Welding on a hydraulic fluid tank?

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I need to weld some new mounting tabs on a tank that contains hydraulic fluid. I can drain the tank, but can't remove it from the assembly. Any ideas here? Pump in an inert gas while I'm welding? I never welded on anything containing flammable fluid before.
Reply:The fluid will vaporize and expand.  If you fill the tank with inert gas and you've pushed out all the oxygen you shouldn't get any fire inside the tank.  But that expanding vapor will have to go somewhere.  It'll push itself outside the tank.  Then it can mix with oxygen and start a fire.  You'll probably also want something to ventilate and remove any vapor (aka oil smoke) that comes out of the tank.  Definitely DON'T let it accumulate.Dynasty200DX w/coolmate1MM210MM VintageESAB miniarc161ltsLincoln AC225Victor O/A, Smith AW1ACutmaster 81IR 2475N7.5FPRage3Jancy USA1019" SBAEAD-200LE
Reply:Do not weld on that tank.No matter how well you clean it or rinse it once you start welding on it the hydraulic fluid in the fabric of the metal will start producing gases and will explode.You will hear people say they did it and got away with it but check out all the stories of the people that found out the hard way NOT to weld on TANKS that have had petroleum products in them.I Googled "welding causes tank to explode" =254,000 results  IS that enough proof for you?????Last edited by Donald Branscom; 01-18-2011 at 12:34 PM.AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:Yes, there are risks and a hydraulic reservoir could explode during hot repairs. However, with precautions it's an extremely unlikely scenario.Welding of hydraulic oil reservoirs is a fairly common maintenance task. I say forget the Boogie Man and deal with facts.Regardless, so far we lack the details sufficient for anyone to make a decent reply.Gauge of tank?Does it have a large removable clean-out, or filler neck?Application and fluid type? Originally Posted by Donald Branscom. . .I Googled "welding causes tank to explode" =254,000 results  IS that enough proof for you?????
Reply:I once welded a oil change tank. the kind you wheel around under a lift. The inlet on the top had cracked where it was welded to the tank. No big deal right? Motor oil isn't flammable right? As soon as I struck an arc there was an instant Whoosh and a 4 foot blue flame shot straight out the top and lasted for about 10 seconds. If I hadn't had the ball valve open it would have exploded and if it had been laying down it would have been a horizontal rocket. Turns out the customer had tryed to be helpfull and "cleaned" it with CAREBURATOR CLEANER!!! After my heart rate came back down to normal I cleaned the tank with water based alkaline degreaser, filled it with water and welded it.Moral of the story Dont Ever Trust A Customer to know what he is doing ! Lincolin Power Wave 450, Lincoln Powermig 255, Lincoln Pro Mig 140, Lincoln Squarewave Tig 275, Miller Big 40 G(with Hobart Hefty suitcase), Thermal Arc 95S and Esab PCM875 in an already full machine shop.
Reply:EXAMPLE: One worker dead; another injured* Explosion took place in empty tank being welded* DUPONT says no hazardous material releasedNEW YORK, Nov 9 (Reuters) - A contract worker at a DuPont (DD.N) plant in upstate New York was killed on Tuesday after a chemical storage tank exploded during a welding operation.Workers were cleaning and repairing an empty tank at the DuPont Yerkes plant in Tonawanda, New York, just outside Buffalo, when "an explosion took place which resulted in the injuries," DuPont, one of the world's largest chemical makers, said in a statement.Another contract worker was injured and taken to a nearby hospital, the company said.The two victims were employed by Mollenberg-Betz, a mechanical contractor that specializes in refrigeration. The explosion took place around 10:45 a.m. EST."They were working on a tall, cylindrical object and the top blew back," the Buffalo News quoted Tonawanda police Lt. Nicholas Bado as saying.The blast may have been caused by fumes or residue from whatever chemical the 10,000-gallon tank once held, Bado said, according to WNED radio.DuPont said it has shut down the equipment involved in the explosion, and that no hazardous material was released into the environment.The company did not evacuate the plant, and all workers are accounted for.About 700 people work at the DuPont Yerkes plant, which makes, among other products, the popular line of Corian countertops.DuPont, based in Wilmington, Delaware, said it is cooperating with local police and fire officials.DuPont's stock, which had been trading higher before the new broke, dropped 1.6 percent to close at $47.61 on the New York Stock Exchange. (Reporting by Ernest Scheyder and Daniel Trotta; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Richard Chang)AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:So wrong on so many levels[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIp8nfOlHys[/ame]
Reply:Drain it out, fill with CO2, make sure to keep the work area WELL VENTILATED.keep any and every opening in the tank open.You never want to weld a sealed tank. EVER.  Even a water tank!I've welded a ****load of Hydro tanks over the years.Wear a respirator, it'll smoke like holy hell.Buy American, or don't whine when you end up on the bread line.
Reply:Never had a problem BUT I have done the carb cleaner thing, the carb cleaner ignites instantly and that catches whatever grease or oil on fire. I've poured straight Motor oil out on the table and welded through it, wouldn't ignite!
Reply:I've patched up hydraulic tanks and cylinders full with no problems.  When dealing with hydraulic fluid (oil) I'd actually rather do it full than empty.My name's not Jim....
Reply:Originally Posted by Donald BranscomEXAMPLE: One worker dead; another injured* Explosion took place in empty tank being welded* DUPONT says no hazardous material releasedNEW YORK, Nov 9 (Reuters) - A contract worker at a DuPont (DD.N) plant in upstate New York was killed on Tuesday after a chemical storage tank exploded during a welding operation.Workers were cleaning and repairing an empty tank at the DuPont Yerkes plant in Tonawanda, New York, just outside Buffalo, when "an explosion took place which resulted in the injuries," DuPont, one of the world's largest chemical makers, said in a statement.Another contract worker was injured and taken to a nearby hospital, the company said.The two victims were employed by Mollenberg-Betz, a mechanical contractor that specializes in refrigeration. The explosion took place around 10:45 a.m. EST."They were working on a tall, cylindrical object and the top blew back," the Buffalo News quoted Tonawanda police Lt. Nicholas Bado as saying.The blast may have been caused by fumes or residue from whatever chemical the 10,000-gallon tank once held, Bado said, according to WNED radio.DuPont said it has shut down the equipment involved in the explosion, and that no hazardous material was released into the environment.The company did not evacuate the plant, and all workers are accounted for.About 700 people work at the DuPont Yerkes plant, which makes, among other products, the popular line of Corian countertops.DuPont, based in Wilmington, Delaware, said it is cooperating with local police and fire officials.DuPont's stock, which had been trading higher before the new broke, dropped 1.6 percent to close at $47.61 on the New York Stock Exchange. (Reporting by Ernest Scheyder and Daniel Trotta; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Richard Chang)
Reply:This doesn't really relate to a hydraulic fluid tank, but I've had to weld an elbow on a hyd cylinder while the cyl was full of oil.  I made a bad weld when originally welding the elbow onto the cyl (long story).No BIG EXPLOSION.  All the fluid did was make it a PITA to get a decent bead, and the leaking fluid caught fire where it was leaking OUTSIDE the system.Welding anything with fluid inside it is a pain.  The fluid boils, and blows the puddle outProbably not too safe.......but..............  Safer when tank full."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:DuPont is known for all kinds of paints and thinners. All which are highly vaporous and explosive. I would have to agree, totally different situation. Apples and oranges.As for welding on a gas tank like that idiot in the video did, thats just plain stupid. Im surprised he walked away from that! If the explosion didnt kill him, the car braking the chain free and falling probably would have lol.