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How to cut open an oil tank?
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Posted by amderin (My Page) on Sun, Jun 7, 09 at 22:46
| I'm digging up an old underground 450 gal oil tank. The dump will accept it as long I get all the residual oil out and cut an opening "wide enough to stick your head in" so the dump guy can look inside.
I've got a 4" angle grinder I was planning on using to cut it open, but I was wondering if it would ignite the oil. Anybody know or have a different way to cut it?
Thanks,
Scott |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: How to cut open an oil tank?
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| "Underground oil tank". Presumably heating oil? #2? Referencing the fire triangle, you have one of the components, fuel.
You will provide another, source of ignition (angle grinder sparks).
The last, oxygen, is already in the tank. You need to remove at least one of the components. So you drain all the liquid. There will be a film and saturated corrosion/debris products left.
The atmosphere can be purged with a plethora of methods; here's a few: several cups of baking soda. A line from your car's muffler(CO). The contents of a Co2 extinguisher. A purge using inert cylinder gas like nitrogen or Co2. Proprietary oxygen scavengers ala Purple K or Foray ( Ansul products). Mud pack. A method for smaller tanks is to almost fill with water- be advised that the water will be contaminated, don't do this unless you have a legit way to dispose of it.
I've always used a torch to chop up tanks after they're "safed off". The grinder will work.
#2 oil has a higher flash point for a flammable liquid and this isn't as scary as it may sound. Have a fire extinguisher handy.
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RE: How to cut open an oil tank?
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| Please be very careful. My BIL cousin purchased an old tank for something. He was cutting it open and was burned very badly, almost didn't survive. It was supposed to have been cleaned out professionally when he bought it, they knew what he was going to do with it and it was not cleaned out well enough. Big law suit, ruined lives. |
RE: How to cut open an oil tank?
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| I think you've posted this already in another part of gweb. Since you're even contemplating using an angle grinder, I would respectfully suggest it's something to give to a professional. By the time you pay to dispose of the oil and tank, you may as well pay a pro to remove it. It may be costly but for good reason, and it'll probably cost you almost as much. Having said that, as I mentioned, I think you'd need someone with a waterjet cutting machine to do it. Take izzie's advice. |
RE: How to cut open an oil tank?
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PJB999, with all respect, you'll never see a waterjet cutter used to chop up old tankage. It's mostly done with oxyfuel torches wielded by hand. I've never seen a hand held waterjet, how do you control 40,000PSI?
The principles and procedures described are hot work compatible with any of the big oil companies. |
RE: How to cut open an oil tank?
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| Thanks all. My worried wife called around and found a company that will take the tank for about $100, depending on how much residual oil there is. Scott |
RE: How to cut open an oil tank?
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| A bargain, if you ask me. |
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