Tops for Stainless Steel Tanks

Ottrdaemmerung · Oct 30, 2010

I have a few stainless steel tanks, the kinds with the small steel tops, not the black PVC lids, and I keep misplacing them! Does anyone know of a source where I can buy replacement tops without having to buy the tanks with them? (Or does anyone have any extras, perchance?)

Thanks in advance for any info.

brucemuir · Oct 30, 2010

Do you know what make the tanks are?

I buy mine used and have 2 with the metal tops.
One 7 incher and one 3 1/2 incher.

The tops aren't interchangeable and the only placee I can find a brand is on the pour caps themselves so who knows who made the actual tanks at this point?

You can probably get a complete tank right here in the classifieds for cheap?

George Nova Scotia · Oct 30, 2010

I have a couple Nikor and a Honeywell-Nikor. The tops are basically the same size but only fit properly on their matching tanks. It's probably best to try and buy a matched set rather than just finding tops.

Ottrdaemmerung · Oct 31, 2010

The tops I have are one and a half inches in diameter and fit all three steel tanks I have: one-, two- and four-35mm-reel tanks made by Nikor, Bittco, and Simmons Omega. To clarify, I don't mean that I need the whole lids with light traps -- only the little caps that one removes to pour the chemicals in once the reel is in and the lid put on to make the tank light-tight.

MattKing · Oct 31, 2010

Ottrdaemmerung said:
The tops I have are one and a half inches in diameter and fit all three steel tanks I have: one-, two- and four-35mm-reel tanks made by Nikor, Bittco, and Simmons Omega. To clarify, I don't mean that I need the whole lids with light traps -- only the little caps that one removes to pour the chemicals in once the reel is in and the lid put on to make the tank light-tight.

The problem you are most likely going to run into is that the caps aren't interchangeable either - although I may have a couple of plastic tops that I can switch the caps on.

By the way, are you sure you have the right diameter for the tops (one and a half inch?).

richard ide · Oct 31, 2010

There is a liquid plastic product available called "Dip It"?. It is used for dipping tool handles like pliers. I think after the solvent evaporates, the plastic is PVC. If you wrapped tape around the top and covered the hole with tape as well, you could dip the tank top. A few applications would give a cap thick enough to give a high quality, long lasting replacement. Just use a good quality plastic tape which the PVC would slide off. The tape would also give a little clearance in size to allow the cap to go on easily.

Ottrdaemmerung · Oct 31, 2010

MattKing said:
By the way, are you sure you have the right diameter for the tops (one and a half inch?).

Yes, I'm sure.
The circled item in the picture below is what I need, just so there's no confusion.

MattKing · Oct 31, 2010

I see where I got confused.

The part that you have circled is what I would refer to as a cap.

The larger item to the left of it I would refer to as a top or a lid.

My experience is that:

1) lids are not reliably interchangeable between tanks; and
2) caps are not reliably interchangeable between lids.

hpulley · Oct 31, 2010

They leak if they don't fit right, no fun at all...

George Collier · Nov 1, 2010

I agree with others' posts - they seem custom fit to their intended lids/tanks. Not worth the trouble - I used to loan them to classmates in college, and they got them mixed up. I had one stick once when developing - I had to run out to the shop and pry it off - no fun.
Save some trouble and just buy a new tank, I believe that the reels are fairly standard and should work with a new tank.

Anscojohn · Nov 3, 2010

Heck, they leak even if they do fit right. It's part of the "cachet" of ss tanks.

Tops for Stainless Steel Tanks

Ottrdaemmerung

brucemuir

George Nova Scotia

Ottrdaemmerung

MattKing

Moderator

richard ide

Ottrdaemmerung

Attachments

MattKing

Moderator

hpulley

George Collier

Anscojohn

Tops for Stainless Steel Tanks

Moderator

Attachments

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency