Prepping an oil drum for cutting

[catfishblues]

Of course, I'm building a smoker for a customer. Haven't done it before, but figured plenty of y'all have. What's the best, quickest way to get the residual oil out and get it safe for plasma cutting?

 

[catfishblues]

Fwiw, this is a 275 gallon fuel oil drum. Freshly drained.

 

[kaiser715]

Last couple I did, I let drip/drain for a few days. Maybe a week. Then filled with water, and cut out one of the 12x14-ish end doors with the plasma (laying horizontal). Let water run out, then marked and made other cuts. Figure with one end open, it couldn't build up any pressure to make more than a whooosh, if worse came to worse.

Of course, the 275 gallons of water that dumped out was properly contained, and handled in accordance with all rules and regulations.

 

[braxton357]

Has it been empty for a while? Just cut it open. Might start some small fires but not a big deal. If you're still scared hook a car exhaust up to it for a while. Obviously it's not the oil that is dangerous but the vapor, I wouldn't do it after it's been sitting in it sun all day.

 

[catfishblues]

Has it been empty for a while? Just cut it open. Might start some small fires but not a big deal. If you're still scared hook a car exhaust up to it for a while. Obviously it's not the oil that is dangerous but the vapor, I wouldn't do it after it's been sitting in it sun all day.

No, they just pulled about 175 gallons of oil out yesterday. I've been draining the leftover black stuff off the bottom this morning. And of course, it's sitting out in the sun all day. I'm thinking about attacking the big cut for the top with a sawzall, then cleaning it out with some simple green. I may squirt a bottle of detergent and some water in it first to break up the residual and hopefully dilute it to where it can't flame up.

 

[Ron]

just fill it with water

 

[paradisePWoffrd]

No, they just pulled about 175 gallons of oil out yesterday. I've been draining the leftover black stuff off the bottom this morning. And of course, it's sitting out in the sun all day. I'm thinking about attacking the big cut for the top with a sawzall, then cleaning it out with some simple green. I may squirt a bottle of detergent and some water in it first to break up the residual and hopefully dilute it to where it can't flame up.

Are you building a horizontal? I would fill it mostly with water and then plasma the cuts.

 

[YJJPWrangler]

Xwhatever on filling it with water. Thats how we built my FIL's big cooker. Worked really well.

 

[strange1]

Set it on fire. Burn any residual out and start fresh.

 

[RatLabGuy]

Set it on fire. Burn any residual out and start fresh.

I like this plan.
much more entertaining than water, and actually more enviro friendly.

Hell cut a hole in one end first, you could have you first bbq before actually making it a smoker

 

[frankenyoter]

Come practice on my boiler converted to oil drum that's been sitting in my back 9 for a couple years.

 

[catfishblues]

Come practice on my boiler converted to oil drum that's been sitting in my back 9 for a couple years.

Hell, I've had a drum on my lower 40 for about 12 years now, just waiting for me to cut into it. Rountoits are hard to come by, though.

 

[WARRIORWELDING]

Pre heat with large fire......use oxyfuel for cut.

I wanna video it.

I need a real world safety lecture.

 

[catfishblues]

Pre heat with large fire......use oxyfuel for cut.

I wanna video it.

I need a real world safety lecture.

I suck at torch cutting. You swing the flame, I'll hold the camera. And your beer.

Seriously, though, that would be real fun.

 

[kaiser715]

Even easier....buy my already-built cooker. Hot pig this weekend!!

 

[catfishblues]

What's the dollars on that?

 

[kaiser715]

$950 if sold before I have to move it to the new place this fall. Just needs to go!

But, this isn't a for sale thread....if anyone is interested, PM me!