What's in this bottle?

[backpurge]

View attachment 357622

This is a classic, we used to use this photo in our gas safety training presentations, maybe shows that DA cylinders will take a fair bit of abuse, the guy is lucky he didn’t kill himself and anybody around him

 

[Screwdriver]

Best idea, don't let someone else's problem become yours.

Interesting. This must be where I am going wrong. I always go out of my way to help, especially when a particular set of skills are required which no one else involved might have.

For example some random pressurised cylinder might end up being disposed of by someone with no idea how dangerous it might be to sling in the back of a van and throw onto a tip. Worse than having an unknown cylinder lurking hidden in the back of a shed. It's a recipe for disaster (lit.) - ask a fireman...

 

[backpurge]

If I was going to take a flying guess I would say acetylene bottle. If you're feeling brave you could crack it open and see what if anything comes out. Off ticket bottles only have any value if they're full or relatively modern and can be refilled (you would need to know some dodgy types who do that). Older bottles cannot easily be refilled or swapped, old valves can stick or jam at the most inconvenient moment leaving the hapless user in a bit of a predicament (ask me how I know).

None of these options are sensible. The only sensible thing to do is to find out from the local authority how you can dispose of it. There may be a cost element to that but this particular bottle represents a significant hazard and someone will at some stage need to deal with the problem.

You should step up to the plate and sort it out before there's an incident. One day some idiot is going to play around with it to see what's in it. I know I would...

How can you tell it’s a DA cylinder from the photo

 

[Screwdriver]

How can you tell it’s a DA cylinder from the photo

Somewhere in a shed in Ireland, someone has hung onto it for inexplicable reasons, balance of probability is that it is not an exotic gas but a more common or garden variety. So I was guessing acetylene (coz it's brownish) or maybe helium (I don't know what colours they might have been in the distant past).

With a thing that age and condition, plan for the worst, hope for the best.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Interesting. This must be where I am going wrong. I always go out of my way to help, especially when a particular set of skills are required which no one else involved might have.

Very laudable, in which case simply advise them of the potential danger inherent in disposal methods and let them deal with it. Would you undertake to pay whatever disposal charges are incurred from your own pocket?

 

[backpurge]

Hi, I found this gas bottle at the back of a family member's garage. I'm looking to get set up for mig welding with gas so they said I could have it if it helped. Trouble is neither me nor them know much about gas bottles or what the colours mean. Is this of any use to me? Or is it something I could exchange at the local gas supplier?

View attachment 357582 View attachment 357583 View attachment 357584

First thing to do is check the cylinder outlet thread, if a argon type regulator will screw into it, it’s a right hand thread so you know it’s not a fuel gas, if the thread is the same size but the reg won’t screw in because it’s a left hand thread you know it’s a fuel gas. This may help you decide your next course of action

 

[Dessieb2022]

Google says BS1288 is "Manganese Steel Gas Cylinders for Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous Oxide and Ethylene "

BS-1288 | Manganese Steel Gas Cylinders for Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous Oxide and Ethylene | Document Center, Inc.

BS-1288 Manganese Steel Gas Cylinders for Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous Oxide and Ethylene

www.document-center.com

Stu

In that case it was probably originally a tank of Co2 as I seen that marked on the valve.

 

[Maker]

In that case it was probably originally a tank of Co2 as I seen that marked on the valve.

Why didn't you start with that.

 

[Dessieb2022]

Why didn't you start with that.

I thought the colour and the information on the shoulder of the tank was more relevant to indicate what the contents might be? From stuff I have read previously no one mentioned checking the valve for indication of contents.

 

[Onoff]

Nitrous Oxide

There you go, you're laughing if it's that.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

There you go, you're laughing if it's that.

Or dead, if it isn't.

 

[brightspark]

There you go, you're laughing if it's that.

and your brown bread
n bread if it leaks in a con

Or dead, if it isn't.

and dead if it is nitrous and leaks in a confined space

 

[fizzy]

Zyklon B perhaps

 

[Maker]

Zyklon B perhaps

It definitely isn't, Zyklon B isn't a pressurised gas, it was sold in steel cans not gas cylinders.

 

[pedrobedro]

A look at the actual valve would show if it's a CO2 male thread or Argon mix female thread. If it's acetylene it would have a left hand thread but it's the wrong size and shape for DA cylinder they have a join round the middle where the kapok or whatever they use now is sealed in during manufacture.

 

[northwest]

it was sold in steel cans

You can buy this?

 

[pawsnizzy]

You can buy this?

Only in the EU

 

[pedrobedro]

You can buy this?

Only if you are a qualified Dictator and despot with all appropriate paperwork up to date.

 

[Bki26]

You can buy this?

You can buy anything with the right connections and money...

 

[Gareth J]

According to the internet, the BS1288 code on the bottle was a code for manganese steel used in CO2, nitrous oxide and ethylene cylinders. On the balance of probabilities, if it has a CO2 thread, it's probably CO2. But it could be anything. Or could be empty. Could be damaged, deteriorated and potentially dangerous, could even have been filled with something totally unexpected by a regular Joe.