Can these be cut up safely?

I've got a couple of 275 gallon fuel oil tanks in the basement and am wondering if I can cut them with angle grinder without them exploding. What do these usually weigh?

Here is a post talking about the weight and some other uses for them
http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/day-l...oil-tanks.html

I was always told anything that contains or contained a fuel or combustible should be drained and filled with water or other noncombustible while cutting to avoid spark. For smaller capacity items sand works as well. I have used it on items like vehicle gas tanks. Since they are getting cut up a little extra dirt wont hurt anything anyways.

I would suggest a plasma or stick welder if you use sand to prevent premature wear on any blades.

I would personally see a tank like this having better repurposing / resale value than scrap personally. People have used them in the past to make rocket stoves or barrel stoves since most are heavier metal. I have also heard of them being modified into furnaces for melting scrap for casting.

The few that I have encountered are around 1/4 inch thick which would make it very ineffective and time consuming to try to use a cut off wheel on a angle grinder.

I have cut a couple with receprocating saws just fine. I saved one from my last haul that i am building a bbq out of it. I would say you would be fine just be careful

I guess it wouldn't be like cutting a gas tank. Fuel oil doesn't explode like gas does,(if anyone read my post on my mistake of cutting gas tanks). I have used a torch before, but be sure to rinse out the tank good. Saw saw will work good too. I wouldn't recomend using a grinder, too much time and wear wheel out too easily.

I have only cut two, but found a circular saw with the right blade much faster.