At 12:57 AM 6/29/2001, Jutta & Christian Knust wrote:
>Gas tanks are, according to the manufacturer and a lot of laws, good for 10
>years max, after which they have to be inspected by competent personnel (not
>the average "certified mechanic" who got a certificate from "Competency
>hinders freedom of work" after six weeks no drugs at the workplace, but a
>testing
>facility for high pressure containers). This is not funny, unless you want to
>die early. And I would not care a bit about all the folks who do not care
>shit about their tanks since they still "look good". This is not a question of
>looking good, trust in the PO, trust in good american steel or else, but a
>question of engineering and mechanical strain on the metal. Have the tank

I agree with your sentiments in general -- however, these are not ICC/DOT
tanks which need to be recertified within 12 years after manufacture, but
ASME tanks which have no recertification requirement.  They are massively
overbuilt for the amount of pressure they contain (max 250 psi (relief
valve opens) , ordinarily considerably less -- call it a tenth of a welding
cylinder or SCUBA tank).

david

David Beierl - Providence, RI
  http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"