Propane tank for air?

DeltaRed · May 3, 2011

Is it safe to use a 20 # propane bottle for a portable air tank?The bottle in question is over 10 yrs old and has the old style valve(wich I would replace with appropriate air fittings)

Ken Macfarlane · May 3, 2011

Lots of people do it, the main thing I'd be worried about is propane tanks are a bit thinner as they don't really rust on the inside and don't have to account for the internal rusting of an air tank.

msb · May 3, 2011

Been using one for about 40 years now.

Wilson · May 3, 2011

the old tanks are a lot thicker than the new exchange ones, you should be fine.

Drill · May 3, 2011

I have also been using one for years with no problem. Only thing is a 20# doesn't hold much air, I would look for a 40# bottle, just as easy to carry and more capacity,

Anonymous-0 · May 3, 2011

The vapor pressure of propane increases in proportion temperature. On a cool day (50 degrees) the pressure inside the tank will be approximately 115 PSI and on a hot day (100 degrees) the pressure inside the tank will be approximately 200 PSI. That should give you a good idea of what pressure levels a propane tank must be designed for. Yes it should work fine.

greenbeanman in Kansas · May 3, 2011

Hey, it is only money----treat yourself to a lightweight propane tank of fiberglass. It would never rust out and would be easy to carry.

They've been around a few years now.
Fiberglass propane cylinders.

Absent Minded Farmer · May 3, 2011

I'm using the same Kaiser Chemicals refrigerant can my Grandpa made as an air can & used it well before I was born in '78. Works great. Just remember to bleed out the water a few times over the summer & you should be in good shape.

Mike

Anonymous-0 · May 3, 2011

You used to be able to buy kits to convert them to air tanks. Make sure the tank is good shape though without a lot of rust on the outside. Propane tanks are usually rated for 250 PSI.

CWL · May 3, 2011

I've made a couple out of aluminum forklift bottles. Lightweight and lots of air.

S/C BOB · May 3, 2011

A friend of mine converted his camper to all electric and he took the p/tank out and was going to scrap it till I ask him for it. So I made an air tk from it and it has a lot of volume too.I fill it up in my shop where my big compressure is then leave it in the garage at the house to top off tires etc. Works well.

Jim in Ma. · May 3, 2011

I use a 30 lb. tank to hold a little more air.
No need to buy the conversion kit. Start out with the tank fitting from an old gass grill. You can take it apart and find it's 1/4" pipe thread. (you may have to drill out the center) Next I add a pipe "T" with a gage on one side and a quick disconect on the other. I use a 6' length of air hose for the inflating tires. I keep the stem to inflate the tank on a short length of lite chain (plugs rite into the disconect).
Another hint - Stuff the tank into a plastic milk carten to to keep it from rolling around when in back of the pickup.

Wilson · May 3, 2011

I have filled tires out in fields, Not good tires) with propane. small camper tank holding 1 gal of liquid propane will air old tractires up to load when really out in the boonies. Fellow that got me on this pulled house trailers with propane powered 2 ton, had a line from truck to reach most any trailer tire. I asked if any blowouts on road. He said well yes and you dont have to worry about breaking the bead either

Mark - IN. · May 3, 2011

I would guess that it depends upon how much compressed air pressure one holds.

Years ago some fellas came up with a great idea for pressurizing a beer keg at a local party. Instead of having a pump tap, they decided to pressurize the tank and use a bar tap, using compressed air without a regulator. Turns out that an aluminum beer keg holds about 12 lbs of pressure. When that keg exploded, not only did it waste the beer, the flying shrapnal killed at least two of the party goers, and ruined the party.

Before you go trying to convert a propane tank into a pressurized air tank, you might want to be careful and check with someone that really knows, like a gas supplier. Be careful and safe by not chancing getting yourself or someone else killed on something like that.

Mark

U.P. john · May 3, 2011

I use a 100# propane tank for air in my shop, and a 20# portable air tank. The safety's on propane tanks are rated to release at 250# pressure, however I wouldn't recommend filling one to that, especially if its old and pitted.

RAW in · May 3, 2011

Back in the 70's I was a Snap-On dealer. I had a 100# tank under the shelves in my truck, and used the air when rebuilding air tools. When I fueled up I would just hook the hose to the ir line by the gas pumps(they had air hoses there at that time) and let it fill up. Smelled like the stuff they put in the propane for a while , but it finally got better.

Paul Janke · May 3, 2011

If memory serves me correctly, I think propane tanks are rated for 250 pounds at 650 degrees F and 650 pounds at 250 degrees F.

oliver power · May 3, 2011

I use a 20# propane tank for air all the time. Central tractor use to sell the kit for turning a propane tank into an air tank. Gauge goes to 100 pounds. That's what I have. Works good.

greygoat · May 4, 2011

I made a portable air tank from a FREON tank.
The hardware stores used to sell kits. I got
mine from "J.C. Whitney"

Owen Aaland · May 4, 2011

(quoted from post at 21:07:51 05/03/11) If memory serves me correctly, I think propane tanks are rated for 250 pounds at 650 degrees F and 650 pounds at 250 degrees F.

That may be true for portable tanks. Propane storage tanks have the relief valve set at 250 PSI. (The exception to this is some motor fuel tanks may have a 312 PSI relief valve.) New tanks must pass a pressure test of four times their working pressure. A new tank has to hold 1000 PSI without deforming to be certified.

JDseller · May 5, 2011

I have used a 100 lb propane tank as a portable air supply in my pickup for more than twenty years. I just removed the valve and washed the tank out with Ammonia and water several times. I made a set of wheels and handle that let you roll it around. It is real handy for a lot of small air service needs.

The pressure ratings on a propane tank is a 250 psi minimum. Most older tanks had it stamped in them.

Propane tank for air?

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