Need some advice

[ltlvt]

I bought these oxygen and acetylene tanks off of Market Place today. I have been around welding since I was 18 years old and have many years experience as a professional welder. Every acetylene regulator I have ever used has left hand threads and the regulator has a male connector (left Hand) and the tank has a female threaded valve also left hand. This little 10 cubic foot tank has right hand threaded valve and the adapter that is in the picture is also right hand thread. I know there must be a way to adapt the little tank to a victor regulator. Does anyone have one of these tanks and the adapter for their regulator and if so where can I get one. Also what is ball park price to refill both tanks? The oxygen is 20 cubic feet. Thanks in advance. I leased the full sized tanks from Airgas for 45 years and they just got too damn greedy so I turned them both in.

 

[jcp]

You had probably better check that someone will fill these....they may require a hydrostatic test certification before they will refill.

 

[benmychree]

That is a motorcycle Presto Lite tank and fitting, made for back in the day when motorcycles used acetylene headlights, plumbers also used them commonly for soldering. Be advised that you cannot use larger sized welding tips with due to their small size, if you do, the acetone that the acetylene is dissolved in will be drawn out of the cylinder and the gas possibly become unstable. I doubt that anyone would hydro a acetylene cylinder, as they are filled with an inert substance for the acetone to be absorbed into. Acetylene as a gas cannot be held at pressures of more than about 15 lbs or it degrades and can explode, but it was found that if it was dissolved into acetone, it can be held at pressures over 100 lbs safely.
That style of tank is known as a "MC" tank (motorcycle).

 

[Eddyde]

The gas suppliers around me are very finicky in filling acetylene tanks. They won't fill any tank that has more than a few patches of light surface rust. The oxygen tank needs to re-certified if the last test was more than 10 years ago. Most places will send the tank out to be tested and it can take weeks.
In short, there are few bargains when buying used gas tanks...

 

[ChazzC]

That is a motorcycle Presto Lite tank and fitting, made for back in the day when motorcycles used acetylene headlights, plumbers also used them commonly for soldering.

That style of tank is known as a "MC" tank (motorcycle).

I always wondered why they were called MC, thanks!

I had a B tank for my Prestolite torch back in the 70’s and thought the MC tanks seemed too small.

 

[ltlvt]

I found an adapter on Ebay today and think I will order it. I have a plasma torch so using Oxy-Acet is only going to be used for brazing and silver solder. I called Airgas and it is $31 for the Acet refill and 20 for the Oxy. Considering I may use it once or twice a year it is much more in line than the $185 yearly lease I was paying from Airgas. And the part that irritates me is the contents were at least 15 years old in the bottles when I turned them back in almost completely full. And they offer no buy back on the contents. I originally started out 45 years ago using a local welding supply and was totally pleased with them but like all corporate acquisitions Airgas now owns all of the welding supply now. Just like Quality Machines owns all the John Deere Tractor dealers. It's the old Walmart take over trick. Force the little guys to sell and then control the products and the prices. Sure, sounds like whitewashed ______________ to me.

Thanks for all the comments.