roaddogie

So lucky you weren't in there. Do you drain the tank after using to prevent moisture from collecting in it?

Abo

Not to mention Newtons 3rd law launching the rest of the compressor
at warp factor 9

JBRIII

I have often wondered about that problem. Even draining is going to leave some water behind for rusting.

Abo

Not to mention Newtons 3rd doing ballistics to the tune of 14,400 pounds of thrust with the rest of the compressor... Houston we have a problem!

A disaster with multiple negative clearances (vis a vis the collateral damage) as opposed to "Near"
disaster... as Mangles has it.

"Mangles" by name, "mangles" by nature... Aided and abetted by TriX

thomseninc

I've seen enough reports like this, so I got rid of my 27 year old compressor and bought a new one. I also spent around $10 on Amazon for an automatic compressor drain valve. Every 45 minutes it burps the drain for 0.5 seconds so no water will accumulate. Best money I have ever spent.

Abo

I may not be able to "walk and chew gum at the same time", but my compressor
tank is dry and gets "drained" regularly... you silly old goomer.

Looks like the next "near" disaster is someone getting electrocuted at your place.

lxu532 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

Wow! I'm so glad you weren't hurt.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Not sure what you mean by aided and abetted. I completely agree about not welding rusted metal, however I was referring to an area about the size of a nickel where I could feel some bubbling in the paint. Could be rust, maybe just a poor paint job. Of course I wouldn’t weld a 10” x 10” patch over a nickel sized hole or over rusted metal. My plan is to disassemble the compressor and examine the area thoroughly inside and outside. If a large size area shows rust internally, I will discard the tank. If there is a single spot with no surrounding rust inside or outside (after I remove the exterior paint) , I may take a different course. Since I spent 8 years as a Mechanical designer and currently consult for an aerospace company where we manufacture flight certified mechanical components, I don’t need lessons from you on mechanical properties, materials or welding.

BTW, from looking at the images, it appears the end of the tank blew out. It would be interesting to do a failure analysis to understand whether rust, a failed weld or other failure caused the accident. One thing I certainly need to do is install an automatic drain. We use one at work on our LARGE screw type compressor that I installed and am responsible for the maintenance therof.

JBRIII

When I was much younger I worked in a machine where they essentially retreaded dozer wheels/pullies by welding a new layer. Once a crack had allow water into the wheel. Pressure split open steel wheel like a can opener, lifted entire unit off the ground. Operator was stunned, but not hit by anything and not in direct line of the pressure blast. I thought an acetylene tank had exploded, but once I determined I wasn't on fire, bleeding or dead all was well with me. A quart bottle with a half inch of water place in an oven at say 300 F will get you a new oven, but that's a different story.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Now that's what I call EXCITING!!. 100-psi means that every square inch of the tank had that pressure exerted upon it. A sailing ship moves across the ocean due to the smallest pressure difference on one side of the sail than the other due to the surface size of the sail. A tractor-trailer will tip over while driving down the highway due to the same Laws of Physics. If this happened to me, the first thing that I would do is to go to Walmart and buy new underwear!!!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Pressure varies, depending on the application. I have scuba tanks that hold 3,000 psi, and they were strapped to my back!

Smudgey Loc: Ohio, Calif, Now Arizona

Your time most certainly was not up yet, glad you weren't hurt. Good Luck.

Sylvias Loc: North Yorkshire England

Oh my Frank so pleased you came to no harm.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Thank you very much Mark

Rich2236 Loc: E. Hampstead, New Hampshire

I'm glad you were not in the shed. A very close call!