I am building a small air tank and I was wondering if you guys think it would be ok to drill and tap 1/4" aluminum...its 6061...I was planning on adding a small strip of 1/2" aluminum for my out banks but I was thinking about it and dont think I need 3/4" of material there...what do you guys think???
building an air tank...
- Thread starter Caleb
- Start date
- Location
- Bountiful, land of rocks
As your gynecologist (you really should pay your bill for that little 'operation') 
.........aluminum......doesn't it have different expansion rates at pressure than steel?
I think I'd stick with the tried and true steel on that issue, but you might get away with it. 1/4" is pretty thick, though. I like the idea of using a bumper or slider or whatever as a tank.
.........aluminum......doesn't it have different expansion rates at pressure than steel?I think I'd stick with the tried and true steel on that issue, but you might get away with it. 1/4" is pretty thick, though. I like the idea of using a bumper or slider or whatever as a tank.
I would get as much material as possible. If you look at weld on bungs, they are always in excess on the threaded material.
If you look at a fuel cell, the bungs welded into those are at least 3/4 tall and they are holding very little pressure.
do a google search for aluminum bungs and most of them come up pretty tall, and most are used for custom fuel cell and radiator applications.
If you look at a fuel cell, the bungs welded into those are at least 3/4 tall and they are holding very little pressure.
do a google search for aluminum bungs and most of them come up pretty tall, and most are used for custom fuel cell and radiator applications.
Originally posted by mbryson
As your gynecologist (you really should pay your bill for that little 'operation')
I think I'd stick with the tried and true steel on that issue, but you might get away with it. 1/4" is pretty thick, though. I like the idea of using a bumper or slider or whatever as a tank.
I'm not paying crap for that little 'operation'...wasn't worth it
So what you're saying is that all the aluminum tanks on big rigs aren;t tried and true???
...BTW, a big rigs air brakes usually dont even unlock till 90 PSI or so...here is how I am doing it...I took some 4" schdl 40 aluminum pipe (6061) and cut it to the length I need, then I capped it (tig welded the ends on) welded on some angle for legs and now I am just wondering if I should do some thicker parts for the bungs...can you buy aluminum bungs??? If so where???
Originally posted by mbryson
As your gynecologist (you really should pay your bill for that little 'operation')
I think I'd stick with the tried and true steel on that issue, but you might get away with it. 1/4" is pretty thick, though. I like the idea of using a bumper or slider or whatever as a tank.
hey, wait a minute...I'm your gyno...so you should be paying me
- Location
- Bountiful, land of rocks
Originally posted by supergper
hey, wait a minute...I'm your gyno...so you should be paying me
I decided I don't need your services.........I'm going to be a man......
- Location
- Bountiful, land of rocks
Originally posted by supergper
fine...I'm going home
NICE!!!
{maybe I'll call you and we can talk for 3-4 hours and be OK later?}
- Location
- Bountiful, land of rocks
Originally posted by supergper
you can consider my phone off the hook...
Don't make me drive all the way to Magna........girlfriend.
So back on topic (strange isn't it), On big trucks they have alum. tanks? Any ideas on how they are constructed? I remember something weird about expansion properties of alum. under pressure (where are those engineer dudes?). I don't remember if that required hydraulic pressure or if 200 psi would test the metal (esp. at a 1/4").
- Location
- Bountiful, land of rocks
Hmmmmm.......sounds like I'm WAY of base then. I think for a hydraulic system, the steering wouldn't be huge on pressure, but maybe significant enough to 'test' the alum.
muleskinner
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Enoch, UT
It will hold air just fine. Not sure on the tapping part... I think I'd weld the strip on just to be sure, if you have it. (if you dont have it then try it and let us know.)
- Location
- Grantsville, Utah
I have never seen aluminum air tanks on a big truck. Only Aluminum fuel tanks.
James K
NO, I'm always like this
- Location
- Taylorsville, Ut
have one sitting in the back shop. wanna see
it must have 8 or 9 bungs welded to it.
James K
NO, I'm always like this
- Location
- Taylorsville, Ut
supergper:
I need to short'n the tank I have. Don't suppose I could enlist your aluminum welding skills?
I need to short'n the tank I have. Don't suppose I could enlist your aluminum welding skills?
- Location
- Grantsville, Utah
hmm, all the ones I have driven are steel, usually black.
thats like ours at work...black steel, I think (for the most part) the ones I see that are aluminum are the guys that "pimp" their trucks outs...ya know what I am talking about, the Super Truckers...a million lights, chrome everything, zero rock chips (paint or glass)...the aluminum ones I have seen are both polished or brushed...