Welding on Diesel Storage Tank Steel

[mjncad]

It seems to me that your life is worth more than that tank. Personally I wouldn't weld on that tank, and if I did and something bad happened, I would fully expect to be nominated for a Darwin Award.

 

[Eagleview]

Not meaning to harp on my previous post about drilling and taping but , it looks like it's a Galvanized plug , nearly impossible to weld properly . And the size means that drilling and taping that size would be difficult . If it's only a drain plug to purge water once in a blue moon i would drill the plug itself and tap out to 1/4" NPT or bigger and fit a brass plug to the existing plug . If it were me doing it i would hook the tractor up to the nearest chain to the bung and then use an air drill to drill the plug while it is laying down . As soon as your through a little Diesel will flush the swarf out of the hole . As quick as you can lift the end of the tank so the fuel runs to the other end and stops leaking . Then use some Trefelex or grease on the tap and tap the new thread . The grease or Trefelex will stop the swarf getting into the tank . 20 mins tops .

 

[Egon]

Carbon monoxide can also be explosive when in the proper proportions with air.

 

[Eagleview]

Carbon monoxide can also be explosive when in the proper proportions with air.

It seems im still learning , i did'nt know that .

 

[patrick_g]

Carbon monoxide can also be explosive when in the proper proportions with air.

The difference between the good ole boys wives tales and science.

CO oxidizes to CO2

Pat

 

[Bedlam]

I would agree with Iron Horse drill it out and tap it ..

 

[EddieWalker]

I've welded two tanks. The first was a gasoline tank off of my 73 CJ5. I took off the tank and filled it up with water. With the hose running into the tank and water coming out, I was able to weld on a plate over an area of pin holes that had rusted through the bottom of the tank. The other time was when the brackets broke off that hold my diesel fuel tank on to my backhoe. I did the same thing by filling it with water and kept the hose running while welding.

After I was done, I just left the tanks sit outside for a day to dry out before installing them again. The welding was the easy part, getting the tanks off was the challenge.

Eddie

 

[tommu56]

gmason

I'm in the don"t weld camp, and have the 10" scar in my abdomin from a drum cutting accedent (also took out my left knee too).

Drill out most of plug and sawzaw the rest of the plugs in to 1/3 sections just missing thank threads and then knock 1/3rd's in tward center.
I have done it on many tanks just use a good pipe dope with teflon in it.

tom

 

[mjncad]

This happened today.

Tank Explosion Sends One To Hospital

Tank Explosion Sends One To Hospital - Denver News Story - KMGH Denver

Think twice before welding on that tank.

 

[gmason]

Ok, I opted to just drill it out, and it was just right. I drilled it pretty easy and the plug was a 3/4" and got it out just fine and had just a few marks on the threads. I took a 3/4" threaded pipe and "tapped" the threads to good.

I then used a brass nipple and put a lot of teflon tape on it. I put a 3/4" brass valve on the other end of the nipple pipe.

I check it this morning and no leaks.

Thanks for all the replys here.

gary