Anyone welded up a fuel tank?

[Doggy]

the vacuum cleaner exploded

*wipes Tea spats off monitor*

*ditto bits of sarnie*

[mjb]

That simple? I was reading that the diesel leeches into the metal of the tank and it could still go bang even after loads of rinsing

As far as I'm aware, petrol in its liquid form doesn't explode, it burns. It's only when you get the right ratio of vapor to air (12:1 iirc) that it explodes, and then you'd just end up with a jet shooting from the fuel tank pump opening. You wouldn't want to be caught near the jet though! IIRC movie pyrotechnics work by using 2 sets of explosives. The first in the petrol cans to firstly blow the can and disperse the petrol in the air, then a secondary explosion is needed to ignite the vapour.

Diesel's much less volatile, so I'd suggest you'd be fine. I think diesel vapour can explode, but only with a very specific fuel:air ratio which doesn't happen under normal atmospheric conditions (think about why diesel cars inject the stuff under ludicrous pressures). If you're worried I'd suggest putting a small amount diesel in the bottom of the tank and finding a way to burn it (fire lighter?), but be aware it will burn a hell of a lot hotter and for longer than petrol.

Take this with a HUGE pinch of salt though.

[Pob]

I'd just do it and see what happens Where's your sense of adventure!

Dan

[swiss]

Gordo Cooper, whilst strapped to the top of a Mercury rocket, said:

Let's light this candle!

[Doggy]

What could possibly go wrong ?

[steve_earwig]

You gotta laugh, after all that there was just three tiny holes in the top of the tank - I reckon it was sitting there in a puddle and pouring off every now and then, that's why it looked catastrophic. When I got there Goran reckoned it was the seam on the side 'cos he couldn't see any holes, I suggested blowing the tank up with the airline to see if we could spot where (6 bar may have been a tad excessive, the tank probably holds a few more litres now ), I could hear something but we couldn't work out where, so then we half-filled it with water and added half a bottle of detergent we pinched out of the cafe next door. Soon spotted them by their trail of bubbles. Anyway, I reckon if I tried welding it I'd just make loads more holes so we just sanded it to bare metal around the holes and Goran's lobbed a load of chemical metal on it. Sorted.

And the bad news is: tank sealer can't be had in Croatia for love nor money, the last lot they had came from Italy and went in more important fuel tanks (Goran's mate Toma rebuilds vintage Moto Guzzis)

Thanks for the suggestions anyway guys, there's bound to be a next time...

[Pob]

What about buying some on eBay? I've used a product called Kreem before, worked really well. Came in a kit form, two bottles I think. Tank cleaner and sealer

Dan

[Wrinkly57]

Bit late to the fray (as always) but have you thought about this stuff? It would seem that it can be sent to an address in Italy by surface mail. As Russell Brand once said "I am helping aren't I?" Might be ok for next time
Regards Wrinkly
[url]http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.asp? ... ,%20946ml)

[steve_earwig]

Unfortunately the car's needed, so it can't wait 2 or 3 weeks for stuff to dribble through the postal "system" here but it'd be worth sourcing some for future reference so thanks for the ideas. Why Italy? Don't know anyone in Italy, know some Germans tho... Link emailed

[Wrinkly57]

Sorry Steve, looked at the shipping restriction list on the said site and thought the nearest country to you would be Italy and the fact that you said this sort of stuff wasn't available in Croatia. Geography not my strong point. BTW Germany is on the surface mail list if you haven't had a chance to look. Still never mind, tomorrow's Sunday, time to tend the veg patch (my head!)
Regards,
James aka Wrinkly