Hot water heater

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I want to make a pot from a hot water heater to cook in.When i cut the pot out i noticed it had a blue tint to inside not rusted at all like some others i have cut open. I built a good fire in the pot thinking i would burn the tint off but didn't even discolor it. I also took a hammer & hit inside several times to see if any thing would flake off but no flaking at all.I would like to know if this pot would be ok to cook in.thanks for any advice.
Reply:Could be a glass coating... try bending a piece of it and see if it flakes.  ( WEAR SAFETY GLASSES!!!! )As far as safe to cook in... I've seen glass coated pans from years past, I'd say yes.
Reply:What did you use to cut the pot out? OA torch, plasma, saws all? I suppose any method mentioned would cause splintering flaking or noticeable removal of said bluing if it were glass/porcelain coated.Please let us know what you find out about the blue coating.Miller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:I used a 4 1/2" cutting disc which probably took about 5 min. 1/16" disc on angle grinder
Reply:got any pics?
Reply:I would have to say "NOT SUITABLE FOR POTABLE APPLICATIONS" .   Once you have cut into the tank, you have fractured the glass lining.  And it should be obvious, if however most of it has been chipped off, you will always have some amount of glass in what ever your cookin.  What brand of heater and how old.  At one time there were such things as hot water storage tanks of raw steel not lined , not approved for potable use nor approved by asme or astm ratings.  However your back at another leechable danger situation. Cast Iron would be your only cookable use material, although it still leeches, its not harmful.500 AMP AIRCO TIG LINCOLN PT185 100% DC @ 128 AMP-WTFSPEED GLASS 9002X MILLER THUNDERBOLT 225HOBBIEST TURNED WELDING JUNKIE8 2ND FIRECAT - SNOWMOBILE RACE CHASSIS FABRICATORPRIDE IS WHAT MAKES YOUR WORK SO GOOD
Reply:I don't think this is glass lined because every thing is so smooth even where i made the cut.no sign of glass & i hit the inside with a steel hammer & no flakes of glass or anything else.maybe i am wrong but if is ok to heat water & drink from it should be ok to cook in. just my thoughts may be wrong.I have cut into hot water heaters before making grills but this is the first one that has been color coated inside.    I have made cookers from air tanks which is raw steel not lined & no problem with this type either.Last edited by wheelerbuffy; 06-07-2008 at 12:55 AM.
Reply:SheeeshMiller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:Stainless Steel possibly?
Reply:Just cut a water heater tank open to make a bbq grill out if it and guess what... It's blue inside and when hit with a steel hammer it chipped and it is glass! This one was however rusted where the top and bottom were placed together [bottom worse] and it constantly is slivering? flaking where its rusted at. I wouldn't use yours to eat or drink out of.Miller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:I have cut up lots of such tanks, usually with a plasma, and often the glass lining is thick, tough and blue on the good ones. Wheelerbuffy likely has one with a still-good lining, if he didn't ruin it already with the hammer.I do agree that flaking from a cut edge is a real problem; a sliver of glass can do wonders to a mouth or gut. It might be possible to seal the edge, but few would know how to do it well, and it probably isn't worth trying.Cut off tanks make great raised planters, storage containers for various stuff, and can be cut up to make all kinds of junk.Some of the anodes are of Aluminum, a smaller proportion are of Magnesium. Usually very little is left, but I've gotten some nearly new ones of both types.
Reply:I decided to make a gas grill from the tank but if this was glass lined how was i able to weld brackets to the blue lining to hold the cooking grates on.welded 8 brackets with no problem.          thanks for your help
Reply:if your settings were right and there was a small crack or something to let the curernt pass thru the glass, to the metal, the welding arc would be plenty hot enough to melt/pop off the glass around the weldment. considering the fact that they are not structural pieces, i am not be too worried, but if you were curious about it, you could try grinding the welds to see just how strong they are. i would be willing to say that there MAY be small glass beads within the welds.Later,Andy