If the piece you cut out is to be an access door, the best way to keep it lined up is to make the first cut on the side were the hinges are going, then attach the hinges (or at least drill the matching holes for them), then cut the other three sides. Keeps everything lined up perfectly.
spent years in oil field have always just filled tanks with water to cut them it's fast cheap way to displace oxygen. Plus the water help keep the metal cool and keep hot sparks down to minimum.
Using a powerplasma cutter would be a fast and easy way to cut into the tank no? I've seen people using grinders and it seems to be too long a process.
Ken Jett I've done tanks for years, even fuel tanks from gas stations The only way you should do the cutting is after you blow it down with air Never fill with water
Another way is to hold the bottle, 44 gal drum near an exhaust pipe or run an exhaust into ehat tou are cutting the co2 and carbon leave a layer/film inside sealing and reducing the risk of explosion, i emphasize reduce the risk. Great vid and great advice .
Good video. After I take the valve out, I just fill it up with water a couple of times, empty it out and do all my cutting. Never had a problem. MrRantek24.
+MrRantek24 Thank you for your input. I had heard that is was ok to just rinse it out and start the cutting but, I wanted a little insurance that things did not get explosive! lol
In the winter, you can fill the tank with water and let the water turn into ice before you start cutting.I just found a new use for recycled propane tanks. I used half of it to make a bowl that I used for transforming a drill press into a dough mixer. If you have the time you should watch the 3 videos about the bowl.
Blackhawk7O6 I cut them all the time I've never filled one up with water or anything. I let air out for a fee days and cut them you may small a vinegary smell but it's harmless.
Professionals fill the big tanks with water and TSP then let 'em sit. I don't bother cutting up BBQ LP tanks because they aren't good for much and better metal for most jobs is plentiful with some educated scrounging, but if you swap valves they make nice portable compressed air tanks. The air will smell like the mercaptan odorant which has entertainment potential if you've the right sense of humor.
yeah, as long as they are at ambient pressure, they only ever make a little pop, use water if you are of a nervous disposition, or co2 from your mig.... personaly i dont keep dry ice at home!
I remember when I was young. my Dad , was Gas welding, a fuel tank from a 1965 Chevy Impala. He filled it 3/4 up with water, and connected a Vacum hose to the exhaust on his truck and placed the other end in the fuel tank. Started the truck to fill the tank full of Carbon Monoxide. Then began Welding it, HE SAID DONT EVER DO THIS. But we were too poor to buy another fuel tank for the car. Later that day we were driving again. Not the smartest thing. But you do what you gotta do, sometimes to Survive.
He was lucky it didn't EXPLODE, carbon monoxide is highly flammable especially when heated like fresh exhaust plus the exhaust also contains a small amount of gasoline vapor. Carbon monoxide is a clear, flammable, poisonous, and odorless gas byproduct of incomplete combustion, To fully understand what I’m talking about I need to get into a little bit of fire (combustion) behavior. Most people don’t realize that solids and liquids do not burn in their natural state, they must be converted to a gas in order to burn. Solids when heated go through a process called Pyrolysis where they start to breakdown and off-gas, its these gases, one of which is Carbon Monoxide, that actually burn. Liquids on the other hand Vaporize when heated and become a gas, which again, is what actually burns. What produces the byproducts of combustion like carbon monoxide is this heating of the fuels turning them into gas. I know what some of you are going to say, “then why doesn’t the CO detector go off every time someone cooks on a gas stove"??? Well because natural gas and propane are clean burning fuels and when the burners are properly adjusted they able to achieve almost one hundred percent complete combustion, which means that only a small amount of carbon monoxide molecules are able to escape into the atmosphere in the house, nowhere near enough to be harmful or set off the alarm. Now a car is a different story, internal combustion engines are not evenly remotely close to one hundred percent complete combustion and therefore pump tons of carbon monoxide into the atmosphere. Now consider all of the very hot, very flammable carbon monoxide gas that was just pumped into that freshly purged and partially water filled gas tank, and that welding torch heating the tank steel well above the flash point of Carbon monoxide gas, he was lucky it didn’t cause flash fire, let alone cause an explosion !!! It would have been fine to weld the tank the way it had been prepared prior to pumping all of that hot exhaust into it.
Great information as always! I have a couple I hope to do in the future for the same type project. Replaced one of my huge compressors and the tank is going to become a cooker
Nice straight cuts. I would use the circular saw metal blade,but I need a thinner kerf for what I make. Looking forward to this project. Finally cooling down here. Mid 50,s tonight!!!
+BCtruck, rebuild, repair,repurpose Thanks. I was given an old compressor that will eventually turn into a bbq smoker. I'm hoping for some cooler good working weather soon (Nov ?) here in my area.
Large jawed adjustable wrench will break it loose through the opening in the top cage. Allowing you to keep the handles and nozzle protection. Use a leather belt around the tank and put the end of the belt in the vice. Similar to an oil filter wrench. This helps so you don't bend the stand ring.
I think there is the flavor/scent oil with the propane and some oils burn pretty darn good...........so if the sun has already heated the tank to make the oil start to vaporize, maybe caboom.......we that work the trades have safety steps we take ....man hours and petty cash comes second
I fill it completely with water to expel ALL the gas, close the valve and start cutting. Thereafter the water can be porued out and cutting can continue.
If you do not purge the tank it will demo your face and upper torso..... I can tell you that it is highly suggested that you purge by flooding the tank with water for 24 hours as some gases get trapped in the metal.
Yep then even after that empty and cut straight away. I left mine for a day then put a lighter to it just to make sure, never heard such a screaming noise of a jet flame, combined with steam burnt my hand!!
They make a great little barbecue, weld on a couple of legs hinge the door, drill a couple of air holes in ends, bottom. Weld handle on top and also works as door stop. WaLa
Unfortunately a guy we knew cut a tank, don't remember if propane or something else, without safety measures whatsoever... Well, it exploded and the paramedics found pieces of his head on the ceiling of the big shed he was in... Horrible stuff, stay safe guys, never get complacent or do stupid shit...
Nicola Ferrari I've operated a shear crane for 20 years. I grab them and slice them in half for recycling. I've cut over 10k in my life,not one explosion. Cng, acetylene, oxygen, whole different story. They blow. I've been blown up twice. Once with oxygen,once with cng. Let me tell ya,cng makes you think about your profession real fast lol
propane places flip them over for a day or two propane always goes to the lowest point than I fill them right to the brim with water than empty and cut
Hello, I saw a mechanic doing some welding on a gas tank of a motorbike (just petrol). The mechanic did actually filled that tank with water then started doing his welding job. Even cutting that tank you can do the same, filling it with water. It will be messy and wet but I think it 'll be safe to do so.
when I'm going to use a propane tank for a project I take the valve out and I let the tank sit around in the Sun for a long time and make sure all the propane residual is out of the tank I have left them sitting out in the open air for over a year before I cut into them before
At 1:36 what do you mean by I like those torch blades??? Thanks. CO2 might work but you never know if all the Oxygen is displaced. If any CO2 leaks out Oxy comes back in!
vinegar and baking soda cost less and do the same thing. You can actually fill a bowl with invisible gas and pour it over a candle and watch it go out.
I can't remember the brand but, it came from Home Depot. The DeWalt metal cutting blades for circular saws work better and last longer than the one I used in this video.
I have seen in past running a pipe or tubing to a tank and filling it with exhaust fumes then commence to cutting it with a torch while fumes are steadily rolling out of tank. Of course tank had been emptied before cutting already. The tank was either a 210 or 300 bls capacity crude oil stock tank....8,800 to 12,500 gallon capacity. I learned that day how it was done by men looking for scrap metal.
I might add never as previously suggested use exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine to make the inside inert. If the engine is in any way running rich you have added an explosive mix rather than deleted one. In my experience I flush with running water and dish soap after turning it upside down with the valve and other fittings removed for a day or two. Then I fill and overflow for an hour or more. I roll it on its side while running water in it as well. Then turn it over and air it out again. The trick is to be thorough as a quick one time rinse has the possibility of trapping a gas pocket at the top which will stay through one fill cycle as the hole is not at the very top of the container. Theoretically the available porous space in a tank cannot hold enough gas to make an explosive vapor with steel tanks and standard sizes. By porous space I mean the intermolecular space of steel. But better safe than sorry! Also leaving the valve opening open when cutting as any minor vapors (negligible/nonexistent if thoroughly washed and aired) are better burned than contained which a hole of that size will allow. For the faint of heart who wish not to entertain such a project try hot water heaters which can be cut quite safely with plasma, cutting wheel, saws all, circular saw, etc. If you get lucky in years gone by some were even made of stainless. The glass lined ones are like a porcelain which is very very thin and cuts just fine. I have used many for different projects as they come in all sizes. Take care. Doug
could i use an old tank to contain different liquid (non-hazmat, and not under extreme pressure either, maybe 100psi), its a somewhat thick liquid (im being vague for a reason), something that would allow me to refill the tank with un-pressurized liquid and then re-pressurize the tank once filled. Propaine tanks seem to be the best pressure vessels for what im trying to do and the budget i have (which is 0$ if anyone was curious) and i just wanted to make sure the standard valve system was capable of having a somewhat thick liquid travel through it
Yea water if you are using a cut wheel. I think it is very difficult to cut a tank with a torch when it's full of water. I had a compressor and just hosed the exhaust into the tank when I needed to braze it once.
You could try the flea market but, that is always hit and miss. Look for where houses are being torn down in your area, you just light score 1 or 2 for free! I have also seen them on craigslist but, they are usually way over priced.
Or just put and air hose from your compressor inside let it blow for a while then cut it while it is still blowing you will have no trouble. also a vacuum works too.
Oxygen is not the problem, it is the propane. Fillit to the top with water, pushing all the gas out and then drain it and you will not have any problems. This is a lot cheaper and safer than dealing with dry ice.
So let me get something straight. If you simply pop the valve, let air in, wash out with water, then cut using angle grinder you will be in danger? How much propane is left in the metal? I don't get it.
immeohmyoh ya! obviously. I meant after the tank is "empty". I Ain stupid enough to remove the valve from a full tank.. jeez.. lol. aside from being dangerous, that would be a huge waste of good oxy/propane torch fuel!
Steel does not have "pores." This is a myth. If it had pores, all the propane would leak out of the tank, especially under pressure. I have seen people soak chainsaw chains in oil for days "so oil will get into the pores of the metal." It's a total waste of time, as steel is not porous and will not "soak up" any oil. As long as the tank has been completely purged of propane it can be cut without risk of explosion.
The pressure drives propane into the metal of the tank. If it is full of air, and a torch drives the propane out of the metal, the result is an explosive mix. I let the valveless tank sit in the Florida sun for a week or so, away from flame. That drives most of the propane out of the tank, and I cut with an abrasive wheel. Even filling with water and emptying does not get all the gas out of the metal.
You are WRONG. If anyone believes you and tries to cut a tank with a torch he may be DEAD WRONG. Educate yourself. Ask a professional in the field. My partner's law firm has litigated in 3 cases involving tanks that exploded after air was displaced with water, cases involving major personal injury. Expert witnesses say that propane gets into the metal and is released by heat. Perhaps it will not happen under every situation, but it does happen. Are you a gambling man? You are betting your face or your life.
Absolutely impossible. Steel is not porous. Think about it: if it were porous, and you put a gas into it under pressure, all of the gas would leak out of the tank through the "pores." They couldn't make propane tanks out of steel if they were porous. Anyone with any metallurgical knowledge will know this.
You can't assume any tank with the value is empty. Not until you remove the tank valve then push any left over gas out using water and soap. I've had tanks that been EMPTY with valve open for years take value off and there's still tons of gas in tank. Basically treat a propane tank like a loaded gun
Does anyone out there know if you can cut the propane tank when you fill it with water? I thought that it may be safe enough when filled with water to prevent the tank from exploding. Has anyone out there tried this method?
igual se llena con agua de grifo, se vuelve a colocar la llave o un tapòn de madera y se corta con una amoladora con disco de corte , asì fabrico tambores de acero
I always rinse the tank afew times, then afterwards i set the tank around the corner of a building and light a rag on a long stick or old fishing rod and hold it over the hole of the tank. If there are any fumes in the tank, I'd rather go ahead and burn them out.. Sounds crazy, but it works. lol....
Let ur saw blade reach full speed before touching the metal. Saves the lifespan of the blade, as well as the saw and it helps prevent kickback. Not a critique, obviously you know how to use a saw. Just saving you money in the future.
1 out of 3 times I get an exchange tank from home depot the float gets stuck closed pressure is limited from the tank I can tell right away because my BBQ doesn't heat up very fast even with a full tank. I stopped buying them I bought 2 brand new tanks from Costco have a gauge on them I have Costco fill them.
I think this is way more safe then filling it with water. Most I've heard is displace the oxygen with a inert gas and your safe to cut for the most part
One never "needs" to cut open a propane tank, but if one so chooses to, a propane tank can be used for other things than holding propane. For starters, compressor tanks are stupid expensive, but propane cylinders are much cheaper.
Your method is fine, but I simply take a ball pein hammer and beat the valve in a cc direction, once around or so and you can put a crescent wrench on it and turn it out easily. No sparks btw, valve is brass, no worries about sparks.
I’ve cut thousands of tanks open once the valve is open. There is no propane left inside that tank. I’ve use cutting torches plasma torches chopsaw, chisels and hammers and never once have I ever heard of propane being stuck inside the metal. I don’t think this is possible.
Safest way is fill it with water and then boil the water out with a fire, the steam will scavenge impregnated gas. In the oil patch I would have to steam out tanks and vessels ect then check lel's so welders could do repairs. Filling with water to cut open can be a shock hazard with a grinder.
@StarNone for a fire you will always need 3 things. Ignition source, fuel and oxygen. Remove 1 thing and you will not have any fire. Filling a tank with water will take away 2 things oxygen and fuel. Steam will only remove the fuel and not give you a electric shock if you grinder gets wet.
I'll never understand how people that are so quick to comment on videos can't take a sec to read a few comments so we don't end up with like 150 people saying "just fill the tank with water first". I like reading comments sometimes, but not so i can see the same fucking thing written 100 times. Rant over lol
Well, you're too laqte to help Tropper McBride of the OHP; he managed to explode a gas tank he was welding on...plenty of gun-safety courses didn't transfer over to DIY projects.
How to cut open your propane tank without blowing yourself up. Get your onery neighbor to open the tank for you, with a sledge hammer and chisel ! Otherwise, go to your local metal recycler and get all the needed cylindrical tubing rings (and dish bottoms) you need. They will have de-cocked the propane bottle long ago.
people are always so way overly cautious about propane tanks. geeze rinse with water and cut all you want. propane can not soak into metal so much that after its flushed it will explode, hell throw a match in it and wait a minute. trust me,,, nothing exciting iwill hapen.
In case you didn't notice, the name of the vid is "How to cut open a propane tank without blowing yourself up" not "how to make dry ice". Prepping is about gettting prepared now while things are available, instead of waiting until things are not obtainable.
If the piece you cut out is to be an access door, the best way to keep it lined up is to make the first cut on the side were the hinges are going, then attach the hinges (or at least drill the matching holes for them), then cut the other three sides. Keeps everything lined up perfectly.
greyghostkoga great idea
Awesome advice. Thanks!
Lov it, thanks
You earned a 100th 👍 from me for that.
spent years in oil field have always just filled tanks with water to cut them it's fast cheap way to displace oxygen. Plus the water help keep the metal cool and keep hot sparks down to minimum.
thats pretty much what i do these days
Using a powerplasma cutter would be a fast and easy way to cut into the tank no? I've seen people using grinders and it seems to be too long a process.
that's what i did, and after that i watched a _how to_ on cutting up a propane tank cause logic.
Julian Brody
Ken Jett I've done tanks for years, even fuel tanks from gas stations
The only way you should do the cutting is after you blow it down with air
Never fill with water
Another way is to hold the bottle, 44 gal drum near an exhaust pipe or run an exhaust into ehat tou are cutting the co2 and carbon leave a layer/film inside sealing and reducing the risk of explosion, i emphasize reduce the risk. Great vid and great advice .
Good video. After I take the valve out, I just fill it up with water a couple of times, empty it out and do all my cutting. Never had a problem. MrRantek24.
+MrRantek24 Thank you for your input. I had heard that is was ok to just rinse it out and start the cutting but, I wanted a little insurance that things did not get explosive! lol
In the winter, you can fill the tank with water and let the water turn into ice before you start cutting.I just found a new use for recycled propane tanks. I used half of it to make a bowl that I used for transforming a drill press into a dough mixer. If you have the time you should watch the 3 videos about the bowl.
I'm impressed with the breaker box inside your house.
I'm not an expert on this but I think water would be more than adequate to displace the oxygen. Can someone please confirm this?
+Blackhawk7O6 Yes, water would work also.
Blackhawk7O6
I am going to try it with water on the weekend.
Confirmed. Better with water. An easier. And cheaper. And faster. And safer.
Blackhawk7O6 I cut them all the time I've never filled one up with water or anything. I let air out for a fee days and cut them you may small a vinegary smell but it's harmless.
Almost like you were back purging the tank! Very kool idea!!!!
if you do not have dry ice I have used baking soda and vinegar like the old time fire extinguishers to keep from going kaboom
+krromas1966 Good tip, thanks.
Did you put a latex glove over the opening and watch it inflate? Haha
Straight cuttin right there! Awesome job!
Professionals fill the big tanks with water and TSP then let 'em sit.
I don't bother cutting up BBQ LP tanks because they aren't good for much and better metal for most jobs is plentiful with some educated scrounging, but if you swap valves they make nice portable compressed air tanks. The air will smell like the mercaptan odorant which has entertainment potential if you've the right sense of humor.
yeah, as long as they are at ambient pressure, they only ever make a little pop, use water if you are of a nervous disposition, or co2 from your mig.... personaly i dont keep dry ice at home!
I remember when I was young. my Dad , was Gas welding, a fuel tank from a 1965 Chevy Impala. He filled it 3/4 up with water, and connected a Vacum hose to the exhaust on his truck and placed the other end in the fuel tank. Started the truck to fill the tank full of Carbon Monoxide. Then began Welding it, HE SAID DONT EVER DO THIS. But we were too poor to buy another fuel tank for the car. Later that day we were driving again. Not the smartest thing. But you do what you gotta do, sometimes to Survive.
He was lucky it didn't EXPLODE, carbon monoxide is highly flammable especially when heated like fresh exhaust plus the exhaust also contains a small amount of gasoline vapor. Carbon monoxide is a clear, flammable, poisonous, and odorless gas byproduct of incomplete combustion,
To fully understand what I’m talking about I need to get into a little bit of fire (combustion) behavior. Most people don’t realize that solids and liquids do not burn in their natural state, they must be converted to a gas in order to burn. Solids when heated go through a process called Pyrolysis where they start to breakdown and off-gas, its these gases, one of which is Carbon Monoxide, that actually burn. Liquids on the other hand Vaporize when heated and become a gas, which again, is what actually burns. What produces the byproducts of combustion like carbon monoxide is this heating of the fuels turning them into gas.
I know what some of you are going to say, “then why doesn’t the CO detector go off every time someone cooks on a gas stove"??? Well because natural gas and propane are clean burning fuels and when the burners are properly adjusted they able to achieve almost one hundred percent complete combustion, which means that only a small amount of carbon monoxide molecules are able to escape into the atmosphere in the house, nowhere near enough to be harmful or set off the alarm. Now a car is a different story, internal combustion engines are not evenly remotely close to one hundred percent complete combustion and therefore pump tons of carbon monoxide into the atmosphere. Now consider all of the very hot, very flammable carbon monoxide gas that was just pumped into that freshly purged and partially water filled gas tank, and that welding torch heating the tank steel well above the flash point of Carbon monoxide gas, he was lucky it didn’t cause flash fire, let alone cause an explosion !!! It would have been fine to weld the tank the way it had been prepared prior to pumping all of that hot exhaust into it.
Ingenius
Thank you LTBROYT6A. For some reason I always thought CO was non-flammable. Thanks for setting me straight.
Why do you want to cut open a propane tank ?
Great information as always! I have a couple I hope to do in the future for the same type project. Replaced one of my huge compressors and the tank is going to become a cooker
+Pops Quest Thanks. I'm looking forward to your project.
Someone gave me an old air compressor that I'm trying to turn into a bbq smoker.
Can you also just fill it with water? Obviously the water will leak out as you cut it?
Very clean, very neat. Great ideas. Great video.
Cutting the valve guard off can create a hot spot and detonate the tank. Hmmm
Nice straight cuts. I would use the circular saw metal blade,but I need a thinner kerf for what I make. Looking forward to this project. Finally cooling down here. Mid 50,s tonight!!!
+BCtruck, rebuild, repair,repurpose Thanks. I was given an old compressor that will eventually turn into a bbq smoker.
I'm hoping for some cooler good working weather soon (Nov ?) here in my area.
Large jawed adjustable wrench will break it loose through the opening in the top cage. Allowing you to keep the handles and nozzle protection. Use a leather belt around the tank and put the end of the belt in the vice. Similar to an oil filter wrench. This helps so you don't bend the stand ring.
thats a very useful and quick tool, a sawzall is it? i think the dry ice might be a bit overkill, just use water in future
Powerplasma would be even faster if you own one or can get your hands on one.
i have one, id never use it on a sealed bottle
thepoultrypeople you just leave the bottle mostly not enough gas in there to explode
I think there is the flavor/scent oil with the propane and some oils burn pretty darn good...........so if the sun has already heated the tank to make the oil start to vaporize, maybe caboom.......we that work the trades have safety steps we take ....man hours and petty cash comes second
I fill it completely with water to expel ALL the gas, close the valve and start cutting. Thereafter the water can be porued out and cutting can continue.
If you do not purge the tank it will demo your face and upper torso..... I can tell you that it is highly suggested that you purge by flooding the tank with water for 24 hours as some gases get trapped in the metal.
Yep then even after that empty and cut straight away. I left mine for a day then put a lighter to it just to make sure, never heard such a screaming noise of a jet flame, combined with steam burnt my hand!!
They make a great little barbecue, weld on a couple of legs hinge the door, drill a couple
of air holes in ends, bottom. Weld handle on top and also works as door stop.
WaLa
Wow. This is a first for me. A prepper who actually knows some science.
You ought to check out Engineer775. He knows way more that I will ever know.
Will do!
Do these tanks have any kind of rust inhibitor coating on the inside?
This one did not.
There was a video on youtube showing people killed during a stunt like this. It took me a while before I cut my 250 and 300 gallon tanks.
I'm very scared to cut into my tank please tell me how you did yours
Water?
Unfortunately a guy we knew cut a tank, don't remember if propane or something else, without safety measures whatsoever... Well, it exploded and the paramedics found pieces of his head on the ceiling of the big shed he was in... Horrible stuff, stay safe guys, never get complacent or do stupid shit...
Probably wasn't propane. Maybe oxygen.
@@saminthewoods I think it contained fuel, it was empty but obviously the fumes were still there.
Nicola Ferrari I've operated a shear crane for 20 years. I grab them and slice them in half for recycling. I've cut over 10k in my life,not one explosion.
Cng, acetylene, oxygen, whole different story. They blow.
I've been blown up twice. Once with oxygen,once with cng. Let me tell ya,cng makes you think about your profession real fast lol
propane places flip them over for a day or two propane always goes to the lowest point than I fill them right to the brim with water than empty and cut
D Steven Paisley
HELLO
FROM
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Hello, I saw a mechanic doing some welding on a gas tank of a motorbike (just petrol). The mechanic did actually filled that tank with water then started doing his welding job. Even cutting that tank you can do the same, filling it with water. It will be messy and wet but I think it 'll be safe to do so.
I could just purge with argon correct?
when I'm going to use a propane tank for a project I take the valve out and I let the tank sit around in the Sun for a long time and make sure all the propane residual is out of the tank I have left them sitting out in the open air for over a year before I cut into them before
At 1:36 what do you mean by I like those torch blades??? Thanks. CO2 might work but you never know if all the Oxygen is displaced. If any CO2 leaks out Oxy comes back in!
Milwaukee brand Torch sawzall blades.
vinegar and baking soda cost less and do the same thing. You can actually fill a bowl with invisible gas and pour it over a candle and watch it go out.
BikingMNViking 0
The video skips the step where one must fill the tank with water to purge all gas from within. Very, VERY IMPORTANT.
What brand is the metal saw blade you used? Thanks
Milwaukee 48-01-2787 9" 14 TPI The Torch™ SAWZALL® Blades from HD.
Can you tell me what brand and model you use for the circular saw blade? I like that idea much more than using a grinder.
I can't remember the brand but, it came from Home Depot. The DeWalt metal cutting blades for circular saws work better and last longer than the one I used in this video.
Awesome... Thanks for your reply and your video... BTW... I deliver LPG and you can NEVER be too careful when working with it.
Nice clean cut.
+buzzsah Thanks.
I have seen in past running a pipe or tubing to a tank and filling it with exhaust fumes then commence to cutting it with a torch while fumes are steadily rolling out of tank. Of course tank had been emptied before cutting already. The tank was either a 210 or 300 bls capacity crude oil stock tank....8,800 to 12,500 gallon capacity. I learned that day how it was done by men looking for scrap metal.
You might want to read the comments here that exhaust gas is dangerous. It is flammable, by containing unburned fuel.
I might add never as previously suggested use exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine to make the inside inert. If the engine is in any way running rich you have added an explosive mix rather than deleted one. In my experience I flush with running water and dish soap after turning it upside down with the valve and other fittings removed for a day or two. Then I fill and overflow for an hour or more. I roll it on its side while running water in it as well. Then turn it over and air it out again. The trick is to be thorough as a quick one time rinse has the possibility of trapping a gas pocket at the top which will stay through one fill cycle as the hole is not at the very top of the container. Theoretically the available porous space in a tank cannot hold enough gas to make an explosive vapor with steel tanks and standard sizes. By porous space I mean the intermolecular space of steel. But better safe than sorry! Also leaving the valve opening open when cutting as any minor vapors (negligible/nonexistent if thoroughly washed and aired) are better burned than contained which a hole of that size will allow. For the faint of heart who wish not to entertain such a project try hot water heaters which can be cut quite safely with plasma, cutting wheel, saws all, circular saw, etc. If you get lucky in years gone by some were even made of stainless. The glass lined ones are like a porcelain which is very very thin and cuts just fine. I have used many for different projects as they come in all sizes. Take care. Doug
Douglas Thompson question why
could i use an old tank to contain different liquid (non-hazmat, and not under extreme pressure either, maybe 100psi), its a somewhat thick liquid (im being vague for a reason), something that would allow me to refill the tank with un-pressurized liquid and then re-pressurize the tank once filled. Propaine tanks seem to be the best pressure vessels for what im trying to do and the budget i have (which is 0$ if anyone was curious) and i just wanted to make sure the standard valve system was capable of having a somewhat thick liquid travel through it
Yes fill it full of water & then cut it open.
Yea water if you are using a cut wheel. I think it is very difficult to cut a tank with a torch when it's full of water. I had a compressor and just hosed the exhaust into the tank when I needed to braze it once.
Has anyone ever come back from kingdom come to say it did not work? If I was holding the camera, I would be like 100 ft away using a telephoto lens.
Where should I look to get a cheap/free 100# tank for my used oil burner project?
You could try the flea market but, that is always hit and miss. Look for where houses are being torn down in your area, you just light score 1 or 2 for free! I have also seen them on craigslist but, they are usually way over priced.
No. Just fill it with water to positively displace any remaining fuel. Work smarter not harder.
thats exactly what i do just fill it with water but even then i feel weird cutting into a gas bottle it just doesn't feel right
How do you keep the water from coming out after your first cut? And avoid electricuiting your self.
so you don't pour a little bit of water in the tank so it reacts with the dry ice?
Ano nymous same thing I was thinking
Success! Now comes the fun part.
+NWIPrepper19113 Oh yes!
On some motor racing circuits back in the day when welding fuel tanks first empty the fuel out then fill it with exhaust fumes from a diesel engine
Or just put and air hose from your compressor inside let it blow for a while then cut it while it is still blowing you will have no trouble. also a vacuum works too.
Small camp bottles can be cut easily with a sharpened dental probe. five or six scoring passes cut right through the steel.
Them are some nice blade's for the sawzall. How do they work on cast aluminum. I have a lot to cut up as you know. LOL. Awesome job.
+David Andrews Not sure about cutting cast Al. I will let you know.
Filling the tank with water works will displace any remaining propane fumes if u don’t have access to dry ice.
You've had three near death experiences in this one video
Oxygen is not the problem, it is the propane. Fillit to the top with water, pushing all the gas out and then drain it and you will not have any problems. This is a lot cheaper and safer than dealing with dry ice.
Good idea on the dry ice.
So let me get something straight. If you simply pop the valve, let air in, wash out with water, then cut using angle grinder you will be in danger? How much propane is left in the metal? I don't get it.
Like I said "work at your own risk".
Personally, I would advise everyone to do what ever he or she could to mitigate injury or death.
Filling it with water would be an easier way to make sure it was completely empty...
Not everyone keeps dry ice around. Water is fine.
in the old days we just put a stick of Dynamite ,and be done with it.
remove valve turn tank upside down propane is heavier than air leave for ten min and throw a light to it...
+SavxgeX420 Propane is heavier than air but , that method will not remove the propane that has migrated into the pores of the metal.
immeohmyoh ya! obviously. I meant after the tank is "empty". I Ain stupid enough to remove the valve from a full tank.. jeez.. lol. aside from being dangerous, that would be a huge waste of good oxy/propane torch fuel!
Steel does not have "pores." This is a myth. If it had pores, all the propane would leak out of the tank, especially under pressure. I have seen people soak chainsaw chains in oil for days "so oil will get into the pores of the metal." It's a total waste of time, as steel is not porous and will not "soak up" any oil.
As long as the tank has been completely purged of propane it can be cut without risk of explosion.
The pressure drives propane into the metal of the tank. If it is full of air, and a torch drives the propane out of the metal, the result is an explosive mix. I let the valveless tank sit in the Florida sun for a week or so, away from flame. That drives most of the propane out of the tank, and I cut with an abrasive wheel.
Even filling with water and emptying does not get all the gas out of the metal.
Baloney. When the smell is gone, all the gases are gone. They do not penetrate the steel
You are WRONG. If anyone believes you and tries to cut a tank with a torch he may be DEAD WRONG. Educate yourself. Ask a professional in the field. My partner's law firm has litigated in 3 cases involving tanks that exploded after air was displaced with water, cases involving major personal injury. Expert witnesses say that propane gets into the metal and is released by heat. Perhaps it will not happen under every situation, but it does happen. Are you a gambling man? You are betting your face or your life.
Absolutely impossible. Steel is not porous. Think about it: if it were porous, and you put a gas into it under pressure, all of the gas would leak out of the tank through the "pores." They couldn't make propane tanks out of steel if they were porous. Anyone with any metallurgical knowledge will know this.
You can't assume any tank with the value is empty. Not until you remove the tank valve then push any left over gas out using water and soap. I've had tanks that been EMPTY with valve open for years take value off and there's still tons of gas in tank. Basically treat a propane tank like a loaded gun
yes just fill it up with water
Does anyone out there know if you can cut the propane tank when you fill it with water?
I thought that it may be safe enough when filled with water to prevent the tank from exploding.
Has anyone out there tried this method?
There are things for undoing nuts and valves they are called spanners.
igual se llena con agua de grifo, se vuelve a colocar la llave o un tapòn de madera y se corta con una amoladora con disco de corte , asì fabrico tambores de acero
I always rinse the tank afew times, then afterwards i set the tank around the corner of a building and light a rag on a long stick or old fishing rod and hold it over the hole of the tank. If there are any fumes in the tank, I'd rather go ahead and burn them out.. Sounds crazy, but it works. lol....
Did you say Torch blades???
Milwaukee Torch sawzall blades. I got mine at Home Depot.
Thanks
Let ur saw blade reach full speed before touching the metal. Saves the lifespan of the blade, as well as the saw and it helps prevent kickback. Not a critique, obviously you know how to use a saw. Just saving you money in the future.
1 out of 3 times I get an exchange tank from home depot the float gets stuck closed pressure is limited from the tank I can tell right away because my BBQ doesn't heat up very fast even with a full tank. I stopped buying them I bought 2 brand new tanks from Costco have a gauge on them I have Costco fill them.
Next on homestead prepper, how to make a funnel. 😁❤
I think this is way more safe then filling it with water. Most I've heard is displace the oxygen with a inert gas and your safe to cut for the most part
The dry ice, while interesting is really not necessary. Just fill the tank to the top once with water, pour out and you're good to go.
Why would one need to cut open a propane tank. Just wondering
One never "needs" to cut open a propane tank, but if one so chooses to, a propane tank can be used for other things than holding propane. For starters, compressor tanks are stupid expensive, but propane cylinders are much cheaper.
woodburners, barbecues, art, its a good free source of steel
why not just fill it with water then pour it out so you know its nothing but normal air in their
Just fill it up with water just below where you want to cut it. It will be safe to cut with anything!
Your method is fine, but I simply take a ball pein hammer and beat the valve in a cc direction, once around or so and you can put a crescent wrench on it and turn it out easily. No sparks btw, valve is brass, no worries about sparks.
Or you can do it the easier way : just fill it up with water...
... and use a powerplasma cutter to cut instead of a grinder. Much faster.
and use a funnel for the dry ice instead of hillybilly chopsticks and a hammer if you dont have a water supply.
I’ve cut thousands of tanks open once the valve is open. There is no propane left inside that tank. I’ve use cutting torches plasma torches chopsaw, chisels and hammers and never once have I ever heard of propane being stuck inside the metal. I don’t think this is possible.
Safest way is fill it with water and then boil the water out with a fire, the steam will scavenge impregnated gas. In the oil patch I would have to steam out tanks and vessels ect then check lel's so welders could do repairs.
Filling with water to cut open can be a shock hazard with a grinder.
Wouldn't the fire be a risk for the tank or would the water take care of that?
@StarNone for a fire you will always need 3 things.
Ignition source, fuel and oxygen.
Remove 1 thing and you will not have any fire.
Filling a tank with water will take away 2 things oxygen and fuel.
Steam will only remove the fuel and not give you a electric shock if you grinder gets wet.
Thats a good idea to cut it and.then fill it up whit control substen, wend i come back frome mexico😉
I'll never understand how people that are so quick to comment on videos can't take a sec to read a few comments so we don't end up with like 150 people saying "just fill the tank with water first". I like reading comments sometimes, but not so i can see the same fucking thing written 100 times. Rant over lol
David Schneider you should just fill it with water.
Personally I find using a powerplasma cutter much faster and easier. No kickback risk either.
why not just fill it up with water? it would displace the gas in the same manner...
Why not just fill it with water displacing all the air in it then worst case scenario you might get wet.
Idk why but people you should attach your hinge before you cut the piece completely out. Trust me much better results
Couldn't you just leave it filled with water and cut it?
just fill tank with water to expel any fumes like we do in uk
good vid. i just fill the tank with water then cut.
+Renaissance MarineTV Thank you Sir for the tip.
Well, you're too laqte to help Tropper McBride of the OHP; he managed to explode a gas tank he was welding on...plenty of gun-safety courses didn't transfer over to DIY projects.
To make sure there is no gas misspell water instead of dry ice
put a little water in there to release the co2.
Don't you know sparks come from that saw blade. Keep water in that tank until you get a big hole in the tank and you are safe.
Hopefully will not explode? Does not sound like a sure safe way. I would think water fill be the easiest and safest way.
the best way to do it and clean cat Whit disc I make a lot of those
Glad you didn't blow-up, it would have made for some good video though..lol
+rchopp Agreed! My view count definitely would have gone up a little. lol
Another way to displace the gas from the cylinder is to fill it with water and than drain it out.
Knew one guy that did this in a shop. blew up and burnt him badly. remember going with my dad to see him in hospital...face was burnt bad.
How to cut open your propane tank without blowing yourself up. Get your onery neighbor to open the tank for you, with a sledge hammer and chisel ! Otherwise, go to your local metal recycler and get all the needed cylindrical tubing rings (and dish bottoms) you need. They will have de-cocked the propane bottle long ago.
+John Lord All my jerky neighbor knows how to do is pump water. lol
Just fill the tank up most of the way with water. It's as simple as that
youtube recommends me a video of a guy literally killing himself doing this then this shows up. Amazing.
people are always so way overly cautious about propane tanks. geeze rinse with water and cut all you want. propane can not soak into metal so much that after its flushed it will explode, hell throw a match in it and wait a minute. trust me,,, nothing exciting iwill hapen.
Excuse me. Where is the prepper video on making your own dry ice for to use in this exercise?
In case you didn't notice, the name of the vid is "How to cut open a propane tank without blowing yourself up" not "how to make dry ice".
Prepping is about gettting prepared now while things are available, instead of waiting until things are not obtainable.
My scrap yard take propane tank with just a single hole from an ax. Save time.
I can fart in the tank because I know that will displace the air because it displaces my family members when I fart around them lol
GhostCreeper b
GhostCreeper wow.....another armchair slob!
PoopDatGame O
methane explosion