WWI gas cylinder handles for positive control

[farmall]

I finally found the large photo of these slick problem solvers and after I recover from outpatient lumbar laminectomy (hint, have a neurosurgeon read your fresh MRI) I'll make a couple with wing nuts the size of cylinder fittings so one wrench gets both and besides being a back saver I could load cylinders easily with a winch or tall jib crane.

The incentive these fellows had to not drop cylinders was considerable:

[12V71]

To load cylinders in my truck rack I use a hook from from a ratchet strap with a loop that fits my crane hook, hook the "J" into the hole in the cap making sure it isn't contacting the valve handle and lift them out, same for putting them back in the rack. This is in the front corner of a service body and I got tired of lugging them out of the truck over every obstacle you can imagine.

[Louie1961]

after I recover from outpatient lumbar laminectomy

I feel your pain. I had an L3-L4 laminectomy with fusion in February of this year. Got two rods and six screws. I am just starting to feel better.

[SW2 Seabee]

Yep, Auto Crane only Whey to load cylinders in the service truck.

[Louie1961]

I just pay to have my cylinders delivered. I just got a 330 cu ft tank of 90/10. The delivery guy did me a solid and even lifted it up onto the running gear for me. I think the delivery charge was like $25...money well spent.

[smithdoor]

Looks like Great size.
I had 60 337 cf size oxygen we used for all of our work over 200 pounds.
Today in retirement 80 and 120 cf size a lot better size 👍
Ones photo are smaller than 337cf size.

Dave

I finally found the large photo of these slick problem solvers and after I recover from outpatient lumbar laminectomy (hint, have a neurosurgeon read your fresh MRI) I'll make a couple with wing nuts the size of cylinder fittings so one wrench gets both and besides being a back saver I could load cylinders easily with a winch or tall jib crane.

The incentive these fellows had to not drop cylinders was considerable:

[farmall]

I just pay to have my cylinders delivered. I just got a 330 cu ft tank of 90/10. The delivery guy did me a solid and even lifted it up onto the running gear for me. I think the delivery charge was like $25...money well spent.

I could do that but it doesn't address moving them around afterwards (onto carts, swapping cylinders etc) which a handling attachment does nicely. Getting em off the truck is the easy part (drag em back then let the bottom hit the dirt or gravel the way some delivery drivers do singles). Our local Airgas apparently (my machinistbro cancelled his account over it) quit bringing them indoors even through a garage doorway. Their service has otherwise been excellent so maybe it was corporate but (unless I score a bunch of blank neck ring covers) my cylinder fleet of lease size replacements for the heap of original blank neck ringed cylinders I bought Navy surplus is all Airgas since they eventually gave me replacement cylinders.

BTW anyone contending blank neck cylinders weren't mass-produced hasn't worked for Uncle Sugar. All the cylinders I saw servicing GOX and gaseous nitrogen in the Air Force were blank.

[Willie B]

Everything I have is 330 CF bottles. CEP used to criticize me for welding a chain to the cap. While I once had a bottle (leased) that thread didn't fit tight, I figure the neck ring is secure enough to support the cap in tip over accidents, it ought to handle 130 lbs.

[vwguy3]

Move enough cylinders and you will find out that cylinder caps are not the best way to lift a cylinder. I have grabbed cylinders in the past that once you start to roll it you find the cap is loose enough that it ends up on the ground/floor. I have seen them also that when threaded fully in place you can lift them off with the slightest of effort.

[A_DAB_will_do]

A coworker of mine picked up a large gas cylinder by the cap to load it into a cage. When the cylinder came off the ground the cap came free and he punched himself in the face with top of the cap. I consider it a near miracle that he didn’t break his nose or bust out his front teeth. Turned out someone else had cross threaded a coarse threaded cap onto the fine thread cylinder collar.

Move enough cylinders and you will find out that cylinder caps are not the best way to lift a cylinder. I have grabbed cylinders in the past that once you start to roll it you find the cap is loose enough that it ends up on the ground/floor. I have seen them also that when threaded fully in place you can lift them off with the slightest of effort.

[Willie B]

A coworker of mine picked up a large gas cylinder by the cap to load it into a cage. When the cylinder came off the ground the cap came free and he punched himself in the face with top of the cap. I consider it a near miracle that he didn’t break his nose or bust out his front teeth. Turned out someone else had cross threaded a coarse threaded cap onto the fine thread cylinder collar.

OK Dad. I'll make a hoist clamp. I lift argon out of the cellar. Other cylinders, I can struggle with other methods.

[Welder Dave]

Big no no to lift by the cap. Most of the time the threads on the cylinder are severely rusted. Good to see A DAB will do posting.

[M J D]

I've picked up quite a few 330 ft bottles with a cap I've welded a ring to. Never had a problem. Cap always tightened down good on any ones I lifted. I just lift them the 4-5 feet into the back of a semi trailer. In reality it's probably no worse than lifting horizontally by the cap. Any issues with loose caps is most likely a supplier issue as I've yet to find a poor fitting cap thru my supplier.

[farmersammm]

I need to move a cylinder..................................."Oh K'kins........sweetie.........."

[CAVEMANN]

I got a bottle once with a cap that was loose enough to "slip" a thread when tightening, that was all the convincing I needed to NOT lift vertically by the cap. I use a nylon choker wit a couple of half hitches for added safety.

[smithdoor]

I did old fashioned way just lift on truck.
That way in retirement I change from 337cf to 80cf &120cf lighter.

Dave

I got a bottle once with a cap that was loose enough to "slip" a thread when tightening, that was all the convincing I needed to NOT lift vertically by the cap. I use a nylon choker wit a couple of half hitches for added safety.

[Gump]

I did old fashioned way just lift on truck.
That way in retirement I change from 337cf to 80cf &120cf lighter.

Dave

Dave, it sounds like you’re not very good at the retirement thing ��

[smithdoor]

Most problems i have is chemo side effects.
Down size is what I am working at
The old cylinders weight was over 200 pounds not good to lift.

Dave

Dave, it sounds like you’re not very good at the retirement thing ��

[CAVEMANN]

I did old fashioned way just lift on truck.
That way in retirement I change from 337cf to 80cf &120cf lighter.

Dave

That's fine if you can lift it, my back is already badly screwed up, I won't even try to roll it to the tailgate & rest the top on the gate while lifting the bottom. Bottom line I can't/dont lift anything over about 15lbs.

[Welder Dave]

That's fine if you can lift it, my back is already badly screwed up, I won't even try to roll it to the tailgate & rest the top on the gate while lifting the bottom. Bottom line I can't/dont lift anything over about 15lbs.

I'm in the same boat now. Don't want to damage my back any worse than it is. I slipped and fell in the mud today but lucky not directly on my back, more on my left butt cheek. Seem to be OK. When I 1st got the news I had compression fractures in 10 of my vertebrae and my bones were like butter a few month's ago, I was absolutely terrified of falling, especially when using a walker. I thought my bones would turn to powder and I'd be totally crippled. Procedure to repair 5 of the fractures was a miracle but 10 was too much to do in one procedure so still have be super careful. Supposed to be having a phone conversation with the specialist on July 2. If he wants to repair the other 5 fractures I'm all in! Apparently the bone cement is stronger than healthy bone. Standing or walking too much, my back gets pretty sore.

Here's a cradle for lifting cylinders.

https://www.lift-it.com/gas-cylinder-cradles

[CAVEMANN]

I'm in the same boat now. Don't want to damage my back any worse than it is. I slipped and fell in the mud today but lucky not directly on my back, more on my left butt cheek. Seem to be OK. When I 1st got the news I had compression fractures in 10 of my vertebrae and my bones were like butter a few month's ago, I was absolutely terrified of falling, especially when using a walker. I thought my bones would turn to powder and I'd be totally crippled. Procedure to repair 5 of the fractures was a miracle but 10 was too much to do in one procedure so still have be super careful. Supposed to be having a phone conversation with the specialist on July 2. If he wants to repair the other 5 fractures I'm all in! Apparently the bone cement is stronger than healthy bone. Standing or walking too much, my back gets pretty sore.

Here's a cradle for lifting cylinders.

https://www.lift-it.com/gas-cylinder-cradles

Best wishes Dave, I have four levels fused from S-1 up thru L-2, I have rods that are broken and screws that are bent, the surgeon wants to redo the fusions and hardware, add one more level and add hardware from T-10 thru S-1 and fuse my SI joints, I tried and tried to generate any level of comfort to go forward with the surgery & finally decided against it since I've already been through 2 unsuccessful back repairs, who knows it might be the golden ticket, but my gut says otherwise. A second doctor I saw for an indepentant evaluation said it would be a long, long recovery and the likelihood of ending up in a wheelchair was high.

[Welder Dave]

That sounds like a real dilemma on what to do. You want to feel better but don't know if the operation will be successful or not. My case is a little different because the procedure has a 100% success rate. I was mistaken and the call from the specialist was today. He wants to do another Vertebroplasty procedure to repair the other fractures in my back. My (cancer) Dr. thinks it would be a good idea to have done before the stem cell transplant. Looking at having the Vertebroplasty in early August and the stem cell/bone marrow transplant mid August. Will be great if I don't have to deal with back pain if there could be side effects from the transplant. I need to stay in the cancer institute for 3 to 5 weeks depending on how I react to the transplant. I hope it's on the shorter side of the equation. The good thing is it's at the cancer institute and not the hospital. Level of care from the nurses between the two is night and day. Some good nurses in the hospital but some really terrible ones too. They are all good at the cancer institute and happy to help you.

[CAVEMANN]

That sounds like a real dilemma on what to do. You want to feel better but don't know if the operation will be successful or not. My case is a little different because the procedure has a 100% success rate. I was mistaken and the call from the specialist was today. He wants to do another Vertebroplasty procedure to repair the other fractures in my back. My (cancer) Dr. thinks it would be a good idea to have done before the stem cell transplant. Looking at having the Vertebroplasty in early August and the stem cell/bone marrow transplant mid August. Will be great if I don't have to deal with back pain if there could be side effects from the transplant. I need to stay in the cancer institute for 3 to 5 weeks depending on how I react to the transplant. I hope it's on the shorter side of the equation. The good thing is it's at the cancer institute and not the hospital. Level of care from the nurses between the two is night and day. Some good nurses in the hospital but some really terrible ones too. They are all good at the cancer institute and happy to help you.

Thanks Dave, I want to wish you all the best with your surgeries and treatments, cancer is much more treatable than it was several years ago ,especially IF they catch it early, it can still make you very uncomfortable. My wife went through breast cancer last year, she wa at stage 2 & still lost one breast & had to go through radiation for 6 weeks, she's fine now & the cancer was a non-aggressive type and not genetic, so she's probably safe from a repeat & our daughters don't have to worry about the genetics being a problem. Dave, stay safe & hang in there, there was a 65 year old man that was fighting lung cancer where she was going, he was recieving chemo too and was beating the cancer but for some reason he just stopped the treatments. Everyone at the center was awesome & helped every way they could, we also made friends with a lot of good people that were getting treatment, we saw a lot and can relate to anyone who is fighting it. Stay safe, stay strong & please keep us informed.

[Welder Dave]

Thank you CAVEMANN! I am lucky (if that even works when cancer is involved) that the type of cancer I have is very treatable and the prognosis is very good. I mentioned it before that I talked to one of the volunteers at the cancer institute who just happened to have the same type of cancer. He was first diagnosed in 2009 and going strong 12 years later. That was the best inspiration a person could get! I think having a positive attitude and surrounding yourself with good people makes a huge difference. Having Dr's. and specialists you trust is also very important to keep you in a positive state. I can actually laugh now without it causing excruciating back pain. There were times when I just wanted to cry in pain but that also caused excruciating back pain. I can say with authority that laughing isn't always the best medicine, well not at first anyways. You first have to be able to laugh without it causing more pain. So far as long as the cancer is concerned I'm doing fantastic. Hope to stay at level 2 which is a number the Dr's. use to indicate how much cancer a person has. I started off at 40! Get rid of the catheter soon and hopefully the strong pain pills in early August. It was nice to drive on my own on the weekend. Lets me be a little bit independent. Back wasn't too sore while driving. It gets sore if I'm on my feet for more than about 10 minutes or if I'm leaning over some. I took some bolts out to remove the water pump on my Cat and the little bit of leaning over made my back ache pretty good. A mechanic friend is helping but I felt I should be trying to do what I can to help him. He's running my MX track for me and doing all the grooming and cutting the grass in the parking lot. He's also going to make the pee wee track when the area dries up a little more. Can't ask for a better friend! Most others are always too busy when you need help.