Craigslist finds

[danlott]

I have been searching Craigslist for about 2 months now looking for a horizonal propane tank to use on my build. I was actually able to locate 2 tanks. I was only looking for 1 tank, but the seller had 2, so I bought both. The are both full of propane also.

They were located 360 miles from me. I just happen to have a co-worker that was heading that way this past weekend, so the seller agreed to hold them for me and my co-worker picked them up.



Dan

[eamarquardt]

Verrrrrrrrry cool. Nice find. No OPD valve required. Now you'll have to clean em up, repaint em, and get em inspected. I had a hard time finding someone to "re certify" some tanks recently. I finally called a statewide propane association and they told me where to go (literally). It was about ten bucks/tank and they just look at the tank, see that it's clean, not too rusty, and then put a vinyl sticker on it with the date of the inspection "penciled in". Kinda hokey but required by law.

Cheers,

Gus

[Lizbeth]

It was about ten bucks/tank and they just look at the tank, see that it's clean, not too rusty, and then put a vinyl sticker on it with the date of the inspection "penciled in". Kinda hokey but required by law.

Wow we had a few done a couple years ago and it was about 20 bucks and they stamped new dates on the collars. Is it some kind of official looking sticker?

[eamarquardt]

It wasn't that official looking and the writing is easily wiped off.

Cheers,

Gus

[danlott]

I am not sure what I will have to do with the tanks. They are holding propane just fine. I will clean them up and I would like to paint the one that I will put on my trailer. I probably should talk to my local propane company before I paint it. If they are going to stamp it then I would want to paint it afterwards.

Dan

[Shadow Catcher]

The requirement is a hydrostatic test.
i) A DOT specification 4B, 4BA, 4B240ET or 4BW (Secs. 178.50, 178.51,
178.55 and 178.61 of this subchapter) cylinder may be retested as
follows:
(A) For a cylinder with a water capacity of 12 pounds or less by
hydrostatic test using the water jacket method or by hydrostatic test
without determination of expansion (modified hydrostatic test method). A
retest must be performed 12 years after the original test date and at
12-year intervals thereafter.
(B) For a cylinder having a water capacity over 12 pounds--
(1) By hydrostatic test without determination of expansion (modified
hydrostatic test method). A retest must be performed 12 years after the
original test date and at 7-year intervals; or
(2) By hydrostatic test using the water jacket method. A retest must
be performed 12 years after the original test date and at 12-year
intervals thereafter.

[eamarquardt]

The requirement is a hydrostatic test.
i) A DOT specification 4B, 4BA, 4B240ET or 4BW (Secs. 178.50, 178.51,
178.55 and 178.61 of this subchapter) cylinder may be retested as
follows:
(A) For a cylinder with a water capacity of 12 pounds or less by
hydrostatic test using the water jacket method or by hydrostatic test
without determination of expansion (modified hydrostatic test method). A
retest must be performed 12 years after the original test date and at
12-year intervals thereafter.
(B) For a cylinder having a water capacity over 12 pounds--
(1) By hydrostatic test without determination of expansion (modified
hydrostatic test method). A retest must be performed 12 years after the
original test date and at 7-year intervals; or
(2) By hydrostatic test using the water jacket method. A retest must
be performed 12 years after the original test date and at 12-year
intervals thereafter.

It amazes me how many different answers one can find to the same question! Here are the requirements for testing on another web site. This site says that hydro testing of propane cylinders (at least the type I have) is not required and that a visual inspection is sufficient.

Cheers,

Gus

http://www.c-f-c.com/gaslink/docs/dot_cylinder.htm

(13) A cylinder made in conformance with a specification - exceptions

listed in the table in this paragraph (e)(13) and used exclusively in the service indicated may,
instead of a periodic hydrostatic retest, be given a complete external visual inspection at the time periodic retest becomes due. External visual inspection must be in accordance with CGA Pamphlet C-6 or C-6.3. When this inspection is used instead of hydrostatic retesting, subsequent inspections are required at five-year intervals after the first inspection. Inspections must be made only by competent persons and the results recorded and maintained in accordance with paragraph (e)(8) of this section. Records shall include: date of inspection (month and year); DOT specification number; cylinder identification (registered symbol and serial number, date of manufacture, and owner); type of cylinder protective coating (including statement as to need of refinishing or recoating); conditions checked (e.g., leakage, corrosion, gouges, dents or digs in shell or heads, broken or damaged footring or protective ring or fire damage); disposition of cylinder (returned to service, returned to cylinder manufacturer for repairs or scrapped). A cylinder that passes inspection shall be marked with the date in accordance with paragraph (e)(7) of this section. An "E" after the date indicates requalification by the external inspection method. Specification cylinders must be in exclusive service as follows:

Cylinders made in compliance Used exclusively for-- with--

Modified Retest / Exclusive Use Table

Cylinders made in compliance with — Used exclusively for —
DOT-4, DOT-3A, DOT-3AA, DOT3A480X, DOT-4A, DOT-4AA480 Anhydrous ammonia of at least 99.95% purity.
DOT-3A, DOT-3AA, DOT-3A480X, DOT-3B, DOT-4B, DOT-4BA, DOT-4BW, ICC-26-2401, ICC-26-3001 Butadiene, inhibited, which is commercially free from corroding components.
DOT-3A, DOT-3A480X, DOT-3AA, DOT-3B, DOT-4A, DOT-4AA480, DOT-4B, DOT-4BA, DOT-4BW Cyclopropane which is commercially free from corroding components.
DOT-3A, DOT-3AA, DOT-3A480X, DOT-4B, DOT-4BA, DOT-4BW, DOT- 4E commercially free from corroding components. Fluorinated hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof which are commercially free from corroding components.
DOT-3A, DOT-3AA, DOT-3A480X, DOT-3B, DOT-4B, DOT-4BA, DOT- 4BW, DOT-4E, ICC-26-240, ICC-26-3001 Liquefied hydrocarbon gas which is commercially free from corroding components.
DOT-3A, DOT-3AA, DOT-3A480X, DOT-3B, DOT-4B, DOT-4BA, DOT- 4BW, DOT-4E, ICC-26-2401, ICC-26-3001 Liquefied petroleum gas which is commercially free from corroding components.
DOT-3A, DOT-3AA, DOT-3B, DOT- 4B, DOT-4BA, DOT-4BW, DOT-4E Methylacetylene-propadiene, stabilized, which is commercially free from corroding components.
DOT-3A, DOT-3AA, DOT-3B, DOT- 4B, DOT-4BA, DOT-4BW Anhydrous mono, di, trimethylamines which are commercially free from corroding components.
DOT-4B240, DOT-4BW240 Ethyleneimine, inhibited.