55 gallon drum ideas

[Brake Weight]

I was explained this from a land drilling rig contract welder trick.

Hook up a hose from the tailpipe of your welding diesel machine (or any combustion engine) and let the exhaust displace any oxygen from said combustible fluid tank while you get all your equipment ready. Once you feel that all the oxygen is displaced you can cut or weld on the tank without fear of it exploding.

LOL. At least that was the reasoning I was told.

 

[rockinmywaypa]

I made these for feeding lambs. One plastic barrel plus one plastic oil pail cleaned out real well. bolted together with a 6 inch hole connecting the two. leave an inch gap or so at bottom of trough. the extra barrel on top is so we can pour feed in from upstairs, not recommended to fill both as it becomes quite unstable.

 

[PILOON]

I wonder if the barrel stove kits have instructions to not use plastic barrels?

Bruce

LOL! Good one.

 

[dannoGT]

You are kiddng! :confused3: Ok,how do you know?

Well you make the assumption that because it has kicked you once it cant possibly kick you again and you light up the torch again........

 

[Jstpssng]

I was explained this from a land drilling rig contract welder trick.

Hook up a hose from the tailpipe of your welding diesel machine (or any combustion engine) and let the exhaust displace any oxygen from said combustible fluid tank while you get all your equipment ready. Once you feel that all the oxygen is displaced you can cut or weld on the tank without fear of it exploding.

LOL. At least that was the reasoning I was told.

I've heard that before, but haven't dared try it because I don't know how to tell when it's full of exhaust.
Back in HS days some of my friends believed that a driveshaft is filled with some type of gas, because of the reaction when they are cut with a torch. The real reason (I believe) is that the shaft is sealed, so the air expands as you are cutting it, and blows out when the steel is breached.

 

[sixdogs]

On post 65 above, here's how my old welding shop used to weld bungs in gasoline storage tanks. First, they emptied the tank. Then, they hooked up a Sears shop vac that blew air into the tank (and exited another opening). They let that vac run for four days, I think, and then welded the bung in. Seemed to work since they did a lot of tanks and no problems.

 

[Jstpssng]

On post 65 above, here's how my old welding shop used to weld bungs in gasoline storage tanks. First, they emptied the tank. Then, they hooked up a Sears shop vac that blew air into the tank (and exited another opening). They let that vac run for four days, I think, and then welded the bung in. Seemed to work since they did a lot of tanks and no problems.

I notice that you said they blew the air in- not suck the fumes out into that electric motor. They obviously knew what they were doing. I have heard of welders doing pipeline repairs on while said pipelines were operating; but that's a different league than an amateur like me with my little AC welder.

 

[MossRoad]

I'd just stick a garden hose in it, let if fill up, and run over for 10 minutes of so. Then dump and repeat two more times.

 

[sixdogs]

I'd just stick a garden hose in it, let if fill up, and run over for 10 minutes of so. Then dump and repeat two more times.

Do you think that would really clean it? I've rinsed things before and still smelled residual gas.

 

[MillWeld]

I welded 2 together to make a sawdust collector for my planer. I can fill it in 20 minutes so I should have welded 10 together.

 

[oosik]

I obtained what I consider to be the optimum 55 gallon drums - they are made out of HDPE(high density polyethylene - plastic) and will never rust out. I use them at strategic points along my fence line. Its where I have bedrock at the surface - can't get to the area with a pneumatic rock drill - I fill the drum with rock and it makes an excellent anchor point along the fence line.

 

[muddstopper]

well, if you take a stainless barrel and add a cap, then a plastic barrel and add a air lock, a little copper pipe, I'll just let you figure out what to do with it.

 

[MossRoad]

Fermenting some tractor fuel, I suspect...

 

[VashonFarmer]

I cut one in half and made a 27.5 gallon bass out of it. It sounds good!
View attachment 545261

That's awesome! I saw a band years ago and the guy had made one with an old muffler. I like yours better!

 

[TractorGuy]

On post 65 above, here's how my old welding shop used to weld bungs in gasoline storage tanks. First, they emptied the tank. Then, they hooked up a Sears shop vac that blew air into the tank (and exited another opening). They let that vac run for four days, I think, and then welded the bung in. Seemed to work since they did a lot of tanks and no problems.

A radiator shop I use to use said they washed gas tanks out with original Tide detergent. They claimed that was the only way they found to get the fumes out well enough to weld on them.

 

[ch47dpilot]

A radiator shop I use to use said they washed gas tanks out with original Tide detergent. They claimed that was the only way they found to get the fumes out well enough to weld on them.

Guess a better use for tide than to eat it Tide pod challenge: What is it, and why is the viral video dare dangerous? - The Washington Post

 

[sixdogs]

Welder dies when cutting into an empty fuel tank. After that, I've decided not to cut the top off my 55 gallon drum.
Look away if you're a snowflake...


Liveleak.com - Welder dies when cutting into a empty fuel tank

 

[muddstopper]

best way I know to cut the top out of a metal drum is with a hammer and chisel. I can have the top off in 5 min with a sharp chisel. I have even took a big screwdriver and sharpened one side of the blade and used that to cut the top off. Just punch a hole to start and tap the screwdriver around the edge. ****, I have even used a railroad spike as a chisel. No need to use a flame or a grinder throwing sparks on a barrel that has had flammable liquid stored in it.

 

[Jstpssng]

best way I know to cut the top out of a metal drum is with a hammer and chisel. I can have the top off in 5 min with a sharp chisel. I have even took a big screwdriver and sharpened one side of the blade and used that to cut the top off. Just punch a hole to start and tap the screwdriver around the edge. ****, I have even used a railroad spike as a chisel. No need to use a flame or a grinder throwing sparks on a barrel that has had flammable liquid stored in it.

I've used a sawsall with good results. You still run the risk of sparks though. One guy in town took old 100 lb propane tanks, cut the ends off and made a culvert. I'm not sure how he kept from blowing himself up.