There will be a place where the bladder was put into the vessel itself. Probably a radially bolted plate. Remove the bladder that way, and inspect the vessel. Use the neck of the bladder as the gasket to re-seal it.
As you'll be filling with a known pressure, you've got one base covered. I'm guessing you plan to max out at 150psi? Assume you're going to fill with the max pressure your compressor will supply - so when you forget to adjust the pressure or want to push it that "little bit further" you've already tested your limits.
Follow
pat32rf's text-book-perfect testing technique. As you know your max operating pressure, I'd only bother testing it to 150% of the pressure you intend to use. :thumbsup:
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Someone has said "the end cap is plastic", but I'm not sure where that info was stated. If it IS plastic, then after consider the amusing effect of dropping the tank cap-end-down on a pointy stone, Shelve the project.