cutting a 20lb propane tank?

OUCH! Yeah I don't want to lose any limbs....
I am briging stuff for a forge to the HI. As of right now, I have no access to a empty propane tank or anything like that, so instead I am bringing one of these:

Easier and more fun to empty.....Im thinking if its insulated enough, the aluminium should never get hot enough to melt.

63_1.JPG
 
TikTock said:
OUCH! Yeah I don't want to lose any limbs....
I am briging stuff for a forge to the HI. As of right now, I have no access to a empty propane tank or anything like that, so instead I am bringing one of these:

Easier and more fun to empty.....Im thinking if its insulated enough, the aluminium should never get hot enough to melt.

63_1.JPG
Click to expand...
If you join the club the day of the HI you will have access to the inventory of the club which has forge bodies in it. So it's $30 HI and $30 membership. It takes around 2 hours to build one. ;) :)
These bodies are just over a foot long so. we could gt BBBBB eaver to weld a couple together if you need it longer. We got to get him early before he starts drinkin. Get you butt down here around 8:00am so I can get a head start on building it. :thumbup: :D
 
Walt2 said:
I spent over 40 years as a welder and have cut on just about everything with a torch, but a propane/butane tank or a barrel, such as a 55 gal. one is something that you couldn't pay me enough to cut one with anything that creates heat. I have done repairs on gasoline/diesel tanks by flushing with water and then putting carbon dioxide in the tank and being sure there is enough to completly purge the tank. The carbon dioxide was left flowing while doing this also. I have seen some catastrophic results from cutting the propane tanks such as a leg blown off and another one had his arm blown off from the elbow down.
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Guys, this is good advise from someone who knows what he's talking about! Please heed his warning. Also, cutting on a tank filled with water, with an electric cutoff wheel puts electricity into the mix, heightening the disaster potential.
 
Heed the advice of Walt2!
I am also a welder of many years and am now a manager of a Natural Gas Utility.
Vapors left in the tank combined with oxygen and a spark from a saw or static electricity can blow a tank and you wide open. There are ways to safely purge a tank before cutting, which I can not advise because of my working status.
Didn't Dirty Harry say..." This is a 44 magnum and I can't remember if there is a bullet left in it or not. Do you want to take the chance(punk)"?


Jon
 
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