Are Old Tanks Worth Hydroing?

Greg Mossman wrote:
> On Sep 12, 3:47 am, "Lee Bell" <pleeb...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
>
>> - Steel tanks tend to last longer, but are vulnerable to rust. Take the
>> valve off and shine a small flashlight into the tank. If you see scales of
>> rust, pits or any similar indications that the inside of the tank is
>> damaged, drill a hole in the tank and start over. There's no point in paying
>> good money to test a tank you already know won't pass. If it's smooth
>> inside, have it hydro tested.
>
> What's wrong with getting it tumbled to remove the rust?
>
Everytime you do it reduces the wall thickness and reduces strength?

Greg Mossman wrote:
> On Sep 12, 3:47 am, "Lee Bell" <pleeb...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
>
>> - Steel tanks tend to last longer, but are vulnerable to rust. Take the
>> valve off and shine a small flashlight into the tank. If you see scales of
>> rust, pits or any similar indications that the inside of the tank is
>> damaged, drill a hole in the tank and start over. There's no point in paying
>> good money to test a tank you already know won't pass. If it's smooth
>> inside, have it hydro tested.
>
> What's wrong with getting it tumbled to remove the rust?
>
Everytime you do it reduces the wall thickness and reduces strength?

Greg Mossman wrote:
> On Sep 12, 3:47 am, "Lee Bell" <pleeb...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
>
>> - Steel tanks tend to last longer, but are vulnerable to rust. Take the
>> valve off and shine a small flashlight into the tank. If you see scales of
>> rust, pits or any similar indications that the inside of the tank is
>> damaged, drill a hole in the tank and start over. There's no point in paying
>> good money to test a tank you already know won't pass. If it's smooth
>> inside, have it hydro tested.
>
> What's wrong with getting it tumbled to remove the rust?
>
Everytime you do it reduces the wall thickness and reduces strength?

Blah <b...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Greg Mossman wrote:
>
> > What's wrong with getting it tumbled to remove the rust?
>
> Everytime you do it reduces the wall thickness and reduces strength?


And a lot can depend on how the tank was stored. Upright can be Ok,
but if it was stored laying down, then you can get a "rust line" on
the bottom that takes a lot of tumbling to dig it all out, which
results in significant wall thinning.


-hh

Blah <b...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Greg Mossman wrote:
>
> > What's wrong with getting it tumbled to remove the rust?
>
> Everytime you do it reduces the wall thickness and reduces strength?


And a lot can depend on how the tank was stored. Upright can be Ok,
but if it was stored laying down, then you can get a "rust line" on
the bottom that takes a lot of tumbling to dig it all out, which
results in significant wall thinning.


-hh

Blah <b...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Greg Mossman wrote:
>
> > What's wrong with getting it tumbled to remove the rust?
>
> Everytime you do it reduces the wall thickness and reduces strength?


And a lot can depend on how the tank was stored. Upright can be Ok,
but if it was stored laying down, then you can get a "rust line" on
the bottom that takes a lot of tumbling to dig it all out, which
results in significant wall thinning.


-hh

Blah <b...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Greg Mossman wrote:
>
> > What's wrong with getting it tumbled to remove the rust?
>
> Everytime you do it reduces the wall thickness and reduces strength?


And a lot can depend on how the tank was stored. Upright can be Ok,
but if it was stored laying down, then you can get a "rust line" on
the bottom that takes a lot of tumbling to dig it all out, which
results in significant wall thinning.


-hh

-hh wrote

>> > What's wrong with getting it tumbled to remove the rust?
>>
>> Everytime you do it reduces the wall thickness and reduces strength?

> And a lot can depend on how the tank was stored. Upright can be Ok,
> but if it was stored laying down, then you can get a "rust line" on
> the bottom that takes a lot of tumbling to dig it all out, which
> results in significant wall thinning.

I was pretty specific about the conditions that would lead to scrapping the
tank. It included significant flaking and pitting, either of which are
likely to fail the tank on the next visual, with or without a hydro. Even if
the tank might make it one more time, the cost benefit of tumbling a steel
tank that old is limited and the risk of depending on such a tank for the
five years until the next hydro date is higher than I'd choose to take.

Lee

-hh wrote

>> > What's wrong with getting it tumbled to remove the rust?
>>
>> Everytime you do it reduces the wall thickness and reduces strength?

> And a lot can depend on how the tank was stored. Upright can be Ok,
> but if it was stored laying down, then you can get a "rust line" on
> the bottom that takes a lot of tumbling to dig it all out, which
> results in significant wall thinning.

I was pretty specific about the conditions that would lead to scrapping the
tank. It included significant flaking and pitting, either of which are
likely to fail the tank on the next visual, with or without a hydro. Even if
the tank might make it one more time, the cost benefit of tumbling a steel
tank that old is limited and the risk of depending on such a tank for the
five years until the next hydro date is higher than I'd choose to take.

Lee

-hh wrote

>> > What's wrong with getting it tumbled to remove the rust?
>>
>> Everytime you do it reduces the wall thickness and reduces strength?

> And a lot can depend on how the tank was stored. Upright can be Ok,
> but if it was stored laying down, then you can get a "rust line" on
> the bottom that takes a lot of tumbling to dig it all out, which
> results in significant wall thinning.

I was pretty specific about the conditions that would lead to scrapping the
tank. It included significant flaking and pitting, either of which are
likely to fail the tank on the next visual, with or without a hydro. Even if
the tank might make it one more time, the cost benefit of tumbling a steel
tank that old is limited and the risk of depending on such a tank for the
five years until the next hydro date is higher than I'd choose to take.

Lee