Can I weld to a compressor tank

[Gittyup]

I want to weld a hose reel right to my 30 gallon compressor tank. Can I do this safely as long as I keep the relief valve open? Seems like it'd be safe, but don't want to blow my head off.

 

[F.L. Jennings]

Since air compressor tanks and all pressure vessels are asme coded and can't be built without asme certification, I would not do it. Just too big of a risk. Wall thicknesses can vary in the rolled walls and the formed ends. Even an expert professional welder should not weld to a tank for safties sake IMHO. In these small mass produced tanks metal thickness is absolute minimum.

You could strap clamp any attachment to the tank rather than weld. I don't know what size the tank is but you could mount the whole thing on a 4 wheeled cart then add whatever accessories to the cart frame.

Frank

 

[kenstrac]

You should not weld a pressure vessel unless you a a certified welder and it's a ASME certified tank

 

[Gittyup]

Thanks for the input. I'll have to find another way. The tank is a 30 gallon cheapo Kobalt compressor (compressor on top) already mounted on wheels. I am very much a beginner welder. So, I won't risk it. Maybe I can attach it somehow to the pull handle and band the bottom to the tank.

There is a ring factory welded to the bottom where the wheels attach. Can I weld to that ring safely?

 

[Wheatland KB]

Welding on a pressure vessel requires a stress relief and re-temper. Without the heat treatment the structural integrity of the tank would be severely comprimised and a fatigue crack could develop in the hardened weld zone at any time. The welding would go fine and the tank might not leak but you would be sitting on a time bomb never knowing which pressurization cycle might be the fatal one.
Please don't do it.

KB

 

[Gary Fowler]

You can safely add a hose reel like I did to my compressor. Just weld it on to the bracket that the compressor and motor are attached to or the handle bracket or strap it on, anything other than welding to the pressure boundary of the tank. You can weld to any bracket attachment, just stay away from the tank and make sure the electrical plug is not plugged in, sometimes the welding ground will backfeed through the ground wire.

If you are determined that you must weld on the tank, you should first bleed all the air out of it and leave the vent open. After welding you would need to pressure test it by filling it with water and bringing it to at least 1.5 times the max working pressure to feel save before compressing the air again. Since this takes some specialize equipment, not an advisable thing to do. I am a certified pressure welder and I know I could make a weld without damaging the tank, however, I still wouldnt weld to the tank at all as you just destroyed the certification on it when you weld to any part of the pressurized portion of the tank

 

[Gittyup]

You can safely add a hose reel like I did to my compressor. Just weld it on to the bracket that the compressor and motor are attached to or the handle bracket or strap it on, anything other than welding to the pressure boundary of the tank. You can weld to any bracket attachment, just stay away from the tank and make sure the electrical plug is not plugged in, sometimes the welding ground will backfeed through the ground wire.

If you are determined that you must weld on the tank, you should first bleed all the air out of it and leave the vent open. After welding you would need to pressure test it by filling it with water and bringing it to at least 1.5 times the max working pressure to feel save before compressing the air again. Since this takes some specialize equipment, not an advisable thing to do. I am a certified pressure welder and I know I could make a weld without damaging the tank, however, I still wouldnt weld to the tank at all as you just destroyed the certification on it when you weld to any part of the pressurized portion of the tank

Thanks Gary. I'm not going to do anything stupid. You got any photos of how you did it?

 

[greenmule]

Welding to a pressure vessel doesn't require stress relieve or whatever else was said. Unless it is a certain type of metal and a certain thickness,this tank would be neither one.

Being a certified welder means next to nothing and has nothing to do with him welding on his own tank.

Unless you know your stuff, I wouldn't weld on it,but if you do,let the air out of course,and leave a hole/vent open. practice on something real thin and get your heat right. Ground it to the tank itself,don't put a great big weld on it,put no more thans needed to hold it good,if you need to put a bigger weld to hold whatever,weld a little and let it cool a little.

 

[greenmule]

No need to pressure/hydro this,he is not recertifying it,yeah,it will void manfactors warrenty,but who cares,main thing is he don't burn a big hole and ruin it.

If you want to see if it leaks,make you up a bubble mix[dish liquid and water mixed up to a froth],pressure tank and take a little brush and put it on are,if theres a leak,you'll see it.

 

[2manyrocks]

Why not bolt it to a plate and bolt the plate to where the motor is mounted?

What's the need for welding it to the tank?

My hose reel is bolted to the cement block wall next to my compressor.

 

[Egon]

You can safely add a hose reel like I did to my compressor. Just weld it on to the bracket that the compressor and motor are attached to or the handle bracket or strap it on,[/QUOTE]

Just wondering how the bracket is attached to the tank??

Might it be welded on? Then there are the nozzles. They may just be welded on to!

So what can and can't be welded to the tank?

 

[2manyrocks]

Usually, they are nailed on, but duct tape will work.

 

[kenstrac]

Welding to a pressure vessel doesn't require stress relieve or whatever else was said. Unless it is a certain type of metal and a certain thickness,this tank would be neither one.

Being a certified welder means next to nothing and has nothing to do with him welding on his own tank.

Unless you know your stuff, I wouldn't weld on it,but if you do,let the air out of course,and leave a hole/vent open. practice on something real thin and get your heat right. Ground it to the tank itself,don't put a great big weld on it,put no more thans needed to hold it good,if you need to put a bigger weld to hold whatever,weld a little and let it cool a little.

No need to pressure/hydro this,he is not recertifying it,yeah,it will void manfactors warrenty,but who cares,main thing is he don't burn a big hole and ruin it.

If you want to see if it leaks,make you up a bubble mix[dish liquid and water mixed up to a froth],pressure tank and take a little brush and put it on are,if theres a leak,you'll see it.

IF YOU WELD TO THE TANK and it let's go and you KILL somebody who is going to be responsible, should I just tell them green mule said its OK then you can pay the lawsuit or spend the jail time!

 

[kenstrac]

You can safely add a hose reel like I did to my compressor. Just weld it on to the bracket that the compressor and motor are attached to or the handle bracket or strap it on,[/QUOTE]

Just wondering how the bracket is attached to the tank??

Might it be welded on? Then there are the nozzles. They may just be welded on to!

So what can and can't be welded to the tank?

It's all done in the factory and yes they are ALL welded on under ideal conditions and factory specs,then they are pressure tested to a higher pressure than you can achieve with the compressor.

 

[Egon]

are nailed on,[/QUOTE]

Galvanized or spiral?

IF YOU WELD TO THE TANK and it let's go and you KILL somebody who is going to be responsible, should I just tell them green mule said its OK then you can pay the lawsuit or spend the jail time!

Could it be assumed that the original tank had the base and nozzles welded on? Could it also be assumed that a procedure was followed? Could it also be assumed if the proper procedure was followed by a competent welder additional welds could be made?

 

[flusher]

Thanks for the input. I'll have to find another way. The tank is a 30 gallon cheapo Kobalt compressor (compressor on top) already mounted on wheels. I am very much a beginner welder. So, I won't risk it. Maybe I can attach it somehow to the pull handle and band the bottom to the tank.

There is a ring factory welded to the bottom where the wheels attach. Can I weld to that ring safely?

I'm a novice welder also. So, instead of possibly boogering up your tank and creating a safety hazard, use this opportunity to improve your welding skills by designing and welding up something like a small trailer to carry your hose wheel.

 

[kenstrac]

are nailed on,[/QUOTE]

Galvanized or spiral?




Could it be assumed that the original tank had the base and nozzles welded on? Could it also be assumed that a procedure was followed? Could it also be assumed if the proper procedure was followed by a competent welder additional welds could be made?

Yeah I guess so as long as he has a 200 gal. hydro test tank in his back pocket.and a compressor that will put out 375 psi

BTW I made a tray bracket for all my connectors and used some beam clamps to hold it on the saddle no welding no drilling

 

[Egon]

Yeah I guess so as long as he has a 200 gal. hydro test tank in his back pocket.

Why would a 200 gal hydro test tank be required? What purpose would it serve?

 

[kenstrac]

You need a water tank to put the tank your testing in .

 

[greenmule]

ken,been around[done] a bunch of hydro testing on vessils,pipe,etc[never on a air compressor I will admit],but,never heard of putting the thing you are testing inside a tank full of water,we always filled the vessil WITH water and pressure it up,sometimes to thousands of psi,[water is much more safer if it lets go than a gas],now maybe you are talking about an air test? That might be how they do it at a air compressor factory? put the tank in another tank of water and look for bubbles? but that ain't a hydro test.,
if you want to do an air test alls you need is some soap bubbles,they call it snoop,but you can make your own.

And yes,thats the way you hydro test something to asme.I mean you could put it in a tank of water if you wanted to,but you don't need to,generally 1 1/2 times design pressure is what you test at,doubt if that tank has more than a 300 psi design pressure?

As to your question about should you tell them green mule said it was ok if it kills somebody,can if you want,but I ain't welding on his tank,so...

I wouldn't be worried about welding on an air compressor tank[if I had to],welded on much more dangerous stuff than a little ole cheap air compressor tank,but like I said,do not plan on welding on mine,he's talking about his,and if he wants to,its his,