How To Clean Out Old Propane Tank

By rcwelding (***) Date 07-10-2010 01:43 Edited 07-10-2010 02:13

Ok I'grand a footling scared to even ask this question or tell what I have done but here it goes....

I build BBQ pits form 150gal and 250gal propane tanks at my house when things are slow.. An onetime man taught me or more similar told me how to cut the old tanks...

I open the valve and let the last bit of propane out... Then un-thread the valve... Unscrew the the fuel level gauge and take information technology off.. Then I put about a half cup of Dawn dish lather in the tank followed by about 6in of water and slosh it around good to mix the soap and water...

I let the tank sit in the sun for at least two hot days and upwards to a week... So I role the tank over draining out most of the sludge and soapy water...

I have a 2in polly hose that I hook up to my gas powered truck exhaust and let the exhaust blow in through the valve pigsty and out of the fuel approximate hole for well-nigh 20 or thirty minutes...

I mark out my cut lines and with the truck running and frazzle yet circulating I cut one whole end off with my plasma cutter... Now the tricky part.. When the cut is consummate I have a rope tied to ane of the lift handles... I step back xv or 20 feet and pull the ends autonomously...

I have congenital 10 or fifteen pits similar this and I have had 4 tanks flash pretty good when the oxygen hits the within when being pulled apart...

Perhaps this audio simply plain stupid but it has worked for me for a while now.... So my question is... Is at that place a safer or improve way to become about cutting these tanks..??? I actually don't like the flash when it happens..!!!

Here are some pictures of two different propane tank pits I take congenital.. The superlative picture show is the last pit I just finished and the bottom two are of the get-go pit I built

I hate to even get involved in one of these threads about cutting propane tanks. First off cease useing the frazzle off a gas engine your loading the tank with unburnt fuel. A diesal truck is a lot better manner to go, nitrogen existence the safest option.

Your going to go a lot of comments from and then called experts, well-nigh how they have been filling them with water and cut on them for years and nothing has happened.

I know people who do it this style, I take washed it that way, and people have died doing it that way so i would never suggest that some one endeavor to purge a propane tank with water.

Purging the tank with nitrogen 4 times the cubic anxiety per hour IMHO is the safest fashion to attempt a cut out. Diesal is another common method but you lot volition still from time to time get the "wink".

A gas engine specially over 2000 rpms is expelling unburnt fuel that you will calorie-free with a torch!!!!

I heard two guys burnt to decease cut on an old pressure vessal in marlow ok this week, at a salvage yard were they cutting on them all the time and have never had an accident. So it's alway meliorate to have every precation available, it's ameliorate to save your life than save time and money by taking short cuts

Past awspartb (***) Engagement 07-10-2010 02:42 Edited 07-10-2010 02:47

Do a google search first. In that location are graveyards full of people who've welded and flame cut on propane tanks making grills. Some fifty-fifty filled them with Water and were killed when the matter exploded.

Stop listening to the toothless, redneck wonders on this thread who have done it dozens of times and are cooking up some fatback and catfish right now on a nasty one-time propane tank grill. These same toothless, chaw spitters also like to make AIR COMPRESSORS out of old propane tanks to salvage a few bucks. Y'all are going to become KILLED! Why do you think all these former propane tanks are FREE? It's because they are deadly and they toll money to dispose of properly!

Seriously, buy an old piece of large diameter pipage and use that instead.

There you go with that Redneck thing once again.

By Rig Manus (***) Date 07-xi-2010 18:05

Dad-gum, we'south just try'n ta cook united states up some possum bellys. Spit.

man im glad someone asked this question.im just trying to figure out exactly what your saying by purging 4 times the cubic anxiety of the tank.i take a 250gallon tank.

Information technology no make no nevermind,
purge the tank 4 times or xl times, you do Non cut into the tank until information technology has been tested with a calibrated LEL monitor and reads 0.
You can wash information technology with lather, dish washing liquid or scrubbed by pygmy warriors, you practice NOT cutting into the tank until it has been tested with a calibrated,LEL monitor and reads 0.
Let me see if I tin explain it some other way...........................................Nope
You desire to go on your butt attached to your backbone? You practice NOT cut into the tank until it has been tested with a calibrated LEL monitor and reads 0.

Well I got the bottle of wine and a hack saw with a new blade and an onetime bract... So when did you say you were free to come up cut it for me..??? Starting time with the old blade first it makes smaller sparks..!!! LOL

Distressing I had to requite you a piddling heck...

There is a safe way to practice information technology RonG Im merely trying to find out what that is.. LOL

By RonG (****) Engagement 07-12-2010 20:24

No sweat, I ask for information technology.

Information technology certain seems to me if it was full of h2o at that place could not exist flash or explosion. I know I have welded on total Diesel tanks and they make hot taps on gas lines all the fourth dimension.

My understanding of the hot tap is that there is no O2 and the gas volume is smashing enough to comport abroad the heat before it can ignite the gas. I may be incorrect (usually am) but I remember filling it with water would have the same consequence.

Dorsum a long fourth dimension ago I cutting in to a hydraulic stupor absorber while laying under an armored personnel carrier and that was educational plenty to put the fearfulness of cylinders in to me.

why such a long stack? you gonna put a joake brake on that matter?

I was hoping to sell it to Shad and I didn't desire the smoke to blow in his face up... LOL

I built it that alpine to go far draw better... It lets you lot have a smaller vent hole and cooks really slow... That pit went 9hr at 250 degrees earlier I had to put more than wood in it... I caught so much hell over its height from friends that now I make them shorter but they don't cook quite as well... I tin can merely get about 6hr out of the new ones before I have to re-load them...

By weldwade (***) Date 07-12-2010 15:48

I worked in a semi tanker shop for several years. We repaired and built new semi tankers, testing and inspection. The procedure we used to de-gas a tank was the utilise steam for a period of fourth dimension depending on the layout and size of the tank or compartment. After steaming a calibrated 4 gas monitor was used to sniff the tank in every nook and cranny, only subsequently passing this exam would the tanker be immune in the store. We mainly worked on crude oil and refined tankers. On several occasions I worked on propane tankers and I can tell you this from my feel. Every ane of them spent virtually 4 days on the steam rack put through many cycles of heating and cooling before the monitor would read Zilch! Keep this in mind it is very hard to de-gas a propane tank.

Just a proposition but you can orange peel a pipe or rolled plate and get the same look as a head on a propane tank...

I was surprised the commencement time I used dishwashing soap to de-gas a tank. Be certain it is diluted equally the water is the key. 1-v is a good ratio using Dawn. The solution needs to be soapy to brand a lot of bubbles. If yous can fine and employ a eductor to arieate the solution the better. It will piece of work when steam will not. Also, do not use hot water. Information technology needs to be cold. This stuff has even worked on sludge in a gasoline tank.

By weldwade (***) Date 07-12-2010 xix:46

Thats why I similar this identify you can learn something new every time you log on! I will requite the soap a try for certain the next time I do a steel tank. I fabricated an eductor a long time ago to pump out a sump I was working in but it is rather large and would not piece of work for a gas or propane tank. I'd have to make a smaller model for that job! Is information technology that the hot water or steam opens the pores of the steel?

No. The dish washing soap has a de-greaser and surfactant that is designed to work with water temps below 130 degrees. And the key is the bubbles. You want almost foam going in the tank. There are other things y'all can utilize like standard de-greasers, only Dawn is bachelor and cheap.

I don't care about the look and then much... You can make a good looking smoker out of just plate or many other things... I tin can selection these tanks upwardly for $40 and get as many as I want... You can't become a 6ft to 8ft long 24 or 32 inch piping ane/four in wall for anywhere nearly that...

I sell them for 2k and by the fourth dimension I get axles tires grates and all the other stuff on them plus time Im cutting it shut to make whatever money...

I just demand to find a 99.9% safe way of cut them... Zero in life is 100% I just want to be as safe as possible then get after it...

Plus I enjoy building and cooking on them..... All you guys who haven't had a chance to eat wearisome cooked Brisket or ribs from a BBQ pit, you are actually missing something... Telephone call us Redneck or Hillbilly or any else yous want but dang it we can melt some skillful food..!!!

I but have to figure out how to do it safely now.. LOL..!!!

RC that scare me. You are willing to take a risk with your life for how much?$$$
If nothing else take a 3 inch pigsty saw and cut a hoe opposite of where you are going to make your initial cutting.
It is non that hard to exercise it right.
Practiced luck.

I don't know if a tank that size is strong plenty to withstand information technology, but I recollect I would hook My vacuum pump to it and pull a deep [29"] vacuum on information technology for an hour or two.

If Y'all all the same have a tank when Yous are done with that, and not a crumpled chunk of scrap, let the air in, and cut away.

From what I remember, the procedure for preping a small shipping fuel tank involved purging with steam. I think a tank the size Yous are working on woukld require a larger steam source than My Steam Jenny steam cleaner, but I don't know what You might take.

Propane is heavier than air, keep that in listen when You are trying to get it out of the tank.

If there is any oily balance crap in the tank, You still run the risk of turning that into a flamible vapor from the heat of cut. The merely propane tank I ever cut had no such residue crap, merely stank like hell.

By 803056 (*****) Date 07-10-2010 03:48

Darwin is live and at work.

Y'all don't think the vacuum will piece of work?

i practice not weld or cutting on propane tanks

The 150gal tanks have a 24in diameter buy 6ft long... Some go up to 7ft long and the 250gal tanks have a 32in diameter by 8ft long...

I have seen the wall thickness range from iii/16 5/sixteen depending on the tank... They all seem to exist different..

By DNukem Engagement 03-15-2019 06:17 Edited 04-16-2019 02:36

Cutting into an LP/Propane tank has HUGE Hazard! There is a thread from RCWelding (07-x-2010) with much discussion on this subject.
I did not discover any of the following important information in that word. Using Dawn soap is discussed in his thread & is warranted.

The question is: What volition work best to displace Gasified Propane?
Something to consider in trying to readapt Gasified Propane.
Molecular Weights of the fuels/gasses in RCWelding's discussion by lightest to heaviest.
CO (Pure Carbon Monoxide) 28.011
CO (Exhaust/Impure CO)    28.011+ = (unknown wt.)
N3 (Nitrogen) 28.013
Air (mutual blend of gasses)    28.966
AR (Argon)    39.948
CO2 (Carbon Dioxide)    44.010
C3H8 (Gasified Propane) 44.097

As you lot tin encounter the Gasified (Vaporized) Propane is the heaviest of all of them with CO being the lightest.
If yous are trying to displace the propane vapor, the tank openings MUST Be ON THE BOTTOM to permit the volatile gasses to escape.
If yous are purging the tank and the openings are anywhere other than on the lesser you are asking for serious problem!
None of the lighter gasses can blend with or movement the very HEAVY Vaporized Propane uphill to an opening above the bottom.

YES - CO2 will mix fairly well with the vaporized Propane but only to an UNKNOWN dilution at best. Don't run a risk information technology!
CO & N3 will "push" the vaporized Propane out a tank bottom improve than any of the others as they are the lightest.
However CO (Carbon Monoxide) is very combustible in air mixture concentrations of 12.v% to 74%...
A much wider explosivity range than air mixtures of Propane at two.xv% - nine.6% - a lower explosive limit than CO requiring less fabric (propane) to attain said concentration.
Using "Frazzle" (impure) CO is even more chancy as information technology has additional unburned oxygen/fuel components from incomplete combustion inside the "Impure" Carbon Monoxide, producing a truly unknown explosivity range.
Only INERT Gasses shall be utilized. Anything with an oxidizing component shall exist avoided.
Accordingly - N3 (Nitrogen) is the all-time purging gas as it is very calorie-free and has NO OXYGEN or Fuel component! BUT, the tank openings MUST be facing down!

Sources: http://www.stadealer.com/uploads/1/8/4/1/18412059/coalarminstallationheight.pdf
Propane Research and Pedagogy Council – www.propane.com

Take all the valves off and permit the vessel de-gas for 2-3 WEEKS.
Get a calibrated 4 gas monitor and someone who knows how to apply it and test the tank. If the LEL's are 0 it is rubber to cut.
Using dish washing soap to help de-gas the tank will work. Use two cups per 5 gallons of water. Use a pump upward sprayer to put the soap in the tank. Use a nozzle to put air in the solution to become bubbling. Spray where the solution gets on the tank walls. Let the solution set up for a few days.
Over again, never cutting into a tank that has held any flammable liquid material unless the tank has been tested with a calibrated monitor.
This can be done safely, merely using your nose as the calibrated detector will result in a lot of paperwork on your survivors.

dbigkahuna

Excellent technique. Sound advice.

I would add together a three other caveats;
-Another poster suggested using exhaust gas. This is bad, considering carbon monoxide is too a flammable gas in the right combination.
-As you suggested, apply blowing compressed air.
-Practise not leave whatever spaces where gas tin accrue, such as might be caused by tipping the vessel on it'southward side.

Joe Kane

And if the tank has a coating, consider the potential problems with outgassing. Simply sayin'. :)

Well information technology looks like the Good Lord has protected me through my ignorance.... I was told the truck frazzle would displace the oxygen thus making the tank safe to cutting...

The frazzle must have done something because when I would separate the two halves I would become a pretty good flash.. Some of those old tanks had a one-half inch of sludge in them and even after they were cutting open and I scraped all the crap out It would notwithstanding fire when I was welding on them... I just figured that if it could not get compression it would simply burn and not explode...

I am going to read upwardly more on hot work and the best way to purge these tanks... I have four of them laying in my yard that I was going to piece of work on this winter....

Merely because I have been lucky and so far doesn't mean I am going to go on using the same process...

Thanks for the communication and information... I wont be cutting anymore tanks till how do they say it in redneck terms..??? ( Till I get some more than learnen )

Thank you everyone... And I am nonetheless open to more than advice or Ideas on how to go virtually this safely...!!!

By Lawrence (*****) Engagement 07-12-2010 14:54

Wisdom!

Now that you lot said that.... Those are really prissy lookin grills!

I hope yous can come up up with a rubber system to zip out the Lel and cut them...

Well it is a touchy subject field....

Overnice looking work!!! I have been approached to practice this before...have not notwithstanding. I accept welded up a few fuel tanks large and small tho....not gonna get into how I went about it...just I always had my fingers crossed no thing how sure I was. I think propane tanks may have a nastier reputation..... I practice not have much to say tour it...great communication has been given already. But every bit far as purging goes, dry out ice tin make for a cheap oxygen remover, definitely non fool proof.

Never thought of dry Ice... I tin can get every bit much of that as I desire..!!! I mite accept to enquiry that a bit...

By awspartb (***) Appointment 07-13-2010 01:41 Edited 07-13-2010 01:43

I was working just down the route from the 2001 Motiva acid tank explosion in the link yous provided. The poor guy who was killed was disolved in the acid. At that place were no remains to bury from what we were told.

By Austin-T (*) Date 07-12-2010 21:54

For what its worth your BBQ Pits & trailer look great. Id like it if y'all could post more pics and dimensions/sizes of the trailer/tanks, etc. These are practiced projects to become people more interested in learning how to weld and exercise caution. Proceed upwards the good work and be rubber.

By Austin-T (*) Date 07-thirteen-2010 00:17

For what its worth your BBQ Pits & trailer look great. Id like it if you could post more pics and dimensions/sizes of the trailer/tanks, etc. These are good projects to become people more than interested in learning how to weld and exercise circumspection. Keep upwards the expert work and exist condom.

By FixaLinc (****) Date 07-13-2010 00:45

Steam steam steam steam steam for days & assurance. Old welding shop in town here did many of them for years to convert to molasses, water or diesel tanks putting new fittings in. They got too old sold the store & died of old historic period non from a tank accident.

By DNukem Appointment 03-15-2019 06:18 Edited 04-16-2019 02:39

Cut into an LP/Propane tank has HUGE RISK! At that place is a thread from RCWelding (07-10-2010) with much word on this subject.
I did non find any of the following important information in that discussion. Using Dawn soap is discussed in his thread & is warranted.

The question is: What volition work best to readapt Gasified Propane?
Something to consider in trying to displace Gasified Propane.
Molecular Weights of the fuels/gasses in RCWelding's discussion by lightest to heaviest.
CO (Pure Carbon Monoxide) 28.011
CO (Exhaust/Impure CO)    28.011+ = (unknown wt.)
N3 (Nitrogen) 28.013
Air (common alloy of gasses)    28.966
AR (Argon)    39.948
CO2 (Carbon Dioxide)    44.010
C3H8 (Gasified Propane) 44.097

As you can run into the Gasified (Vaporized) Propane is the heaviest of all of them with CO being the lightest.
If you are trying to displace the propane vapor, the tank openings MUST BE ON THE Bottom to allow the volatile gasses to escape.
If yous are purging the tank and the openings are anywhere other than on the bottom you are asking for serious problem!
None of the lighter gasses can blend with or move the very HEAVY Vaporized Propane uphill to an opening above the bottom.

YES - CO2 will mix fairly well with the vaporized Propane but just to an UNKNOWN dilution at best. Don't chance it!
CO & N3 will "push" the vaporized Propane out a tank bottom better than whatsoever of the others as they are the lightest.
Notwithstanding CO (Carbon Monoxide) is very combustible in air mixture concentrations of 12.five% to 74%...
A much wider explosivity range than air mixtures of Propane at 2.15% - 9.6% - a lower explosive limit than CO requiring less material (propane) to attain said concentration.
Using "Exhaust" (impure) CO is even more chancy as it has additional unburned oxygen/fuel components from incomplete combustion inside the "Impure" Carbon Monoxide, producing a truly unknown explosivity range.
Merely INERT Gasses shall be utilized. Anything with an oxidizing component shall be avoided.
Accordingly - N3 (Nitrogen) is the best purging gas every bit it is very light and has NO OXYGEN or Fuel component! BUT, the tank openings MUST be facing down!

Sources: http://www.stadealer.com/uploads/1/8/4/ane/18412059/coalarminstallationheight.pdf
Propane Research and Instruction Council – www.propane.com

By ssbn727 (*****) Appointment 07-12-2010 04:eleven

"Nail _ Boom _ BOOM!!! AWWW SHAKE It RIGHT DOWN!!! Blast _ Blast _ BOOM!!! Yous'LL Become OFF YOUR FEET!!! BOOM _ Nail _ Smash!!!
There YOU'LL Get _ UP INTO THE SKY!!!"

Look! Information technology's actually elementary... Follow "DBig One thousand's & Joe Kane's" recommendations and yous'll alive to tell usa how it went, or practise it without having a reading of "Nothing LEL" and without the apply of someone who knows how to operate a calibrated 4 gas monitor, and pray to the GOD of your choosing that you will be blest and protected from going: "Blast - Boom - BOOM!!!"

Respectfully,
Henry

Past Pat (**) Date 07-12-2010 21:nineteen

I accept done several of the smaller (20-l) pound cylinders. The way I was instructed to practice information technology was to remove all gas, remove valves, and plow them upside down on a rack and exit them like that for a solar day or so. Then, plow the cylinder upright and mark a line where y'all need to make the cutting. Then cascade about 1/2 cup of Dawn or other dish washing lather in the cylinder, then fill with warm water to just below the cut line. Now, hither is part of the process I no longer do considering there is usually not as well muck space above the cutting line to worry nigh any significant amount of gas build up. Merely, I was told to rig up an air hose with a clip on information technology so it could be attached to the opening in the pinnacle. And so using the air regulator, gear up it at 5 to 10 PSI (5 seems to be plenty) and let it blow into the cylinder a few minutes before cutting. Using this method I accept never found whatever detectable amount of gas by smell, or using a lit small propane torch. Never...Ever under whatever circumstances cutting whatsoever cylinder or container that has held gas or other flammable products unless you know for a fact the container has been properly cleaned. In fact, I assume all containers are not rubber to cut every bit is until they accept been prepared every bit if they did comprise gas. Play it rubber and y'all should be fine.

Really....???? That must be why all the guys at the Houston Livestock Show and the other big cook offs have all been throwing abroad there custom smokers.... I never thought of that..!! They have those big tents and fancy set ups including full bars and trip the light fantastic floors then they have a bunch of picayune pellet grills only smoking away...

Hey that pellet grill may work cracking.. I take never used one I take never messed with one...

I exercise know this... If Black and Decker made a bad A#@ welder you would see my Decker can eat your Lincoln bumper stickers all over Rig trucks and the Rig of pick would be a B/D 500.... For some reason I don't come across too many B/D 500s running effectually....

I guess what Im saying is if the Pellet Smoker was "THE SMOKER" the pros would use it.... I have never seen one at a cook off...

They may piece of work for a bit but they volition rust out fast and they are cheep....!!!

As far equally which 1 cooks the best...Let me know when you desire to BBQ and we volition have a piddling cook off... Information technology would be fun..!!

By Lawrence (*****) Date 07-13-2010 15:56

Yeah...

Settle this like gentlemen...

Smokeout at dawn.

Happy to lend my services every bit food taster. :)

Sounds great..!!! Im thinking a proficient BBQ melt off with a bullheaded taste test then for fun have a welders Rodeo...

Events could be...Fastest fitter, then running the cleanest passes and perhaps a few other challenges. The top Ten finishers authorize for the grand Evidence Down.... Nosotros can have a blind Welding automobile weld off... Get a adept running Green lite machine, a Red face, a Vantage, a Miller piping pro and anything else someone wants to throw in... Stick all the machines behind a wall out of sight and The person who Identifies all the machines right or the 1 that gets the most right Wins a new custom BBQ Smoker...

$100 a man entry for the welders contest and all gain go to ether families of fallen welders or some other proficient cause..

At present that would be fun...!!!!

We may even convert a few of those Classy welders into the Redneck way of life... Who knows..???

"Sounds great..!!! Im thinking a good BBQ cook off with a bullheaded gustatory modality test then for fun have a welders Rodeo... "

Now RC, tell me you are not trying to make fun of BLIND welders. Besides, why should they be the only ones to accept part in the gustation test and so only to be fabricated fun of in a rodeo!!??

Just take the BBQ's all cutting and welded before nosotros get there okay?? It's not the explosion that bothers me, information technology's the possible arguements virtually how to get information technology done.

Take a Neat Twenty-four hours, Brent

Ok I think I finally figured out how to solve this whole propane tank cut concern.... I will send the problem to Myth Busters and take them deport several tests using different methods and let them worry about getting blown upward... Afterward that nosotros may all learn something new...!!!

By Ringo (***) Engagement 07-fourteen-2010 18:l

I pass up your reality,and substitute my own.

By jrw159 (*****) Date 07-14-2010 18:52

Somebody is going to loose an eyebrow before all is said and done. LOL

jrw159 :-)