Pete,
Tanks are out of date more often than even the owner knows. All tanks have a
date, and usually one initial. I can't remember exactly, but I think it is
12 years, then retest at 10, then every 5. I just can't remember and should
since I am licensed for LPG installations and it's on the test. I just don't
fill 'em and so I forget.
What gets you by, is appearance. On the aluminum, they look for dents,
dinks, gouges, and deep scratches. On the forklift tanks they get really
beat up because nobody cares and they get banged, slammed, skidded, and
thrown. Some finally get a spray rattle can of aluminum paint or some other
color to pretty them up. They are exempt from OPD since they have a separate
pop off and bleeder fill-to-liquid spurt thumb valve. Forklift tanks must
not leak with the valve open and not connected. Forklift tanks will shut off
if a fast flow like a cut or broken hose.
Same thing for the steel. For instance all forklift tanks come gray in
color, thin and lousy, and RV, barbecue style, short and tall generally are
white, sometimes gray with also a thin lousy paint. They will rust pretty
quick. They too are inspected for the same above plus rust. Scrutiny is much
closer.
Generally it is a trend for some places to closely watch the dates, not
because it is a fed requirement, but because they want to sell you a tank.
Now you'd think a hydrostatic test would be required, but it is not. That is
only required for welding shop type of tanks since everything but Acetylene
is filled to two thousand pounds.
So find a friend with a metal stamp set, closely inspect your tank honestly.
If it is free of any major things I described above, then put a new date
near the old date and DO NOT mark or obliterate the dates above it. Do not
retest or date a tank still within date requirements, following the
progression of all dates showing. Do not pass a tank with defects that any
idiot can observe as a cause to fail the tank. Keep it painted and nice.
Mask off the labels and markings if any. Leak check with soapy solution all
valves, and fittings, especially the valve stem when open and connected to
service hose. If all is ok, then stamp it with or without an inital. Stamp
size and style does not matter. It is illegal to fill RV portable, small and
large BBQ type tanks that do not have a OPD valve. No exceptions. Sorry. Oh
gosh, somebody is gonna be shocked at my Test it yourself and stamp it, but
you will probably be more strick than the guy who does not care and only
wants your money.
You cannot change the service valve to OPD. You must have a license to
purchase an OPD and it takes simple but unique equipment to remove and
install the new valve. Sorry. Generally you can get a retest a lot cheaper,
about $12 when included with a new OPD upgrade. You can't buy the parts to
repair Acetylene Oxygen regulator sets either.
-Eddie-