Restoring (medical) O2 tanks?

[Sea_Jay]

Question for the tank gods......

I've got two (2) Luxfer aluminum medical O2 bottles. They came from a hospice company down here in South FL and therefore have taken some slight abuse. I have OCD about my stuff looking clean, but I'm also extremely frugal, so I am looking for a way to clean these babies up.

They have current Hydro and O2 cleaning on both cylinders and both valves. I have regulators, hoses & masks for each cylinder. But they're fugly. I found some previous threads here on SB that seem to suggest the following method for cleaning SCUBA tanks (but these are topside tanks for emergency use only)

1.) Clean the entire tank with a Scotchbrite pad
2.) Hit it with aluminum polish
3.) Finish it up with carnauba wax



So now I ask you these questions:
1.) Is the finish on the top of the bottles (painted O2 green) going to be compromised by this pad? I am assuming "YES"
2.) Can the polish be applied to a painted surface? It is not raw/brushed aluminum, it is painted --- so I think I should treat it like the paint on a car.
3.) Does this wax compromise the fact that the valve has already been O2 cleaned? Should I isolate the valve with something like Saran wrap? And some rubber bands?
4.) Should I isolate the valve with the above method *before I even touch* the tank?

Thanks for your expertise, cheers!

 

[broncobowsher]

Wax on the outside does not change how clean it is inside.
Are you planning on waxing the valves? That will make them un-clean.

 

[OMyMyOHellYes]

Don't worry about the paint. If it's scuffed/ugly too, application of various grades of rubbing compound may help (though will not fix a lot of deeper scratches). I use it a lot on tanks I rescue from former enthusiastic divers that bought beau coup equipment and went diving once or twice after OW cert 15 years ago... Those plastic mesh tank wraps - supposed to protect the paint - can destroy the finish if left on long term. Tanks look like they are covered in fish scales. The rubbing compounds and tons of elbow grease usually fixes that problem.

BTW - this is also the ad hoc tank porn channel so we'll need the after resto pics!

 

[Sea_Jay]

Wax on the outside does not change how clean it is inside.
Are you planning on waxing the valves? That will make them un-clean.

I am aware of that lol -- and no not planning on waxing the valves, but am worried about contamination from any cleaning agents or polishes. It is an oxygen tank, when you have them hydro'd the valve has to be disassembled and cleaned and reassembled in a controlled environment.

 

[Sea_Jay]

Don't worry about the paint. If it's scuffed/ugly too, application of various grades of rubbing compound may help (though will not fix a lot of deeper scratches). I use it a lot on tanks I rescue from former enthusiastic divers that bought beau coup equipment and went diving once or twice after OW cert 15 years ago... Those plastic mesh tank wraps - supposed to protect the paint - can destroy the finish if left on long term. Tanks look like they are covered in fish scales. The rubbing compounds and tons of elbow grease usually fixes that problem.

BTW - this is also the ad hoc tank porn channel so we'll need the after resto pics!

The painted portion is actually fairly good on both bottles, I'm just going to hit it lightly with compound and then polish afterwards. I hear you on the mesh, thankfully that never became a trend on medical tanks lol

I'll definitely post some before-during-after photos of the resto! Gonna start on one of them this evening. I figure if I start with the uglier tank and learn from it, I may get better results on the tank that is in better shape to begin with.

 

[rjack321]

I would just put a clean sandwich baggie over the post valve and masking tape it onto the base. Then do whatever you want to the tank itself with confidence you haven't splattered something flammable someplace bad.

 

[Tracy]

I am aware of that lol -- and no not planning on waxing the valves, but am worried about contamination from any cleaning agents or polishes. It is an oxygen tank, when you have them hydro'd the valve has to be disassembled and cleaned and reassembled in a controlled environment.

While I understand why you would think that, it definitely is not the case.
That medical o2 valve will be in use until it leaks or doesn't open and then a new one will get spun in it. Industrial/medical valves never get rebuilt or cleaned in industry.

 

[happy-diver]

1.) Clean the entire tank with a Scotchbrite pad

How coarse will you go with the grain and what will you lubricate the pad with

2.) Hit it with aluminum polish

Are you using aluminium polish that will turn black, fill all the brushing and imperfections and stay there

3.) Finish it up with carnauba wax

Where's Carnauba

 

[Sea_Jay]

While I understand why you would think that, it definitely is not the case.
That medical o2 valve will be in use until it leaks or doesn't open and then a new one will get spun in it. Industrial/medical valves never get rebuilt or cleaned in industry.

Interesting you say this. While I have no reason to believe that you are misinformed, I am surprised to read what you typed. Mainly because the LDS I am associated with uses a highly respected hydro testing facility (which has dozens of government contracts for the local fire stations, hospitals, etc.) --- and this facility has been charging us to have valves O2 cleaned for quite some time. To the tune of tens of thousands of dollars. They offer invoices, in writing, that directly contradict what you are saying to be fact.

Guess I will have to do some digging. If you are indeed correct, I smell a lawsuit. But I have my doubts.

 

[broncobowsher]

You may have the odd hydro shop that does O2 clean valves and found profit in it. If you have invoices in the tens of thousands for cleaning valves, they found that you are paying and they are making profit.

I'm also going to say that is not the norm in most places. What Tracy is saying really is the norm for most places.