Welding Gas Tank Valve Position Indicator

[Lis2323]

I used to stick a piece of tape on the valve handle of my welding gas tanks as a quick way to see if the valve was turned off for the day/project.


Today I cleaned up my act and dabbed a little red paint ...



on the handle so that it lines up with the tank’s valve stem and flow meter when “closed”




I only open the valve part way to use so no danger of having the paint line up when half open.

Before anyone comments about high pressure valves needing to be fully open to seat properly, this is what I go by:


1. Open all the way to seat the valve as many of us were trained for years.
2. Open part way because new o-ring technology makes the old way unneeded.


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[mla2ofus]

I always just try to twist the valves clockwise to double check myself.

[danielplace]

If you are not back seating the valve then it could still be leaking. Back seating the valve prevents gas loss while tank valve is open.

Technically you are supposed to open the valve all the way on high pressure tanks. It isn't safer like acetylene or anything and acetylene isn't a high pressure tank anyhow.

I see you know this already.

So your saying new valves are made without backseat because they seal so well now. My guess is sure if they don't even back seat anymore than would be a waste of time to crank all the way open.

If they do incorporate the backseat I would guess they are still able to leak. At least if you do forget and leave it on one potential leak would not exist if open all the way.

If I am going to be at it a while I have always cranked them all the way. If quick weld and done than like a turn after I see/hear gas is open and flowing.

Plenty of welders have never even heard of such BS and laugh because they have never cranked open a valve fully and they have never complained of lost gas or leaking valves so easy to figure it is entirely up to the individual to choose how he uses his equipment and not much is going to be any different one way or the other.

[Lis2323]

I always just try to twist the valves clockwise to double check myself.

Wait til you get older. You’ll end up “double checking “ every time you walk by.


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[Jack Ryan]

Before anyone comments about high pressure valves needing to be fully open to seat properly, this is what I go by:

1. Open all the way to seat the valve as many of us were trained for years.
2. Open part way because new o-ring technology makes the old way unneeded.

In fact some guides say not to open the valve fully to avoid it sticking. Here in Australia I don't think there are any of the old high pressure valves still in circulation. Until relatively recently, all bottles were rented so the old valves were swapped out as a matter of course. I believe any remaining would be way out of date.

Jack

[mla2ofus]

Wait til you get older. You’ll end up “double checking “ every time you walk by.


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AHHH, I'm well up in the years. In fact you could say I'm long of tooth.

[Kelvin]

I do the exact same thing, Lis. Gives me a way to confirm the bottle is off from across the shop before I turn off the lights.

[Yofish]

I just turn them OFF when done and then ON when ready. Why make more work for some poor bloke that has to maintain them?

[Kelvin]

I just turn them OFF when done and then ON when ready.

What a radical idea ... talk about "thinking outside the box"!

[vpd66]

I do the same thing but just use a wide tip Sharpie. I also make a mark on the top of the tank PSI gauge when it is full. Then I can see if a new tank is full or if the welding store ripped me off. Does it work? Well lets just say I'm about ready to take a regulator with me when I exchange for a full tank.

[Kelvin]

I do the same thing but just use a wide tip Sharpie. I also make a mark on the top of the tank PSI gauge when it is full. Then I can see if a new tank is full or if the welding store ripped me off. Does it work? Well lets just say I'm about ready to take a regulator with me when I exchange for a full tank.

Just remember that pressure is gonna depend on temperature with a gas like argon. The same bottle that shows 2500 psi at 90°F will only be about 2236 psi at 32°F.

https://www.aqua-calc.com/calculate/...nd-temperature

[vpd66]

Just remember that pressure is gonna depend on temperature with a gas like argon. The same bottle that shows 2500 psi at 90°F will only be about 2236 psi at 32°F.

https://www.aqua-calc.com/calculate/...nd-temperature

I've seen a lot more variance then a couple hundred PSI. More like a couple thousand PSI!

[shovelon]

In fact some guides say not to open the valve fully to avoid it sticking. Here in Australia I don't think there are any of the old high pressure valves still in circulation. Until relatively recently, all bottles were rented so the old valves were swapped out as a matter of course. I believe any remaining would be way out of date.

Jack

I was taught in school some 40 years ago to open fully. Then about 20 years ago a gas rep that I trust told me the old double seat valves are obsolete with a single sleeve seal that holds gas in any valve position. So I open a couple of turns only now and is easy to tell if it has been closed or not.

I also never release the inert gas pressure when shutting down so I can see if the gas solenoids and hoses are tight. Bad ones bleed gas right away or slowly over night. The good ones hold pressure all night. I do bleed oxy-acet regs though.

[Kelvin]

I've seen a lot more variance then a couple hundred PSI. More like a couple thousand PSI!

Another good reason not to deal with Airgasp

[Lis2323]

I was taught in school some 40 years ago to open fully. Then about 20 years ago a gas rep that I trust told me the old double seat valves are obsolete with a single sleeve seal that holds gas in any valve position.


. I do bleed oxy-acet regs though.

Same

And

Same


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[BillE.Dee]

I hang my hat on the valve of the tank that I'm using. I don't go anywhere without my hat. Hat on tank OFF. I only open enough to get my flow,,,haven't had any issues .... so far.

[shovelon]

I hang my hat on the valve of the tank that I'm using. I don't go anywhere without my hat. Hat on tank OFF. I only open enough to get my flow,,,haven't had any issues .... so far.

That is a good routine.