keg air tank = fail (56k take a number)

so i had this really good idea the other day right. when i moved into
this house they left an air compressor for me. it was an electric motor
that powered a belt driven compressor and stored the compressed air in
what looked like an old keg. the keg was made out of galvanized steel,
and it was fully operational, but wouldnt build pressure past 18 lbs.
so i decided to fix the leaks on it and pressure test it, maybe use it
for my air tank right. kind of a different old school rat rod type of
build ya kno. anyway. i was using a different air compressor feeding
through my refrigeration hoses to fill the cylinder. i had my manifold
set to charge 80 psi into the tank. the tank itself was stamped 200lbs
max press. the pressure cut out on the first compressor setup was 180
lbs. i figured 100lbs to leak check it was a pretty good pressure. so
ive got this thing charging slowly, but decided it was a bad idea
right.the kegs laying on its side with the fill side pointed out the
garage door, and the bottom pointed towards the back of the garage
right. so im walking over the rear frame clip im building for the
ranger and took about one step off my 2x6 frame table and the tank
blew. i was almost 4 feet away.

the pressure hit me with such force that it tossed me from the
passenger side of the truck over the frame rails and onto the ground
against the wall on the drivers side. i felt like id been shot in the
gut with a shotgun. i couldnt breath. i couldnt see. i couldnt hear. i
got up and shuffled around the drivers side of the truck frantically
looking for one of my phones. no luck. started walking towards the
neighbors house, but its 1/8 mile and i knew id never make it. i
rememberd leaving my work phone on my tool box, i snatched it up and
dialed 911. i still couldnt breath. 911 answered and all i could
sputter out was "explosion. 755 wagner road porter. ambulance. only
person injured" then i passed out and bled on my driveway. i woke up
with ems pumping oxygen into me. i was told they performed cpr, but
knowing cpr and what it does to the body, i have no marks signifying
cpr being performed. once awake i grabbed my phone and dialed my dad,
but he changed his number. fail. i dialed justin. success. told him
"emergency at my house come over." he was there instantly it seemed.
all i could feel was a million pounds of pressure on my body from my
lower pelvis to my sternum.

they brought an ambulance, fire truck, fire marshall and 6 squads to my
house. i was considered 'trauma 1' and was of the highest priority. i
could barely stay awake. they shot me with adrenaline to keep me awake
i was told. they then ran 3 16guage IVs into me. thee biggest IV ive
ever seen. i was scared as ****. i would have pissed myself if i could
have. i get to the hospital and they tell me ive been in an accident
and i need to stay calm. look i know i was in an accident im the one
who called. they needed to shove thee biggest hose id ever seen up my
nose and into my stomach so they could pump my stomach. i had 2 bacardi
and cokes throught the course of the day. it was 730pm when this
happened. the hose through my throat was by far worse than the
explosion. then they had to shove a hose up through my urethra so they
could vacuum all the urine out of me. what an experience. i had 3 cat
scans and 2 MRI's, along with numerous EKGs.

i got extremely luck and had no issues with rupturing or damaging any
organs. i did fracture and bruise a rib. life goes on. luckily. if it
hadnt blown for another second or more, i would be dead.

custom **** is cool and all, and so is being different and having
unique ideas, but its just flat out more important to be safe about
this stuff. i give alot of people grief about having a 'bolt on' truck
but to be honest im gonna buy one next.

the bottom of the cylinder blew out, and shot the tank 30 feet out of
the garage. the bottom of the cylinder went somewhere, idk where. and
the banding that held the bottom intact hit the tailgate of the ranger.
theres shrapnel pieces on one of the walls and pieces stuck in my door.
i went and took pictures today, so enjoy. if your gonna comment on this
experience in a negative way, just keep it to yourself

holy hell dude!!!
i had a similar experience with a homemade air compressor/tank but none of us were around it when it blew, the pressure switch on the one we were using went out and at 250 psi or so the tank they were using blew, my ears rang for hours after that...they heard the explosion across town about 3 miles away...
glad to see your ok...

man that looks bad...just glad to see that YOU were able to come on here and type it. Not have someone come on here to tell us a learning experience and we lost a mini-trucker. You def had your guardian angel walk you away

as we say down south "that'll learn ya"

man that looks painful as shit bro. im glad you are able to tell about your tale and live thru this.

yea thanks guys. i guess thats what i get for trying to be different and cool. guess i should just jump on that s10 bandwagon eh?

Man just glad ya weren;t hurt any worse than that. Coulda def. been worse. But glad your ok

it could have been substantially worse. if it had blown even a fraction of a second later i would have been even closer to it. its scary. im scared of my garage right now. no lie.

I bet man. That bruising looks nasty. can't say it enough glad it wasn't any worse than it was. Like Guido said you most definately had your guardian angel with ya.

OUCH, sorry 2 hear bro, good 2 know your still kickin.

Wholy shit dude.. Glad your OK.

And dont jump on the s10 bandwagon. Theres wayyy to many of them.

Dave wrote:Wholy shit dude.. Glad your OK.

And dont jump on the s10 bandwagon. Theres wayyy to many of them.

Yup, cut the back of the blazer and you got one lol...

True story.. lol

wow that sux.