Tops for Stainless Steel Tanks

[Ottrdaemmerung]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[George Collier]

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]

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