Cutting steel drum?

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I've had a family member come to my shop and ask if I could cut a steel drum in half for a feeder, in my spare time and I said I would do it without really paying attention to it at the time, and now discover that it is an old gas or oil storage drum(45 gallon), and I really have to say I am hessitant in my old(er) age about doing it, o/a is out of the question, don't have a plasma cutter, so it is a cutoff wheel, or a reciprocating saw, the bungs are on tight but they have to stay, the ambient temp is about -5 Celcius right now, can it be safely cut, without an explosion. I have done it to auto fuel tanks in my younger days by steaming out and letting it sit, steaming and washing with detergent. Any opinions?
Reply:Fill it with water. lay it on its side and use an air chisel.  If you don't have that then a regular hammer and chisel will cut nicely.  The air space will be minimal so you would not be able to cause a big one and as you make your cut around the ventilation will be so large that it would only burn if a spark started it.  By the time you have rolled and cut completely around the water will have drained out.
Reply:I agree, fill it with water and maybe use a sawzall, but don't get shocked!DO NOT use a torch!DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:I would contact the family member and ask what was in the barrel.  If gasoline, I'd refuse to cut it.  It can be done.  While I was an instructor at the Army's Welding and Metal Body school, we used to teach fuel tank repair.  The tank has to have all ports OPEN, steam clean for 1 to 2 hours, then repair immediately after the steam cleaning.  Do not allow the tank (or barrel) to sit before the repair/cutting.  Any vapors that may be in any seams have the opportunity to propagate and you're back to square one..If the barrel held oil, not a big deal.  However,  I would still insist that bungs are removed to allow any hot gases to escape.
Reply:My old boss at a country auto repair shop used to run a hose from a tailpipe from another car into a gas tank he wanted to solder or braze. About 45 minutes maybe then he went right at it, open flame and all. This was before pollution controls on cars, so ymmv. All I know is that's not an old wives tale.If it was me I'd use a Kett shear or some such - you (or your brother in law) can rent one. You'll get a nice straight cut that way too. It's like a hand electric drill size cutter.Jim
Reply:Originally Posted by jimmysMy old boss at a country auto repair shop used to run a hose from a tailpipe from another car into a gas tank he wanted to solder or braze. About 45 minutes maybe then he went right at it, open flame and all. This was before pollution controls on cars, so ymmv. All I know is that's not an old wives tale.If it was me I'd use a Kett shear or some such - you (or your brother in law) can rent one. You'll get a nice straight cut that way too. It's like a hand electric drill size cutter.Jim
Reply:If it is capable of exploding anything that creates a spark is going to get you. I've cut up a BUNCH of barrels. If it had gasoline in it it didn't get cut. Anything else got the top cut half way around with a cold chisel and pushed in, then the rest of the cut made with a torch. Some of them could get pretty smokey and stinky while they burnt out. If it was a soap barrel which was very common in the oil field, I still didn't take a chance. I would lay ir down against the tailboard of the truck. Light the cutting torchway nd pointed and pointe at the end of the barre. I would and lay it on it's side about 3 or 4 inches a
Reply:I have cut tanksdrums more than once that blewup with flames coming out the tank opening. Now I steam clean the tanks first and still use the ole tail pipe exhaust trick.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:Thanks, it makes me rethink doing anything with it at all.They said it was from storing gas and diesel. Flooding it with inert gas sounds like a good idea except he bugs are rusted in, maybe filling with water might be the practical idea.... let it freeze abit then cut it with sawzall or zip it with air ratchet. I had an RCMP member tell me one time at a truck tanker accident carrying gas in winter that gas would not flash until 27 deg C???So hot brakes woulf be a problem not a lit cigarette.
Reply:I know a guy that cut the top off an oil drum with the welder.  It blew up, burnt him and his garage.  Just ask your self if a stinkin barrel is worth it.  I used to wash and purge gas tanks with straight Co2 out of the bottle.  Now I tell em buy a new one.  Fred SanfordReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Originally Posted by pistolnoon the bungs are on tight but they have to stay, the ambient temp is about -5 Celcius right now, can it be safely cut, without an explosion [?].
Reply:A couple drum questions...I have a drum that I want to cut that I have been told held transmition fluid. I am looking to purchase power shears to avoid any sparking. I do not know the gauge...what is standard for a 55 gallon drum and what type of shear should I looking for?
Reply:If you want to put a hole in that barrel without risking life or limb, take it out into the country side and at a safe distance, shoot a hole in it with a riffle or hand gun, or better yet, a shotgun with a deer slug, if your a good shot, you can line up the shot to go through both ends, top and bottom in the middle, then take it back to the shop, fill with soapy  water, preferably a dish detergent like dawn, roll it around, drain it and repeat, then cut it!#1. If you don't like what I wrote, or if it offends you, then don't read it!#2. I am living life the way I see fit, if you don't like the way I'M living, tough sh**!
Reply:If its going to be a feeder do they really want to use a barrel that has had fuel in it?- If you can jump across it you can weld it!  - anonymous old boilermaker
Reply:You might do better to use a old, commercial size water heater. It will be much thicker, can be gotten free from a W.H / plumbing company, can be cut with an OA torch (although a plasma works better), and you can let the family members help in the project by removing the outer sheet and/or the inner foam insulation. An electric one is less work than a gas, because of the central tube in the second. Please save the brass relief valve for me; I'm addicted to brass/bronze.
Reply:you can get a panel cutter for an air chisel they work good for cutting barrels  then use a hack saw to cut the top/bottom rings
Reply:Originally Posted by KangiIf its going to be a feeder do they really want to use a barrel that has had fuel in it?
Reply:I cut drums often for scrap barrels and what not, even ones with old oil residue in them I use the plasma. Never had anything happen. I also have welded aluminum fuel tanks for big rigs from time to time and I purge them with CO2. But if it had gasoline in it I'd say NO. If you need a feed drum that bad You can get a Plastic drum and cut it with sawzall
Reply:If the bungs are sealed, and unable to fill with water, drill a start hole and use an air nibbler. No flames, no sparks.
Reply:i just got a 44 gallon drum thats had clean unused chainsaw chainbar oil in it. i only want to weld a few things to it and sit stuff on it while welding. how shall i clean ithttp://datingsidorsingel.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by pistolnoonI've had a family member come to my shop and ask if I could cut a steel drum in half for a feeder, in my spare time and I said I would do it without really paying attention to it at the time, and now discover that it is an old gas or oil storage drum(45 gallon), and I really have to say I am hessitant in my old(er) age about doing it, o/a is out of the question, don't have a plasma cutter, so it is a cutoff wheel, or a reciprocating saw, the bungs are on tight but they have to stay, the ambient temp is about -5 Celcius right now, can it be safely cut, without an explosion. I have done it to auto fuel tanks in my younger days by steaming out and letting it sit, steaming and washing with detergent. Any opinions?
Reply:We had an incident at work yesterday, when a guy used an OA torch to 'try' to cut a 200 liter drum.The vapours ignited, hell of a bang, and bulged the ends of the drum out, but fortunately nobody hurt. I think the guy's wife had to put some extra effort into his overalls last night. Did a search on the www and found a great Kiwi pubication 'HOT WORK on Drums and Tanks' (sorry haven't got the link) The ISBN is 0-477-03420-9I'm going to introduce a written procedure where we use a manual device to preferably take the lid off a drum, if we need it shortened, then cut it size with whatever, or if we're halving a drum, use a bronze (sparkless) air chisel.Surprised at the number of postings that offer suggestions for cutting that don't include purging, washing, inert gases, etc. There are no shortage of web pages on fatalities and major injuries from cutting oil drums. Best option is to not cut at all. If you have to, follow some reputable procedures and have a written copy available in the workplace and make sure your guys are trained in the use of it.Regards,George
Reply:That was last october and I still have not had time to cut it.Makes me think back of when a buddy borrowed my motorcycle 25 years ago and then laid it on its side denting the gas tank, so I cleaned it out with a power washer and welded a unispotter stud to the dent with my stud gun and gave it a good yank to pull the dent out.. then put a stud hole in the middle of the dent, so now i had to weld the hole in the dent, and I remember waiting for the bang.I was scared because just prior 2 friends had known the dangers of welding gas tanks but thought they could get away from it by using brass or solder and dripping it onto the gas tank, the explosion cut them up a bit, and they are still around today.(They weren't professional welders)
Reply:Originally Posted by pistolnoonI had an RCMP member tell me one time at a truck tanker accident carrying gas in winter that gas would not flash until 27 deg C???So hot brakes woulf be a problem not a lit cigarette.
Reply:fill the drum with water and cut i with an air powered grinder, just be sure to dry and oil the grinder when you are doneFor future reference the link to the pdf of "HOT WORK ON DRUMS AND TANKS"  as mentioned by george goring in an earlier posthttp://www.osh.dol.govt.nz/order/cat...df/hotwork.pdf
Reply:I just want to say;  this has been an educating thread for me.  Ive learned three things, 1) backfill a gas tank/can with inert gas before cutting/welding,  2) engine exauhst can be used for inert gas,  3) avoid cutting/welding on gas cans/tanks when possible. Its actually to late for #3. I cut the top of a VP Racing fuel(110 octane) 5 gallon can using a nibbler with no xplosion. I used the can for diesel prior to nibbling. The diesel probably reduced the flash point.
Reply:pistolnoon  -  Because welding, and it's related processes are responsible for so many ignition accidents, welders by default often have the last call on fire safety.   Someone has to say no.  Primary Rule: Don't take anyones word on the contents, this includes professed first hand knowledge.  Always practice full prep. regardless ofthe sworn contents. I used to exercised all of the afore-mentioned prep techniques, but they are slow, too slow.  So I built a welders:  go / no-go gage.   At times I have been called to cut several barrels a day.  Proper prep just took too long, so I developed "Speed Prep".  I cut a 1.5" hole in .500" plateand tacked it between two D-8 Cat blades.  Aline the bung, and stick a large rose-bud through the hole, and prep is done.  Either it's safe to cut, or another barrel has to vetted.   Once the thrill of the first failure was past, I was actually disappointed when drums didn't go off. For the rational, I recommend a 'Drum Deheader'  equipped with non-sparkingbronze jaws.  You can manually cut the head off a drum in less time than ittakes to explain all the 'prep and safety' concerns to a disinterested client.Opus
Reply:This Post went from cutting a drum in half to a Thread on "De-Heading" a drum?
Reply:A few miles from my house a kid died cutting a steel drum. The drum was most likely used to store methanol (the have a small track racing team). There are few details at the moment, just that he was cutting the barrel with an OA torch. http://m.thetimes-tribune.com/news/c...sion-1.1335694Lincoln Precision Tig 185Lincoln Power Mig 256Hypertherm PM 45Everlast 140STSmith O/A
Reply:Ya, I know it's an old thread, but the truth is always up to date. This kid in Ottawa got himself killed at school when cutting a barrel formerly filled with PEPPERMINT OIL, vapours ignited. They were attempting to make a BBQ of some sort 5 others at the scene were injured, including his teacher.Think twice about cutting any barrel, find what it was filled with, you can never be too cautious with a bomb. Opus Ferro speaks wise words, trust only yourself when it comes to your safety.http://www.ctvnews.ca/student-dies-a...chool-1.648880Last edited by bearston; 07-02-2012 at 10:34 AM.When a welder tells you to "stick it", what do they really mean?"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." - George Orwell
Reply:A bit OT, but I remember 40 years ago I was a fresh engineer in a glass plant. They wanted to add a drain to a 10,000 gal diesel tank. It was filled to capacity and a nipple was stick welded on. A gate valve was attached to the nipple and a core drill with a gland packing was used to drill the tank wall inside the nipple. I did not see them do it, I took a sick day off, but the tank was still there the next day.