how to empty old co2 bottle

[grandads_shed]

i have a very old co2 bottle that i got 13years ago in a deal with a lincoln mig,
i have no idea when it was last tested so dont know how safe it is, [as far as i know it could have last been tested 20 odd years ago i have no idea]

there is still about half a bottle, and i have not welded in over 2 years through no where to weld, but im keeping my gear ,

any way, how can i empty the bottle with no risk of danger ,, is it just a matter of opening the valve and not worrying about the freezing ice of the bottle .

 

[rtbcomp]

Best do it through a regulator.

 

[the snooper]

ive open a pub size bottle with no regulator attached, not recommended it was full and I struggled to keep upright, i ended up grabbing hold of something while trying to keep hold of the bottle

 

[outofthefire]

If you don't have a regulator just crack it open a little bit and let it drain out slowly.

 

[normspanners]

I was walking past paddy at the scrap yard where we both worked, one day and he said 'give us a lift with this cyl will ya' I said yeah where OH on to the cropper bed, I said why what are you going to do he said the valve necks are damaged and I am going to crop them off I said well I'm not helping you must be mad and walked off.The cyls were about the size of a large oxy!!, as i got to my workshop door there was a LOUD whoosh and a few bangs and crashes as a cylinder shot across the yard and out through the gate there was not a bit of dust left on the yard and paddy was stood there holding his ears. I just shook my head and went into the workshop . How lucky was it for there to be nobody walking in the way?
they where dated about 2nd W/WAR and could have been ANYTHING IN THEM.
especially as the old de funked chemical warfare unit at Rhydymwyn was about 8mls away!

 

[the snooper]

 

[brightspark]

tall story

 

[normspanners]

tall story

I tell you he still works there, I was talking to him only the other day, and I could tell you loads more of some of the crazy things he did. how he is still alive I dont know, he used to go out on site and would load oxys in the skip by letting them roll off the fork lift the skips were 16 cu yds about 6/7ft high then when he got to the site he would tip them out !!!
but he never had one blow!we did have some damaged necks though

 

[rtbcomp]

If you don't have a regulator just crack it open a little bit and let it drain out slowly.

That's fine unless the valve's a bit stiff and it opens suddenly.

 

[the snooper]

That's fine unless the valve's a bit stiff and it opens suddenly.

strap it to a solid fence post first

 

[brightspark]

just let it go and hide every time it freezes it will fire frozen ice bullets

 

[the snooper]

ah you mean its an ice machine, get the beers out

 

[normspanners]

And another time when he tried to lift out a 12ton transformer core with the poclain 360 mobile crane and snapped the 4" bottom pivot pin again lucky that the boom dropped into the transformer and kept it upright it bent the 6" solid main ram shaft like a banana and kinked the ram tube !!
Ill have a word and get him to call round and do it for ya!

 

[ajlelectronics]

There was a death in Cheltenham caused by a gas cylinder. The Fire officer had ordered them and was manouvering them somewhere. Somehow, one started venting and the jet effect of it ripped it from his grip and belted him around the head, with tragic results. You can find the incident on the H&S website should you be interested.

 

[skotl]

So, to the original question... The OP should use a regulator or ensure that the cylinder is securely strapped down?

Or can he simply take it to the tip and have them safely dispose of it?

 

[grandads_shed]

So, to the original question... The OP should use a regulator or ensure that the cylinder is securely strapped down?

Or can he simply take it to the tip and have them safely dispose of it?

i dont really want to take it to a tip as its never had the rental payed on it

but if its emptied then i might find a use for it as something else

 

[W.olly]

I am suprised no body has said to make sure you empty out side, not in a shed or garage, as if it does blow off, which can happen with a sticky valve, it will take a bit to dispearse into the air.

But best with a reg attached, and drain it slowly, or if vavle is good, which you wont know is to open a little, it wont freeze if you turn it and the valve opens quick, aslong as you turn it back quickly, they dont freeze enough to block that quick. I know as i have been working with these cylinders for 10 years and its happend many a time.

Just do it outside mate you will be fine.

wolly

 

[normspanners]

Just go ask a garage if they need gas, let them use it,for their welding, then get the cyl back.

 

[grandads_shed]

i have decided on a use for it. im going to use it as a crucible for melting alloy in ,, just cut the top off,,
i think i will put the reg on it and let it empty slowly ,,

thanks folks for our suggestions

 

[rtbcomp]

I am suprised no body has said to make sure you empty out side, not in a shed or garage, as if it does blow off, which can happen with a sticky valve, it will take a bit to dispearse into the air.

But best with a reg attached, and drain it slowly, or if vavle is good, which you wont know is to open a little, it wont freeze if you turn it and the valve opens quick, aslong as you turn it back quickly, they dont freeze enough to block that quick. I know as i have been working with these cylinders for 10 years and its happend many a time.

Just do it outside mate you will be fine.

wolly

Good point - you could suffocate yourself if you did it indoors.