argon tank

[beamed94OneFiddY]

how do u know what the cylinder holds my buddy gave me a tank but i dont know what it hold theres no stickers or anything just some numbers and u guys that own ur tanks what numbers are on them if any at all thanks for the help this is my frist of many posts i move welding

[Boostinjdm]

Pics???

[duaneb55]

Welcome to the forum beamed94OneFiddY. :waving:

This should help you. Someone posted this some time ago on the subject.

32117

[Sr SQ]

Thanks for the link duane55
Been lookin for this info

[beamed94OneFiddY]

theres a pic of the dot say 3a2015 can i get this filled with argon and it has an airco vavle on it do u think airgas would fill it theres a pic of my 3 dollar welding table and any idea what that thing in the last pic could be used for thanks
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b386/unknownuser22/th_IMG_0050.jpg (http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b386/unknownuser22/?action=view&current=IMG_0050.jpg)
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b386/unknownuser22/th_IMG_0055.jpg (http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b386/unknownuser22/?action=view&current=IMG_0055.jpg)
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b386/unknownuser22/th_IMG_0056.jpg (http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b386/unknownuser22/?action=view&current=IMG_0056.jpg)

[beamed94OneFiddY]

bump?

[Dmaxer]

The number you copied looks like the psi rating of the cylinder (2015). I'm guessing from your photo the relative size of the tank at 125 cu.ft.. You didn't include the last hydrostatic test date stamped into the cylinder (should be near the pressure stamp - a plus sign + followed by a star after the date means the hydro is good for 10 yrs.) or any owner name cast into the neck ring. If there's no name, that's good because it can be "owned" by a private individual (with a few exceptions). If it can be owned, then the cost of re-hydotesting if it is out of date will be on you. Some gas dealers ask to see your receipt of purchase to satisfy themselves that you really own it.

The orange paint on the cylinder has me stumped. That color is not in the standard list of cylinder color codes denoting the contents of the cylinder. If all the indicators above are positive, then a gas supplier may be willing to refill it. In any case, the last word will come from them so just go ahead and ask one.:cool:

[beamed94OneFiddY]

the owner ring says jd paddock co then as followed on the bottle
dot3a2015 spun
ma-475 3 cl 72=m
coyne 1pa78 + 71

so does this mean the last time it was tested was 78 or 71 how much do the the hydp test costs

[Dmaxer]

So far you haven't spotted the hydro test date stamp. It has the month as a two digit number followed by some from of the @ sign followed by the four digit year followed by a + sign and perhaps a star.

I don't think it matters though as I doubt most gas suppliers will refill it with the name of another company on the cylinder. Usually when a gas supplier goes out of business, another one buys out their stock, including all cylinders bearing their name. Gas suppliers have a book listing the names of all suppliers, including defunct companies whose cylinders were bought out, and by whom. If the Paddock name is in there they will tell you to go to the company that owns the cylinder, i.e., it is a lease only deal and any re-hydro testing is theirs to do. Again, the only way you'll know for certain is to ask a dealer.:waving:

[mrmikey]

The orange paint on the cylinder has me stumped
A faded brown possibly, if so, that's nitrogen or at least it is with Air Liquide....Mike

[beamed94OneFiddY]

the paint is orange im just gonna look for another tank my buudy found this one in his back yard thanks for all the info guys

[Ken Dennis]

There are some companies that use the color on the tank to be a visible means of identifying their tank, and a sticker along with the cap to indicate the contents, this is if it is an inert gas such as Argon, and not a gas that is subject to the Hazmat regs, I don't know if this is totally with regulations, but it is how they do things here, as seen by the tank on my MIG, its a C25 mix, and it is a lease tank.

The cap on yours is green, which could mean it had oxy in it, or not, depending on if the right cap was put back on!

[KWG2347]

To me it looks like c25,,, on the valve it should say 580 and sometimes the valve has a little dt printed on it for dip tube.