Cutting an oxygen tank.....

[tlmartin84]

I have an empty tank, been sitting now without fittings on it, wide open to the atmosphere for roughly six months.

I need to cut the ends off of it, I will probably use a grinder with a cutoff on it.


Do I have any issues?

 

[rlitman]

If you can see inside to the bottom, nope, no issues.

 

[cdaiscool]

If you're super worried about it, you can fill it with some water and then pour it back out. That's how I'm going to make sure a gasoline tank that I'm going to have cut and welded is empty of fumes.

But I cannot offer any help as to whether it's safe as-is or not.

 

[gmwelder86]

If your that worried purge with nitrogen

 

[kbs2244]

standing upright?
I don't know if straight OX is heavier than air, but if you lay it down he heavier gas will flow out.
Even so, with OX in it all that should happen is your sparks will burn hotter and faster.
Use spark shields and have water near by.

 

[rlitman]

Oxygen IS heavier than air, but not enough for it to flow out like that.

 

[Richard Cranium]

It is empty, Been open for six months, Just cut it. It will not be a problem.

 

[rsanter]

No issues that I see
If you have any worries just blow compressed air in it and that will be sure that you are good to,go

Bob

 

[NUTTSGT]

Making a wind gong or something else ? We need some pics of this project.

 

[toymn6366]

cut one in a bandsaw wasn't bad

 

[laser3kw]

Even so, with OX in it all that should happen is your sparks will burn hotter and faster.

Finally, someone that understands that oxygen is not explosive like the movies show it to be.
You can shot a full cylinder, knock the valve off and all it will do is jet around, NOT blow up in a huge ball of flames.

ps - they make nice wind chimes with a deep reverb tone.

 

[galute]

Oxygen does not burn. It combines with other fuels to make them burn.

 

[rlitman]

Finally, someone that understands that oxygen is not explosive like the movies show it to be.
You can shot a full cylinder, knock the valve off and all it will do is jet around, NOT blow up in a huge ball of flames.

ps - they make nice wind chimes with a deep reverb tone.

You do not understand the dangers of highly compressed oxygen. People have tried to drill holes into oxygen cylinders. The results are almost always movie grade explosions. The velocity of the oxygen escaping can produce enough heat to set the STEEL of the cylinder walls on fire and burn the metal as fuel. Similar things have been known to happen when aluminum valve bodies are used. Yeah, if the valve is brass, it will probably jet around like you describe, but you never know.

 

[zkling]

Done it many a times. Just rinse it out for peace of mind. What I do is wrap a thick piece of tape and string around where the cut is, double check with a tape measure at ~6 points. Then draw a chalk line at the edge of the tape where I want the cut, remove the tape and then go at it with an angle grinder and cutoff wheel. Don't try to make a continuous cut, highly doubtful you will be able to make it all the way around, perpendicular. Instead make a plunge cut, drag it in the cut a bit, then retract and make another plunge cut a few inches away. Keep checking against your reference line.

Oxygen does not burn. It combines with other fuels to make them burn.

Thus why it is classified as an oxidizer.

 

[welder4956]

You do not understand the dangers of highly compressed oxygen. .

Highly compressed? I thought the OP said the cylinder had the valve removed for over 6 months...

 

[rlitman]

Highly compressed? I thought the OP said the cylinder had the valve removed for over 6 months...

I was not responding to the OP there. You should read the context. The OP is in no danger.

 

[larry4406]

what are you making out of said tank?

 

[BigMike782]

Leave all or part of the neck on or the ring will not be what you hope for......DAMHIK

I cut the neck out, turn it in the lathe for a flat base, paint it a nice color and put valve back in and it makes a nice paper weight......especially when it has the neck ring of the company you used to work for.

 

[3 Gun Shooter]

You do not understand the dangers of highly compressed oxygen. People have tried to drill holes into oxygen cylinders. The results are almost always movie grade explosions. The velocity of the oxygen escaping can produce enough heat to set the STEEL of the cylinder walls on fire and burn the metal as fuel. Similar things have been known to happen when aluminum valve bodies are used. Yeah, if the valve is brass, it will probably jet around like you describe, but you never know.

The OP has removed the valve so it is atmosphere only in the cylinder. I'd have no problem cutting the top and bottom off with a saw or cutting wheel in an angle grinder.

 

[rlitman]

The OP has removed the valve so it is atmosphere only in the cylinder. I'd have no problem cutting the top and bottom off with a saw or cutting wheel in an angle grinder.

Correct. A second reply now to my quote taken out of context. Try reading more.

On that note, once the valve is removed from an oxygen cylinder, feel free to cut it right away. The remaining oxygen at atmospheric pressure is not going to cause any issues. There is no need to blow it out with air, or fill it with water, or any of the other suggestions above. Yes, 100% oxygen at atmospheric pressure can cause issues if it saturates clothing, but that's not a concern here.

 

[Tim-Bob]

If you're super worried about it, you can fill it with some water and then pour it back out. That's how I'm going to make sure a gasoline tank that I'm going to have cut and welded is empty of fumes.

But I cannot offer any help as to whether it's safe as-is or not.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ALERT FOR CDAISCOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WATER AND PETROLEUM DO NOT MIX. THERE WILL STILL BE RESIDUE IN THE TANK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AND IT COULD STILL IGNITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You need to "inert" the tank. The easiest way is to run exhaust from a gasoline powered vehicle into the tank for 10-15 minutes before any cutting/welding operation. Keep the exhaust running while doing your work and until is has cooled down afterwards. The exhaust shouldn't have any available oxygen, so no combustion should occur inside of the tank. I hate cleaning up blown apart/burned up mechanics after they've messed with a fuel tank, and I bet your loved ones would too.

 

[Kevin54]

 

[mrpizza]

This seems to have escalated quickly...

 

[cdaiscool]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ALERT FOR CDAISCOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WATER AND PETROLEUM DO NOT MIX. THERE WILL STILL BE RESIDUE IN THE TANK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AND IT COULD STILL IGNITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You need to "inert" the tank. The easiest way is to run exhaust from a gasoline powered vehicle into the tank for 10-15 minutes before any cutting/welding operation. Keep the exhaust running while doing your work and until is has cooled down afterwards. The exhaust shouldn't have any available oxygen, so no combustion should occur inside of the tank. I hate cleaning up blown apart/burned up mechanics after they've messed with a fuel tank, and I bet your loved ones would too.

Thanks for the head's up! Was told this by the guy that said he'd weld it up, plus owns his own performance (not welding) shop. I'll let him know this process instead so he doesn't increase his 'pieces' count by 50.

 

[ovrrdrive]

In true internet fashion this thread went from "you'll be fine" to "you'll blow up half the country" and back to "you'll be fine" in record time... lol

 

[Tim-Bob]

I wasn't trying to be dramatic, or sensationalize anything. In fact, my post was meant for cdaiscool, and not referring to the O2 tank cutting at all. I've never hacked up an O2 tank, but I've had lots to do with fuel tanks. The original poster asked for advice and received it.

Cdaiscool had a plan that I considered to be potentially inadequate. It probably would have gone off without a hitch, but since I have seen the results of a fuel tank explosion due to inadequate inerting, I just felt obliged to give him a heads up.

I hope I didn't upset or offend anyone.

 

[gbh]

In true internet fashion this thread went from "you'll be fine" to "you'll blow up half the country" and back to "you'll be fine" in record time... lol

Yes, but it usually takes 3 pages to do so.

 

[cdaiscool]

I wasn't trying to be dramatic, or sensationalize anything. In fact, my post was meant for cdaiscool, and not referring to the O2 tank cutting at all. I've never hacked up an O2 tank, but I've had lots to do with fuel tanks. The original poster asked for advice and received it.

Cdaiscool had a plan that I considered to be potentially inadequate. It probably would have gone off without a hitch, but since I have seen the results of a fuel tank explosion due to inadequate inerting, I just felt obliged to give him a heads up.

I hope I didn't upset or offend anyone.

I personally didn't feel upset or offended. I'd rather be told something I'm doing is unsafe than blow up later.

 

[Sureshot]

The levels of ridiculousness never cease to amaze me.

 

[fourjeepin]

But we still don't have a picture of the project!