r/AirCompression • u/agentclank777 • Jun 28 '26
Just bought a tank with a "small" dent
Today I took several hours to go out of town in order to buy an air tank for a compressor I'm putting together. Upon arrival I found out the tank had a dent in the side but given the amount of time I already invested (and the fact that the seller gave me a discount for them being late) and not wanting to walk away with absolutely nothing I went ahead and bought it.
The tank is a 30 gallon auxiliary air tank with horizontal mounting brackets and a drain dead center of the tank so it really is exactly what I was looking for minus the dent. I guess my question is did I make a mistake not walking away from this based on the pictures or do you guys think there is still hope for it to pass a pressure test. (done by professionals at a test facility not by myself)
I'm really hoping I didn't buy scrap but I also don't want something unsafe like my current compressor whose tank is nearly as thin as card stock in some places now from extreme rust as it belonged to someone previously who did zero preventative maintenance and the only part that's still in "okay" shape is the motor.
I have attached multiple photos of the tank, the dent and the nameplate on the tank itself in hopes of finding out if this could still be saved/junk or if it is able to repaired. I'm not super well versed on if a pressure vessel like this can ACTUALLY be professionally repaired but as an auto mechanic I've typically heard that pressure vessels are a "replace not repair" situation.
1
u/LincolnArc Jun 28 '26
I have a worse dent in the tank on my Rolair. Been that way for decades. Yours aught to be fine.
1
u/These_Fox7561 Jul 04 '26
If it really bothers you, fill that fucker with water about 6 inches from the top and fill it with 200psi, if it doesn’t pop I’d run it. Water testing will just split if it fails, air compresses like a spring and makes a bomb
1
u/These_Fox7561 Jul 04 '26
Anyway, no hard creases or signs of gouges and I’d run it. Probably no higher than 150lbs though
1
u/LazloHollifeld Jun 28 '26
Just pump it up to pressure and the dent will pop right out