Purging a Tank For Cutting/Welding

[3Ts]

Spoke with a friend that has been repairing other peoples stuff in this rural/farm environment for fifty years. Says if it didn't have gas in it, just take the plasma torch to it. I stuck the leaf blower in there for a moment, discharged the CO 2 extinguisher a little and put the torch to it. I really didn't know if I was experiencing my last few seconds on earth! Well I got it cut in two and I'm still here. Thanks all for input.

Worst part was the paint (no doubt lead based) and labels I had to cut through. Leather gloves caught on fire and so wrapped glove in water soaked rag, which also quickly caught fire too from the intense heat.

More pictures to follow.

Now another problem. I was going to weld feet onto the bung plugs and make a fire in the top portion to get rid of any residual oil. But those nylon bushings in the bung holes will melt!

Bung holes are normally 2", but you mentioned 5" with the nylon bushings. Does it have to be nylon? How about metal bushings?
Pipe Fittings Direct. 5 x 4 inch NPT Malleable Iron Reduction Bushings

 

[TractorGuy]

An old radiator guy I knew said he washed gas tanks out with Tide clothes washing detergent. He claimed that was the only thing he found that stopping them from woofing.

 

[Egon]

Thanks. I didn't specifically see anything mentioning using engine exhaust. Is it unacceptible practice because it is so undefined? How much is enough? What RPM, for how long?

I am still curious if it could blow up with four large bungs open?

We have hazardous waste collection days, but the depositry is far away and I am totally oblivious to local news and events as it's ALL Left oriented media in this country, so I don't listen or watch.

Exhaust gasses themselves will explode with the proper air mixture. It is not a type of process that is allowed for hot work in an industrial setting. Purging with an inert gas is often done and the container tested for combustibles before any work can be done. In some cases there will be a constant flow of inert gas through the vessel and vented at some distance from the vessel. (Cases where residuals remain in the vessel)

The Exhaust gas method is not undefined It is misunderstood by many.

Check out the internet for vessel explosions and deaths involved.

 

[Industrial Toys]

THANKS for the advice. I kind of hope I never have to do this again.









And then I got to the gooey good treat inside!



I can see getting quite dirty in my future.

So one half will be for cos manure storage with a lid and the other half I intend to make into a fire pit that I can bring near the porch and then remove when done. Another piece of junk on the property!

I gotta say, I'm shocked at the neat job I did cutting. Usully when I want nice, I make a mess of plasma cutting. All the surfaces were bowed making use of a straight edge difficult.

 

[Egon]

I was going to make a comment on the straight cuts.

 

[TractorGuy]

Really nice job on the cutting.

Better you than me on the cleaning.

 

[tookielee]

Do you live out in the country? Set it on top of a burn pile, and let it burn out

 

[Industrial Toys]

A friend will take the liquid oil to burn in his waste oil furnace and (surprisingly) the sludge to burn along with saw dust he gets to burn in his outdoor boiler. So that's a big load off my mind.

I wonder if other guys have set their gloves on fire using a plasma on a painted surface. No doubt good old LEAD paint too.

 

[Smokeydog]

Glad it worked out safely. When it doesn’t, those people aren’t around to comment. Surprised at the amount of sludge. OxyAcet cutting may been bad.

 

[Industrial Toys]

WELL! Easily something to go on my ten dumbest things I have ever done list. Accepting this tank some fifteen years ago. Thinking I could clean it and reuse for fuel oil or even dirty water.

There are treasures mired and buried in the tar/sludge/whatever. Six foot, four inch rubber hose, filters, filter rubber gaskets and some large quantity of some blue stuff, either a tarp or bunch of lay flat hose! But seems too rubbery for vinyl, so I really don't know..

I have used up six pails and need at least that many more! Trying to rip the mess apart with a hook and dig it out with a spade. All taking me away from other more important work! What a disaster!