New (To Me) Size 3 Acetylene Tank ??

Gordon Gould · Jul 10, 2014

I run size 3 tanks on my torch set. Yesterday when I went in to trade my empty Acetylene tank for a full one they gave me what they called the "new style" size 3 at Air Gas. It has the valve recessed below a deep rim welded to the tank top and a vertical rather than horizontal fitting for the regulator. I would rather be safe than sorry so does anyone have any comments about how I have this set up. I am not sure I like not being able to see the regulators from the work area. And I can only get a couple fingers on the valve.

Thanks

Gary Fowler · Jul 10, 2014

I would tell my gas supplier to not supply that tank to me anymore for safety reasons. In an emergency, it would be nearly impossible to quickly turn off the gas supply.

Looks like the bureaucrats that have messed with the fuel cans are working on compressed gas cylinders now.

aczlan · Jul 10, 2014

Looks like the "Old style" Acetylene tanks that took a key to turn on/off but with a hand wheel on the valve.

Aaron Z

Furu · Jul 10, 2014

That was the type we had back in 1963. POS and Pita to turn off especially when a leak caught fire at the regulator once.

Gordon Gould · Jul 10, 2014

Hmmmm..... Maybe the guy was trying to make a joke when he called it the new style and I was to dumb to realize it.
I guess I will squawk a little before I take another tank like that home.

Thanks for the comments.

Arc weld · Jul 12, 2014

Praxair uses those style cylinders. What's interesting is a manager at work said new acetylene valves open all the way like oxygen valves are supposed to. Apparently they have a double seat to prevent leaks. I never really looked into further but it used to be 1 1/2 turns open was the max.

Gary Fowler · Jul 12, 2014

Any tank that you cant effectively get a grip on the valve handle is a POS and should be banned. I doubt OSHA would allow those on a commercial jobsite. I know my former companies safety police wouldn't for sure.

Arc weld · Jul 12, 2014

What about the thousands of B tanks out there that plumbers use. Most use a tiny little square key to open them. If the valve is hard to get at with the regulator on, maybe you could put a longer nipple on the regulator to make it easier? It's a PIA for sure but might make it easier to get at the valve.

crazyal · Jul 13, 2014

Maybe the "new style" is the valve and not the tank? Maybe the valve has been redesigned to cut out if the gas flow is too great, say like the regulator breaks off. I've seen lots of tanks like those used by plumbers. I assumed they were mapp gas. The few acetylene tanks I've seen at work have a metal guard that clamps onto the threads for the cap.

Gordon Gould · Jul 13, 2014

All I know is that AirGas calls it ACETYLENE SIZE 3 FLAT TOP (CL UOM) CGA 510. I don't know what CL UOM means.

ArcWeld, the regulator is not in the way. Actually I have a 510 to 540 converter on there that acts as an extender. My reg has a CGA 540 for a B tank. The rim is so deep and it's inside diameter so small that you can only reach down in and get your thumb and one finger on the valve wheel.