[TheForge] cutting propane cylinders

[Bruce Freeman]

I think it represents creative thinking, but I would not count on it myself.  The assumption is that there is negligible oxygen in exhaust gas.  That may be true if all cylinders are firing.  Another assumption is that the exhaust will not be a source of ignition.  That probably depends upon the exhaust system of the truck.  Sure would hate to get a backfire while doing this!

Problem with this sort of idea is that if there's only a 1% chance of blowing yourself to kingdom come while doing it, then you must do it ~70 times to have a 50% chance of blowing yourself up, or ~140 times to have a 75% chance of blowing yourself up, or ~230 times to have a 90% chance of blowing yourself up.  Accordingly, a lot of damnfool ideas can get passed off as "It's safe! * I do it that way all the time."

Fuel
Air
Ignition
Fire needs all three.

Explosions, on the other hand, may not be so simple.  Most explosives carry their own "fuel" and "air" (oxidizer, like nitrates).  And an explosion may require a minimal kind of ignition.  A tiny spark might "pass unnoticed," while a big one detonates the mess.  To minimize risk of fire or explosion, you must know what you're dealing with.

Bruce
NJ

>>> wglynn at datasync.com 3/30/2005 4:55:40 AM >>>
Some thirty years ago an old guy told me his answer to welding up
leaky gasoline tanks was to run a hose from the exhaust of his truck
into the tank. He'd let it run for a while and displace the air in the tank
with once burnt air. Saw him a few years back, he still hadn't blown
any up. What you think?
greg
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gladish Family" <gladish at cnw.com>
To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2005 11:48 AM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] cutting propane cylinders


> Only just after washing it.
> I figure if the candle is suicide, then so is the hacksaw (sawzall), 
> since it throws sparks.
> If I let the candle burn down and out, then the O2 is exhausted and the 
> I have a neutral atmosphere inside.
> AG.
> 
> Bruce Freeman wrote:
> 
>>Would you burn a candle in an old gasoline tank?  Sounds like attempted
>>suicide to me.
>>
>>The reason for filling a tank with water is to displace the air (which
>>may contain an explosive concentration of fuel) and to cool any sparks
>>that might otherwise occur.
>>
>>Bruce
>>NJ
>>