Hydrostatic pressure testing

[metalmeltr]

I seems that for safety reasons everyone want to know how much pressure fittings can handle. I think I have an affordable method that should work quite well. The hydraulic hand pumps used for porta power hydraulic rams. Most are capable of pressures of up to 1000psi. You can by a pump for about $100. A pressure gauge that can read to 10000psi can be purchased for about $13

[Gippeto]

It's been discussed many times.

A grease gun will go to higher pressures, and cost a heck of a lot less.

[metalmeltr]

How high will a grease gun go to? I have one of these pumps so maybe it would not be such great idea for everyone, but I could use it. Has anyone tried pressure testing with a power washer?

[Gippeto]

Grease guns will go to around 3000psi IIRC. D Hall has mentioned using a pressure washer for hydrotesting larger vessels.

I use a dead weight tester...up to 1000bar.

[metalmeltr]

Since when is 10000psi<3000?

[tghhs]

10,000 is greater than (>) 3,000

Whats the confusion?

[spudtyrrant]

Most are capable of pressures of up to 1000psi.

A pressure gauge that can read to 10000psi can be purchased for about $13

just because you have a 10,000psi gauge doesn't make your pump jump to said pressure

[metalmeltr]

The pump can pump to 10000psi.

[spudtyrrant]

The pump can pump to 10000psi.

well your post lead to believe that they were capable of up to 1000psi

[D_Hall]

I would ask... Just what do you plan on doing wherein you need to hydrostat to 10 ksi?

[metalmeltr]

Absolutly noting, but It could also be used for say 500 psi to test a hybrid chamber or I always see the question of how much pressure can this fitting handle well with this it could easily be tested until it fails or tested to 2 times the operarting pressure. If you do use such a pump for hydrotesting I would recomend the the pressure vessel or pipe fitting be placed in a barrel of water so any fragmentation that may occur will be contained.

[D_Hall]

Sure, but as we've stated, there are much cheaper options available to get to the pressures we're talking about. A grease gun costs what... $30? And it can make 3000 psi. That still allows you to hydrostat a 15X hybrid (which is way beyond what most folks make) with a 2:1 safety margin.

Obviously the hydraulic pump would work. Nobody is saying that. What we're saying is that it's more expensive than other options (unless you just happen to have one lying around) and the extra pressure capability it represents is unnecessary and in fact, unlikely to ever be used.



Note: Pressure washers (mentioned previously in the thread) work great for LARGE pressure vessels where it would likely take days for a person to pump the vessels up to reasonable pressures. They should NOT, however, be used for anything small as the pressure will be too difficult to control.