thingmaker3 Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 I noticed some flames around the valve of my little acetylene tank. Am I more likely to have a bad flashback arrestor or a bad tank? How do I check this? And if it is a bad tank, how do I safely get it back to my vendor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Not entirely sure what is wrong, but have you checked the valve seat and regulator? Try soapy water or windex after removing your hardware and look for bubbles. If you are still in question about leaks, I would call the vendor and leave the tank away from the house/garage/road/source of ignition. Depending on how close the neighbors are, tell them too. be safe, Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wedwards Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 If it is the tank valve itself leaking think about calling your local fire department. You will have a hazardous material problem in a residential neighborhood (if your neighbors are anywhere close) and that is what fire departments do. Plus I bet they would get there faster than your vendor. Good luck Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arftist Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Are you sure the regulator was tightened properly? If it is loose and leaking, a little spark from grinding could ignite it easily. It is not uncommon to have a leak there and have nothing wrong with the equipment at all. By the way, you may not want the fire department to know you have an acetylene tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Hale Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 "By the way, you may not want the fire department to know you have an acetylene tank." From above post not good advice.......I am retired carrer firefighter from a large city and we had folks all over town with O/A rigs at home. I would just as soon know where they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arftist Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 "By the way, you may not want the fire department to know you have an acetylene tank." From above post not good advice.......I am retired carrer firefighter from a large city and we had folks all over town with O/A rigs at home. I would just as soon know where they are. OK, I figured that wouldn't fly, but around here you need a "welding permit", to use a torch or a welder, a fully dressed firefighter has to be there and be paid a minimum of four hours wages for *any* work involving welding or torch cutting. Sorry about posting bad info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thingmaker3 Posted October 2, 2009 Author Share Posted October 2, 2009 Thank you, gentlemen. I'll try the soap when I get home. Rig is currently out behind one of the out-buildings, nearly a hundred feet from the house. No ignition source neraby. Rainy today. Nearest neighbor is over a qaurter-mile away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wedwards Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 OK, I figured that wouldn't fly, but around here you need a "welding permit", to use a torch or a welder, a fully dressed firefighter has to be there and be paid a minimum of four hours wages for *any* work involving welding or torch cutting. Sorry about posting bad info. WOW! Where in New England are you? Do the local welding/fab/repair shops and mobile rigs have to have the FDFF present there also? If not, one wonders if those shops had something to do with enacting that ordinance. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil shelton Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 STOP USEING INTILL YOU HAVE THE LEAK FIXED take the bottle to you welding supply and have it check.dont take any chances with a fuel leak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveh Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 If I couldn't fix the leak,I would empty the bottle and take it back to the suppliers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wedwards Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 If it's the bottle valve itself and not something down the line you could still have a problem if you try and empty it yourself. Gotta watch how fast you draw the acetylene out. If it were me I'd not take the chance of either transporting it myself or trying to empty it. I'd have someone come and get it. Just my $.02 worth. Good luck. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragons lair Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 If it leaks thru the nut try rubbing a little soapstone on the seat and retighten. Works on O2 and argon bottles also. Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meinhoutexas Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 (edited) so did you see the flames? and where were they coming from? do you use a wrench to tighten the nut?how old is the regulator?the sealing surface does go bad after a while no mater how good you treat these things.o/a rigs need to be leak checked every time you set up the regulators.and for the welding permit up north thank a union member who wanted to make it harder for you to do than calling his union . Edited October 3, 2009 by meinhoutexas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arftist Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 No, it is the firemen, they don't get detail duty like the police do, it is extra money for them. I have talked to them about it each time I have been forced to use them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikadyn Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 First read the thread title on the front of the forum, and thought "if it's not on him, can't be that bad of a place" However this might be on the short list of worse places... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 .......... but around here you need a "welding permit", to use a torch or a welder, a fully dressed firefighter has to be there and be paid a minimum of four hours wages for *any* work involving welding or torch cutting. ......... Are you kidding me? What kind of place do you live in? That sounds pretty extreme to me! Do you need a note or signed fire permit from the fire marshal to light the BBQ grill in the backyard too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wedwards Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 In a previous life I spent several months in Massachussetts and even then (in the early 60's) that would have been wierd. Do you need a FDFF to stand-by when you fire up your forge? I'm not trying to be a smart a--. I really am curious. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 I apologize for my previous post on this thread. It was a little sarcastic and takes away from the original question asked regarding a safety concern. Certain restrictions or regulations that seem perfectly acceptable to others cut across my grain at right angles, and I get a little "fired" up......I will show more restraint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arftist Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 Are you kidding me? What kind of place do you live in? That sounds pretty extreme to me! Do you need a note or signed fire permit from the fire marshal to light the BBQ grill in the backyard too? This law does not apply to shop work, only field work, and as far as I know, only in Boston proper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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