Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 02-03-2012, 05:48 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Fighterpilot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 380
Cutting aluminum tanks safely??

Getting ready to start cutting. Have a counterrotating saw with two blades, saws-all, and a grinder with cutting blade. It is my understanding one can cut a diesel tank safely. OR, should I have air blowing down the filler vent and remove as many fittings as I can to get the air to flow thru the tank as an additonal safety precaution. Does diesel fumes, in the right concentration have a flash point? Suggestions solicited, please.
Fighterpilot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2012, 01:28 PM   #2
Guru
 
Codger2's Avatar
 
City: San Diego
Vessel Name: Circuit Breaker
Vessel Model: 2021..22' Duffy Cuddy cabin
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,691
Cutting aluminum tanks safely??

Quote:
Fighterpilot wrote:*Does diesel fumes, in the right concentration have a flash point? Suggestions solicited, please.
* * * ** Several years ago, while fishing at a wilderness fish camp in SE Alaska, a lodge employee was killed when he took a torch to an old rusted diesel tank. When it blew up, he was thrown over a hundred feet & later died in an air ambulance on the way to Seattle.

Now, I know you're not using a torch but please ventilate those old tanks well before causing some sparks from a saws-all.


-- Edited by SeaHorse II on Friday 3rd of February 2012 03:32:25 PM
Attached Thumbnails
flash point.jpg  
Codger2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2012, 02:55 PM   #3
TF Site Team
 
Larry M's Avatar
 
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,680
RE: Cutting aluminum tanks safely??

Use dry ice,*it's the fire triangle; Oxygen+Heat+Fuel=Fire.* By using dry ice (carbon dioxide) you are removing the oxygen so no fire.* Ventilation alone*may may not work.* If there is any sludge in the tank, you can still have*an explosive atmosphere.* I don't remember what the lbs of dry ice/gallons of tank volume are but contact*the fire department or a company that services underground storage tanks.* The use of dry is*an industry accepted method.
Larry M is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2012, 05:50 PM   #4
chc
Senior Member
 
chc's Avatar
 
City: PA
Vessel Name: Scooter
Vessel Model: 1984 Californian 34 LRC
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 358
RE: Cutting aluminum tanks safely??

I would be concerned a bit about the baffling in the tank; I believe that Californian tanks have some baffles in them, but I'm not positive about that . Would it be possible to pour in some dishwasher soap; couple of cups or so, then hose things down & get lots of suds. (I'm also assuming that all the fuel has been drained out). Then I think I might cut a hole in the end of the tank w/the suds & let it vent a bit; then press on from there. What the hell.. you already know how to fly if it goes wrong. Kidding... good luck & be careful.
chc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2012, 05:51 PM   #5
Guru
 
Codger2's Avatar
 
City: San Diego
Vessel Name: Circuit Breaker
Vessel Model: 2021..22' Duffy Cuddy cabin
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,691
RE: Cutting aluminum tanks safely??

Quote:
superdiver wrote:*that guy was a patient of mine....* Except i thought it was a gas tank, not diesel???
* * * * My wife & I arrived back at the lodge about an hour after it happened.

******* The lodge owner had gone to Juneau with the injured employee to catch an air ambulance to Seattle. We were told by the lodge management team that the tank was an old diesel tank.

They had so many OB boats that it is entirely possible that it was a "gas" tank.

I believe the poor fellow was from South Carolina & the lodge owner flew back there, with the body, to address the family.

It sure put a real "funk" on the rest of our stay.
Codger2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2012, 06:10 PM   #6
Guru
 
Edelweiss's Avatar
 
City: PNW
Vessel Model: 1976 Californian Tricabin LRC
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 1,860
Cutting aluminum tanks safely??

Yes, using a cutting torch on anything that contained hydrocarbon fuels is deadly if done wrong.* Makes me nervous when I go to a shop and see them welding on a used tank or cutting an old*55 gallon*drum, even though they're using proper precautions.* I would go with the inert gas, dry ice, just to be on the safe side.*

I had an old diesel furnace tank removed from one of my rental properties recently.* After draining it of oil and sludge the contractor put a hydraulic tool in a hole in the tank and peeled it open.**Once it was opened up they cleaned the residue and crushed the tank flat.* They said*they used a saws-all for years, but they were running into tanks which had contained unknown chemicals, so they*switched to the "shears".**It peeled the metal like butter and was quicker than a saw would have been anyway.


-- Edited by Edelweiss on Friday 3rd of February 2012 08:13:13 PM
Edelweiss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2012, 07:47 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Fighterpilot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 380
RE: Cutting aluminum tanks safely??

Tank will be empty. Drain on the lower corner. Now has about 30 gal. but pump out and than drain should get it empty. Will put in a cup of Dawn and hose with high pressure to cause suds as suggested here and on boatdiesel.com. Dry Ice sounds like a good idea so will drop some of that down the filler pipe. Pretty sure the tank has baffles due to its size, but assume there are openings at the corners of the tank so water can move about and hopefully take some suds with it. Can also get some dawn in the high end as there is 1/2 inch plug there. This along with dawn in the low end filler should cover the bottom. Thanks for the advice.
Fighterpilot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2012, 01:09 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Restitution's Avatar
 
City: Kalama, WA
Vessel Name: "Restitution"
Vessel Model: 38' Californian
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 201
I have two new 100 galon tanks onboard that are in use. I also have two "old" tanks that are not being used. These older tanks need to be cut open and cleaned. (Rusty and gunky). I had planed on taking tanks out, filling with water and using an pnumatic cutting wheel. I hadn't heard of soap nor dry ice. What does the soap do?
Restitution is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2012, 04:54 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Fighterpilot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 380
As I understand it the soap should be foamed up which will help control any residule diesel fuel or diesel coating in the bottom of the tank.
Fighterpilot is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Coating Aluminum Fuel Tanks Anode General Maintenance 16 01-31-2012 02:24 PM
Cutting hose-ends square Shoalwaters Other Trawler Systems 44 01-20-2011 04:17 AM
thinking about cutting some stuff out of my salon? albin43 General Maintenance 39 01-09-2011 06:08 AM
Cutting new threads in SS shaft Doc Power Systems 13 10-26-2010 12:55 PM
can i convert port and starboard fiberglass water tanks 100 gal each to diesel fuel tanks hvac General Discussion 13 08-28-2010 07:56 AM

» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:34 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012