We switched to gas around March of this year. My friend did the burner change out. He is a gas tech for the city. I have been slowly draining the oil and bringing it to my father inlaws. Only a little left and I need to start thinking on how to cut this thing up to fit through the house. There is no bulkhead or other exterior entrance so me need to go up the cellar stairs and through the house. Not sure which way to go. Saws all, cut off wheel, nibbler. I have compressor but never used a nibbler. Not sure on the cfm they use. Also dont want to blow up the house. Any ideas?
What was in the tank, fuel oil, diesel? My brother cut his up with a saws all and the house smell like diesel for a week during the summer with the windows open. We barely had enough room to get ours out once I removed the legs, but it was a three man job.
Fuel oil. We are used to the smell while im transfering the oil I get some spilage. Nothing down there of concern. I figured I would put tarps and drop cloths down to cach the sluge.
Took a fuel oil tank out years ago however it was outside so did not worry about blowin up the house. It was in ground so needed to lift it out and we took a grinder to it and cut holes to hook chain to. If you are worried about a boom maybe fill it with CO. Carbon Monoxide will prevent fuel and heat mixing with oxygen. Just don't gas yourself! A small engine 4 stroke with exhaust piped into the bbl for a while before u start cutting.
I know a man that blew up 1/2 his shop and himself welding on a fuel oil tank. Blew out a whole wall, part of another and part of the roof. The last tank I welded on I filled with water first.
Well I wont be welding on it. Ill just drain it probably just let it sit untill I can figure something out. Thanks guys.
Welding or cutting, either is making sparks. I'd go with a sawzall if anything as it would be tough to make sparks with it. diesel/fuel oil isn't too flamable, but I guess if there are enough vapaors (maybe from the heat of welding?) it can go up in flames.
won't really help in your case since its in a house but I recall guys welding fuel tanks, diesel or gasoline, hooking a car exhaust up the tank. Flexible hose going from exhaust into the fuel tank, no combustion could take place since the CO displaced the oxygen in the tank
Can you cut a few walls in your house to get it out? I'd rather do some carpentry work than cut that tank in my house.
I removed a tank from my basement recently. I cut into manageable size pieces with a sawzall, and carried it out of the bulkhead. Something like this; But I cut it into smaller pieces. Have a bag of kitty litter to absorb any spills and a container for the sludge. I cleaned the cut up pieces and had a scrapper from CL come an take it all away. No problems.
Thats a great help! I hope I can get it done that fast. Thanks alot! Ill go get a case of blades. My Google skills are lacking.
Might want to get a couple cans of pb blast or wd 40 to keep the blades cool while you're cutting. I've heard bar oil works pretty good too. It'll increase the life of the blades, and reduce the chance of sparks/fire a little more. Have a helper give a short spray directly on the area you're cutting every few seconds.
Exhaust from an engine only has a dusting of CO, the CO is not doing whatever job you think it is. The majority of the exhaust is nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. The exhaust is pretty much free of free oxygen so that is the value of using exhaust. Fuel oil is diesel fuel and diesel fuel is not easy to light. A lit cigarrete will be extinguished by putting it in diesel. You need high heat and vapors. Cold sparks aren't even a problem. It's the super high temps that you have to worry about, think glowing metal. Use a sawzall and keep a cool blade. Stop frequently. Oil and cool the blade. Just cut it up enough to collapse it and bend it through the exit.
Oh and as soon as you can, open a door into the tank. The fire isn't what will kill you, it is the pressure causing the tank to rupture all fast like.
