Cutting Propane Tanks (for art)

I know it has been asked before but does anyone have a sure way that they use for cutting propane tanks without getting hurt. I found a few that are too rusted out to be reused so i had another idea for them

that isnt my picture just an idea of what i want to do. Im thinking i may be able to sell them at craft/vendor shows with a friend of mine who sells etched glass and stuff.

Any ideas thoughts sugestions?

yea, call the propane company and have them evacuate the bottle, a professional should evacuate the bottle, i am not qualified

Originally Posted by joef1812

I have also heard of using nitrogen it another inert gas but I think that may get expensive

Why can't you pump exhaust gas into the tanks using hose adapters like they do when cutting on gasoline tanks??
Carbon monoxide should not burn and it'll delude the propane.

I've torched open several 500 gal propane tanks, only way the yard will take them, and I always fill em with water and torch em. Takes a little getting use to torching a vessel full of water but it's not bad, if you can keep your puddle ahead of where the water is coming out is the trick to it. That's only after they sit a week or so with all valves REMOVED not just open.
A little more info with a few pics on the subject
http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/day-l...r-torched.html

Originally Posted by joef1812

I know it has been asked before but does anyone have a sure way that they use for cutting propane tanks without getting hurt. I found a few that are too rusted out to be reused so i had another idea for them.

Any ideas thoughts sugestions?

I think what yah ment was what cutting methods the best. I'd go with a Plasma cutter. Its just compressed air & a plasma Arc.
You can get a 2nd hand machine, or go brand new & get a guarantee too, same with the air compressor.
A air compressor is really handy for scrapping.
You can buy air tools for it, they have plenty of power & are pretty cheap compared to electric. They provide fresh air around you & if you work in the heat/summer, the tools get cold & make it easyer to work with. (you will also need a 'air oiler' to provide lubrication to the tools as they work)

Then, at the end of the day, you can still sell it & get some of your $$$ back.
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Oxy/propane/acetlyene gas torches generate a huge hot flame & leave a messy & wide cut.
You need to buy the torch/regulator unit & then rent the gas bottles, even if you are not using it, you are still paying to rent it...
Thats expensive as the gas company is geared up for renting to other companys, who can pay more $$$ than you can.
You will never get your rental $$$ back.

Also you will have to start the gas cut almost continuously, because as you work as it always stops, rusty & thin metals are worse for this.
It also has a large slag buildup on the far side of the cut.
The gas torch is best for thick metals as they hold the heat needed to keep the cut going.

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Gas bottles are a different hazard than Fuel tanks which hold liquid etc.
A (liquid) Fuel Tank has seams.
They hold the fuel in the seams & even after you have washed it out with water & then purged it with exhaust gases (which may still have oxygen in them anyway...).
As soon as you put the gas torch to the tank, on a seam or on a flat, the heat will get to the residue fuel, vapourise it & now you have a tank full of explosive gas that you spent sooooo much time trying to avoid.

A Gas bottle, once its filled with soapy water, will not be holding any fuel gas.
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I love that idea of the flames around the gas bottle fire pit. Never even thought about it myself.

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The air tools have a 'Sawzall' sort of tool, it uses hacksaw blades, pretty cheap tool too.
If you drill a hole into the tank, you can then use the sawzall to open the hole up to ventilate the tank. Air tools are safe around (& under) water, unlike electric tools........