Safe Gasoline Storage

[Bull]

Where and how do you guys store gasoline for lawn tractors, snow blowers etc.?

Something about plastic cans of gas in my new barn doesn't sit right with me. I filled one up to get ready to blow snow tomorrow, but put it in an old half falling-down detached garage instead of in my new digs.

 

[PurdueSD]

One of the reasons, ive got my eye on the classifieds looking for a cheap used yard barn... 1700 sq just isnt enough...hah.

 

[mtwaterguy]

Since fumes are the big problem, plastic gas cans should be just fine as long as you have them seal correctly. Probably not a concern for most right now, but I usually save room for expansion in any container.

 

[grillmasterp]

Scepter or Wedco military fuel containers are quite popular with the offroad community

http://www.expeditionportal.com/equipment/equipment_reviews/Scepter_Can/scepter_can.php

I can invert my closed scepter without spilling a drop

Be advised that the non-carb compliant containers are getting more difficult to come by.

 

[akdiesel]

I have a dozen diffent size plastic gas cans in my shop that are empty now because I kept spilling gas on my equipment when filling them with the plastic cans. I only realy use two of the same size cans for long trips snowmaching or hunting.
I ended up making a 40 gallon fuel tank out of two old stainless eye wash tanks. I fabed them up so it sits horizontal with two stands. I made the tank for either a fuel tank or an extra air tank, but chose the fuel direction. It has an electric fuel pump w/ a gallon meter I picked up on Ebay. It also has a two inch fill neck with a pressure cap.
No more issues spilling fuel. Now I just need to finish my rolling cart for it to move it around where I need it.
To fill it I simply lift it into the back of the truck with my engine lift.

 

[russlaferrera]

I put everything outside in a ss locker someone gave me.It's 2 X 4 X 6, so it hold all my gas, diesel and extra welding gas.

 

[e-tek]

I bought one of those gas-station handle pumps, so mo more spillage, and keep my gas in the garden shed. Although the amount of paint and solvents I have in the shop are more than enough to burn the mother down! I really need a fire-cabinet for that stuff.

 

[Kevin54]

Outside shed. I don't really like to store flammables in the garage although it is almost impossible not to do, especially with paints. But something like a 5 gal. can of gas would be a little much to try and put out if anything happened. I'd rather lose a shed than my garage or house.

 

[denis4x4]

I bought a 300 gallon tank on a stand and get home delivery for a couple of cents more per gallon than service station prices. Tank was used at $150 and a new hose/nozzle plus a water filter was another $75. The convenience is worth the price and saves time by eliminating gas station stops when running errands in town.

 

[bomber]

I've been using plastic cans for years, and, with the exception of them NOT being neat when pouring (as e-tech noted above), I've had no problems at all.

I DO keep em in an outside shed, though -- if I didn't have one, I'd likely just put them under a tarp outside the shop . . . . . .

btw, don't know about your area, but in Northern Illinois, there's so many seasonal additives in gasoline, the witch's brew goes pretty stale in a matter of weeks -- I tend not to store very much gas for just this reason. THe lawn mower and snow blower ate the past best used date fuel alright, but it didn't do the plugs any favors.

 

[tdkkart]

"official" safety cans
http://www.dawginc.com/material-handling/safety_cans.phpy cans:

 

[russlaferrera]

IMO , Paint is more of a problem. It freezes in cold weather. Most of us have house paint. Inside, outside ,trim. Then in the shop many rattle cans of everything, plus auto paint.

We all should have a fireproof cabinet.

While I am typing this. A suggestion has filtered into my small brain. It goes like this.

Place all paint in/on a shelf(s), or cabinet, and run a sprinkler head every 1-2 feet per shelf. Hook up to water supply. Should a fire break out the paint will be flooded with water.

 

[kenfath]

Something else to keep in mind is plastic gas containers wear out. The internal pressure in the summer months is considerable and can cause a can to split. I've discarded several +/- ten year old ones recently that were too old to trust. I've only had one plastic can fail. At work a contract trailer mechanic had a fire caused by a defective/worn out safety can. The spring loaded cap was bend and not sealing correctly. Nearby was a running compressor, the sun was shinning warmly on the can and the vapors ignited. Damage was minor, **** that was because of luck!

 

[akdiesel]

"Vapors" is the correct term in this case. Fumes are what are burnt off like exhaust, welding, etc...
The storage of gas / oil is no different than a vehicle being stored in the garage / shop. THe plastic cans do not have the means for venting The issue as mentioned ealier is vapors. Make sure you fill your equipment outside or with the doors open. Never fill up close to an open flame. That is why code requires hot water tanks to be at least 18" above the floor (I believe that is the correct measurement).
The reason for a fire cabinet is to keep sparks or open flames from getting in contact with explosive material in liquid form.

 

[kbs2244]

Best idea I have seen, but I have to admit I don't do it, is the 6 gallon boat gas tanks.
They used to be metal but are plastic now.
If you get a "universal" hose with it it will give you a sihpion starter bulb so you can fill anything that is below it's level.
Put the tank on a shelf about waist high, give the bulb a few squeezes to get the flow going, and you are on your way.

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

Gas and any other flammable substance sitting in or adjacent to a habitable space doesn't sit right with me either. I got a steel flammable cabinet with self-closing door/vents and grounding lug at Global Industrial - such as one of these:

http://www.globalindustrial.com/gcs/cat/info/1582/sub/5/category.web

I put all my combustible substances in this cabinet and sleep at nights. I also keep in the garage an oily rag can as I heard of too many stories of how a linseed oil soaked rag just went up...

 

[Bull]

I like the cabinet idea.

What kind of pail do you use for the oily rags? That's something else I've thought of!

Gas and any other flam
mable substance sitting in or adjacent to a habitable space doesn't sit right with me either. I got a steel flammable cabinet with self-closing door/vents and grounding lug at Global Industrial - such as one of these:

http://www.globalindustrial.com/gcs/cat/info/1582/sub/5/category.web

I put all my combustible substances in this cabinet and sleep at nights. I also keep in the garage an oily rag can as I heard of too many stories of how a linseed oil soaked rag just went up...

 

[kartracer55]

I keep them next to my furnace so they don't freeze up if I were to leave them outside... lol

 

[lilred67]

i keep all my gas/diesel cans in an old dog house. it sits about 50' away from my shop.

 

[Technophobe]

Place all paint in/on a shelf(s), or cabinet, and run a sprinkler head every 1-2 feet per shelf. Hook up to water supply. Should a fire break out the paint will be flooded with water.

The water will help distribute the flammables more evenly as an added "benefit."

 

[Technophobe]

Eagle safety can which I place inside a galvanized garbage can located in shade away from all buildings.

 

[bigvic]

As someone already mentioned before, if you don't like storing gas in your garage/shed, you probably shouldn't keep your vehicle(s) parked in there either.

With both my vehicles filled up, I routinely have 40+ gallons of gas in my garage (in vented plastic tanks none the less). Chances are you have this scenario also.

So what's another 5 gals in a plastic tank going to hurt?

 

[Coach James]

i keep all my gas/diesel cans in an old dog house. it sits about 50' away from my shop.

My dad does the same thing. 35 year old dog house 100' behind his house.

I have a flammable cabinet I got from a school when they bought new ones. I just have to get the space to use it now.

I usually hang oily rags over a saw horse outside the garage until they dry out then put them in the roll out trash can that WM provides.

Coach

 

[e-tek]

That is why code requires hot water tanks to be at least 18" above the floor (I believe that is the correct measurement).
The reason for a fire cabinet is to keep sparks or open flames from getting in contact with explosive material in liquid form.

I've NEVER seen a HotWater tank 18" above the floor...at best mine (and the flame) is 6" from the floor.....hmmmmm

 

[eldirector]

Paints are in a steel hanging wall cabinet, and labeled as flammable. Gas and kerosene are in plastic tanks on shelves by the overhead door. Oily rags (and all trash, for that matter) are in metal trash cans (with lids).

Fire extinguisher is by the side door. I can grab it, or just keep running

Welder, grinder, and other spark-throwing tools are 10-15 feet away.

I do need to get a fire-proof flammables cabinet.

 

[akdiesel]

I've NEVER seen a HotWater tank 18" above the floor...at best mine (and the flame) is 6" from the floor.....hmmmmm

You took me by suprise e-tek. I usally remember folks on here by their picture more than there names, now I will be looking for you more often.
Anyways, I am not sure what the codes are for Canada, but at least in Alaska, the code calls for any open flame fixture (like a hot water tank) to be placed 18" above the floor (if not 18" it may be a little higher).
This is due to explosions that have had gas vapors leaking in closed garages. I can recall two in the past 20 years.
One blew three walls off of the garage which was a single story dwelling about 2000 sf.

 

[lh4x4]

I put a metal garden shed away from the garage and house. For the gas cans and yard stuff.

 

[danski0224]

Where and how do you guys store gasoline for lawn tractors, snow blowers etc.?

Something about plastic cans of gas in my new barn doesn't sit right with me. I filled one up to get ready to blow snow tomorrow, but put it in an old half falling-down detached garage instead of in my new digs.

I have one of those spring loaded metal safety cans... around $50 for the 2 gallon version, plus the plastic spout.

Much safer than the typical plastic gas can.

 

[tolken4]

Funny this thread is on here. A long time ago I read a post on here where a person had mentioned he was happy to see someone actually had their flammables in a cabinet. So, that got me thinking about safety and that I should have one, and I have been on the lookout ever since.

Here are mine, just bought them last weekend from a Target liquidation.

Yellow is a Just-Rite 22 Gallon - Gas and Oil
Red is an Eagle 60 Gallon - Paint