Cutting Gas Cylinders Open Safely - HELP

[brightspark]

one of the best I saw was an empty 50 gallon drum that had black pitch in it at a school left next to a pile of rubbish . someone set it on fire and the drum blew up with a hell of a bang all I saw was the drum what was left fly on to the gym roof then the fire brigade turned up

 

[James1979]

I’d say that’s a bit of a tall story, once they are empty there is little to no pressure inside.

Whacking the valve off won’t make they go anywhere

Empty as in equal to outside won’t do anything but I always thought there was a bit of residual pressure in there. Even argoshield has a bit left in after the gauge says zero. Anyhow it was a funny story how he told it true or not.

only one way to resolve this! Hold my beer.......

 

[brightspark]

well I've had airlines burst and fittings fly off at 120 psi and unless your directly in line of fire they don't go far at all

 

[500e]

Mate had a fuel tank that had been steamed the soaked in a trike bath then steamed again when it went bang it broke his shoulder,
Did a sill thing a long time ago, got a singed face & chest where the V of shirt was I was 15\ 20 ft away lucky I saw the flame & closed eyes it took both eyebrows a fair bit of hair & big blisters, always though that was my bit of luck stayed away from things like that since

 

[Screwdriver]

Sneaky stuff petrol, slightest whiff of it in an enclosed volume and it can still go bang. That’s why I like the idea of not exactly “purging” but at least flushing the tank with compressed air while cutting.

 

[500e]

Seen the river launches in Plymouth
Side of Dock sledge hammer what could go wrong

 

[James1979]

Sneaky stuff petrol, slightest whiff of it in an enclosed volume and it can still go bang. That’s why I like the idea of not exactly “purging” but at least flushing the tank with compressed air while cutting.

Best mate kept fuel in his tea hut in workshop so it wouldn’t get nicked. Hot day and he decides to have a brew. As the kettle clicked off it sparked and he woke up in hospital having his skin peeled off below his elbows and above his collar (short sleeve ovies). He lived but looks like Simon Weston now

 

[Screwdriver]

Best mate kept fuel in his tea hut in workshop so it wouldn’t get nicked. Hot day and he decides to have a brew. As the kettle clicked off it sparked and he woke up in hospital having his skin peeled off below his elbows and above his collar (short sleeve ovies). He lived but looks like Simon Weston now

Thanks for sharing. I am not going to give that post a "like"!

 

[waddycall]

Don’t rely on a compressed air purge to cut up a cylinder. Much more likely to leave gas in the cylinder and you’re also introducing oxygen! Get the fuel air mix just wrong (around 2-10% gas in air) and you’ve got the biggest bang you’ll get out of a cylinder.

 

[500e]

Probably a time where Co2 is better then
@Screwdriver "That is a damned fine idea. I had considered a gas purge with argon but I don’t value my life that highly. Gas is expensive. Air is not."
Did see a bottle fall of a loading bay 40\50 years ago went a fair distance through 1 building out the other side across a biggish yard then savaged a 9 inch block wall.
It was out for delivery cant remember max pressures that long ago, 3000 to day further faster!!

 

[Screwdriver]

Don’t rely on a compressed air purge to cut up a cylinder. Much more likely to leave gas in the cylinder and you’re also introducing oxygen! Get the fuel air mix just wrong (around 2-10% gas in air) and you’ve got the biggest bang you’ll get out of a cylinder.

No I would use it as part of the process once I am sure it is emptied. Water flush, drain, the usual. Then at the moment of truth as the grinder comes out to chop up a "perfectly safe" emptied canister, I'll stuff an air hose in there.

So it wouldn't be the method I rely on but it's a good idea (I think) and an additional part of the typical process.

According to Screwdriver, not a chance of it exploding (ok maybe a teenie tiny one....)

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Eight pages of advice/discussion - do we know if the OP has attempted 'the cut', been frightened off, or blown himself up?

 

[James1979]

Thanks for sharing. I am not going to give that post a "like"!

It’s alright. We call him ‘Red’now, that’s what mates are for, right?

it’s something I’d never considered but always think of now. He’d basically turned his brew hit into a massive carb!

 

[James1979]

Eight pages of advice/discussion - do we know if the OP has attempted 'the cut', been frightened off, or blown himself up?

well he’s not come back! It is a long thread for something that most of us will do with out too much thought..... guess people are having more time to chat about stuff. Me included

 

[Cobbler]

Seen the river launches in Plymouth
Side of Dock sledge hammer what could go wrong

When we used to go diving years ago from Bovi, at Plymouth, if you went close to the breakwater there were loads & loads of oxy bottles on the sea bed. I reckon it was a case of “what shall I do with this empty one boss” “over the side”

 

[slim_boy_fat]

well he’s not come back!

He was signed in on Friday last, at 8:18 pm [not sure if that's UK or Canada time]. I wonder now if it was a serious question/thread start, or a wind up?

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

He was signed in on Friday last, at 8:18 pm [not sure if that's UK or Canada time]. I wonder now if it was a serious question/thread start, or a wind up?

Been a few members like that recently.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Been a few members like that recently.

Sadly, they seldom say thanks to the Members for trying to help/advise either.

 

[brightspark]

Eight pages of advice/discussion - do we know if the OP has attempted 'the cut', been frightened off, or blown himself up?

dunno it always ends up with over the top safety advice and the op is more puzzled than he originally was just filled with good old h20 and job done

 

[Melvyn Best]

Best mate kept fuel in his tea hut in workshop so it wouldn’t get nicked. Hot day and he decides to have a brew. As the kettle clicked off it sparked and he woke up in hospital having his skin peeled off below his elbows and above his collar (short sleeve ovies). He lived but looks like Simon Weston now

About 35 years ago a mate was draining a petrol tank on an Austin Maxi on his ramp , his compressor started up with what is now obvious results completely burning down his workshop, he was lucky to get out and ended up having skin grafts. The fire was reported on local radio saying he was welding the tank, a fact that was investigated with a possible prosecution if it had been found to be correct