This tank was long dry. I cut from the outside. Tons of sparks. No problems. I would however never take a torch to any gas tank. Varnishes on the inside or residue could be ignited by a torch. Cutoff tool is much cooler. I can't remember if I washed it out or not. Lawrence Rhodes... ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris Tromley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2002 7:39 AM Subject: Cutting gas tanks (was: RE: Bradley conversion)
> Lawrence Rhodes wrote: > > > They are really light and I think they would make a terrific > > conversion. The VW pan that it goes over is very strong. > > Batteries could go over the back axle and behind the front > > seats. Some might even fit in the area in front where the > > gas tank was. A VW gas tank cut in half at the seam makes a > > great battery tray. I cut one off to fit in the 56VW I had. > > Used a Dremel tool with a cutoff disk. Lawrence Rhodes.... > > Hi Lawrence, > > That actually wasn't a very smart move. You should assume any gas tank > is filled with combustible vapor. Cutting with abrasives creates > sparks. A much better method would have been drilling a starter hole > and using manual or power snips. > > Just to give you a feeling for how persistent fuel vapors can be, I > heard about a tank truck that was used to haul gasoline and was then > used for hauling non-potable water for years. When the "water" tank > needed a repair, the welder blew it up with his torch. Then there was > the guy who ventilated his long-empty gas tank by drawing air through it > with a vacuum, "just in case". Vapor hit the brushes in the vacuum and > turned it into shrapnel. > > Be very careful with gas tanks. > > Chris >
