Man Killed while making BBQ out of Oil Drum.....!!!!!

[Egon]

The fuel/air mixture has to be in a certain range to be explosive, but, yes, oil residue can be explosive. Had a coworker that was cutting the tops off of 55 gallon drums to make trash cans and had one blow up. Fortunately he wasn't leaning over it. When they blow they blow "up". It just put a severe bulge in it but it went several feet in the air, and scared the crap out of everybody. I don't remember what product had been in the barrel. That was about 28 years ago. You can run car exhaust, CO2, anything that removes the oxygen and cut them with a torch.

Kim

Car exhaust may also be explosive!

 

[Rio_Grande]

Have used the exaust method and never blowed anything up. My prefered method of cleaning them out is dawn dishwashing detergent and water, fill them full and it will push out any fumes or residual flamable fluids. Use just water in propane tanks. Like butter.

 

[Skyco]

One time a few years ago I had one that was sitting around for years and had the bung out already so I thought I would just use the welder to cut the lid off. I heard a big whoof from the hole. I tried it again and got another whoof, so I quit using that method. I then commenced to chisel it off like I always had.

I've seen chiseling make sparks...you may just be lucky. So far.

 

[toppop52]

I always fill them with water and buzz the top o0ff with an air chisel, takes about 30 seconds and yes, you may get a little water on you, but you won't be taking any unscheduled flights.
If they are to be lateral cuts I use the dish detergent and water method.

 

[CBW1999]

The oil itself would have to heat to become vaporized to even come close to an explosion. However, slag dropping into the barrel may cause ignition but, if there is truly any amount of oil it will quench the slag before ignition. Residue around the area being cut will likely burn off as you go.

Bottom line- don't cut into anything that may have contained flammable substances-

 

[Egon]

Have used the exaust method and never blowed anything up. My prefered method of cleaning them out is dawn dishwashing detergent and water, fill them full and it will push out any fumes or residual flamable fluids. Use just water in propane tanks. Like butter.

OK!


General

Synonyms:
Molecular formula: CO
CAS No: 630-08-0
EC No: 211-128-3

Physical data

Appearance: Colourless gas
Melting point: -205 C
Critical temperature -140 C
Boiling point: -192 C
Specific gravity:
Vapour pressure:
Flash point:
Explosion limits: 12.5 - 74 vol% in air
Autoignition temperature 620 C

Stability

Stable. May react violently with oxidants; readily forms an explosive mixture with air. Extremely flammable. Note the wide explosion limits.

Toxicology

Toxic by inhalation. Odourless and colourless, so no indication exists of its presence in a room. May impair fertility or cause harm to the unborn child. Delayed adverse effects possible. Typical LTEL 50 ppm, typical STEL 300 ppm.

Risk phrases
(The meaning of any risk phrases which appear in this section is given here.)
R12 R23 R33 R48 R61.

Personal protection

The use of effective ventilation, such as a good fume hood, is essential.

Safety phrases
(The meaning of any safety phrases which appear in this section is given here.)
S9 S16 S33 S45 S53.

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[Kenfyoozed]

I hate to hear when anyone looses their life. Im sure we all have done something, and then looked back later and thought how stupid we were.

For instance....

I had some land cleared and all the brush and trees pushed into a pile to burn. We spent hours trying to get the green wood to burn. We started adding diesel fuel to help it burn. All the flames went out, we waited bout 10 mins before ading more. My friend was close to the pile adding more fuel when i turned around, the explosion happened. All the diesel fuel igited at once. We still cant figure why. but when i turned around i sae my friend airborn with the diesel can still in his hand. No one was hurt, we were lucky that day. But the exposion set off car alarms and rattled the neighbors windows enough for all to come out and cops were called. Not to report us, but they figured we were dead. So yeah my heart goes out to his family. It only takes a short mental lasp before we do something stupid. "think before you leap" is what i learned and try to instill in my kids head.

 

[scaredychicken]

Sad event. I had the idea to make a BBQ from barrel, then I found a couple of food grade barrels and that is what we will use... still in design stage.
I use old oil / tar barrels for garbage burns - they usually last 3-4 years each.

 

[Localmotion]

It must be silly season...

BBC News - Man dies after Horspath barbecue explosion

As I said before, must admit to cutting up drums to make bbq's myself in the past, but they always contained oil which takes a lot more heating than gas...

But I will definately be more cautious in future.

 

[OldMcDonald]

Not a particularly good article. It appears to be addressed to a world-wide audience of urbanites. In Britain (where I originate)these drums, are known as 45 gallon, never 40. Way back they were 40, but they have, for many years, been of a capacity of 205 litres - a European measurement that equates to 45 Imperial gallons. Nobody in Britain ever uses the word gasoline. It simply does not exist. The original use of these drums is usually oil for vehicles, either engine, transmission or gearbox, but it is common for farms to use them to store diesel or petrol - the British word for what I am fairly sure the US would call gasoline, or gasoleo in a lot of Europe.

It was indeed an unfortunate accident, but as several posters have already pointed out, he did not know what had recently been stored in the drum - or perhaps he had, and did not realise the possible consequences. A half barrel does not make a decent BBQ anyway. It is not my favourite way to eat food, but if you must BBQ follow the Aussie idea and use a thick solid piece of cast iron (very similar to a griddle) over the top of the fire. Much safer and the food not only cooks more evenly, it tastes better too.