Homemade Stainless Tanks?

[mtnbrewer99]

Need to pose a question to all you equipment gurus out there. Looking at a few stainless tanks on craigslist and I wanted to know if they were worth picking up. They were formally used for liquid nitrogen; I figure since that is a fairly inert and non corrosive liquid the insides if the tanks should be pretty clean. There are no valves or manways so I would have to add them, but I do have access to a talented welder/fabricator. The tanks look to be a 3-pc design (they have a weld on either end as if the two end caps were welded on)--should I worry about those welds and sanitization? They are 40gal tanks, which would be perfect for what I need, and they are going for $125 per tank. I am looking to start up a small brewery and these could be a great way to have some inexpensive tanks for conditioning. What are people's thoughts on this?

Thanks for any help-
Matt
Tumbledown Brewing

[Lagergnome]

Just glancing at the details...I would be leary of any used stainless tanks that do not have sanitary welds. If this was a bulk nitrogen tank for the medical industry, it is not designed to hold pressure...they vent continuously to keep pressure from building up. If you can see inside the tank and observe that the welds are smooth/polished and non porous...then maybe. When you are looking for cheap used tanks that were not used for food manufacturing you tend to scare people away from your product. I have seen some really cheap thinwall stainless tanks on a website *will pm you. You would be best served to buy one of these so when you give a tour in the future...no one will cringe. You could possibly use some off-grade stainless for glycol reservoir, etc. The last thing is...anytime you look at Stainless like this...bring a magnet. If it sticks...walk away.
Cheers!
Jeremy Pate

[mtnbrewer99]

Thanks for the info, and I would love to see that link to used tanks you mentioned...