Scary tank welding question ?

[redrustbucket]

Anybody ever welded up a rusty old gas tank before. It sounds like an accident waiting to happen to me. I was just wondering if it was possible.

 

[brian]

i welded alum diesel tanks before, but never messed with gas tanks.
i imagine you could do it the same way. fill it with an inert gas and have at it. with no O2 in it what could happen?

 

[largenfirm]

Can I have your stereo, man?

Kirk

 

[frenchman]

i have heard people that cleaned the tank verry well and then fill it with water had no trouble doing it!

but one of my mom's uncle cut a barrel with torch that used to have ( read had been sitting in the rain for a couple of years!) gas in it....the barrel ignite in in samll explosion and he his death from one ear since then!

 

[toddslater]

Unless you have great experience with inerting tanks with N or CO2 and and great experience with a Combustible Gas Indicator (CGI)/O2 meter. I would not give it a try. What's your life worth ?

 

[Pin_Head]

Radiator shops do this routinely to repair rusted out gas tanks. They boil them out first, braze up the holes, seal the inside, paint the outside and pressure test them. I had mine done 8 years ago for $50.

 

[haystax]

Just do it - quit being a pussy. Run a large section of exhaust hose from a running vehicle into the tank you are working on, if the CO doesn't kill you first, you shouldn't worry too much about the tank exploding.

Or just be smart and buy a new tank.

 

[folsom50]

I've done it a few times, just rinse and dump with water a bunch, and then fill it full of water. It's quite a bit of work, so I thick Pin-head's suggestion is the best.

 

[lowtideride]

Can I have your stereo, man?

Kirk

I call first dibs...

 

[Sculpin74]

If you absolutely MUST do it, use the exhaust hose trick after washing the tank out several times with water, and then leaving it empty. Let the exhaust circulate for 10 or so minutes before you start to weld. Remove the sending unit as well to allow the exhaust to circulate freely AND give an extra escape route for the pressure IF it still explodes anyway. Wear heavy clothing, welding gloves, goggles AND a face shield for protection.

Filling it with water alone and welding is an accident waiting to happen.
The water will force fumes to any area where there is an air bubble trapped. Put the torch to one of those spots...BOOM!
I saw a guy turn a motorcycle tank inside out like that once. The channel for the top frame tube blew completely out the other way. The tank DIDN'T tear apart thank God, or he'd have been dead meat.

Take it to a tank shop if you can, is my recommendation....

 

[largenfirm]

I call first dibs...

I asked first, o driver of rust buckets...

Kirk

 

[redrustbucket]

I think I'll check with a shop and see what they want to do it. If it's too much $$ maybe I'll give it a whirl. Thanks - Jeremy

 

[lowtideride]

hey dude.... i'll bring some fold out chairs over and set them up in the lot across from your house and watch you weld on it...hell i'll even video tape it...you got insurance right??? blue cross blue shield is a good one. if you die i get your truck and im taking 30 bucks out of your wallet for that part you broke on my truck today...p.s. tell bama i said hi

 

[65swb45]

hey dude.... i'll bring some fold out chairs over and set them up in the lot across from your house and watch you weld on it...hell i'll even video tape it...you got insurance right??? blue cross blue shield is a good one. if you die i get your truck and im taking 30 bucks out of your wallet for that part you broke on my truck today...p.s. tell bama i said hi

Nice to know who your friends are!

Seriously dude, give it to a radiator shop. Just had mine done in my 65dd and it's like brand new.