The old fashioned remedy was to run a hose from a running engine into the
tank and purge it with Carbon Monoxide while you welded it. I never heard of
a "real welder" who was willing to do it that way though. I certainly would
not.

I have been known to make a few puddles and I don't consider myself a welder
BUT I doubt the validity of welding a tank filled with water.  I think the
water/steam will cool the metal too much to work. Of course, if you do a
good job of sealing it up you are in for a certainly lethal steam explosion.
Like the US Army reactor in the late 50's that suffered a power excursion
resulting in a deadly steam explosion in Idaho. I was a Lab tech at a small
research reactor at the time. Steam is as dangerous as any other form of
energy!

----- Original Message -----
From: "Pic Dude" <picdude@AVN-TECH.COM>
To: <PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2002 7:31 PM
Subject: Re: [OT]: RE: [EE]: Fuel tank sensor / real world solutions


> Many years ago, I needed to move the filler hole on
> a fuel tank and my local welder wouldn't touch it.
> The idea I came up with to totally eliminate the fuel
> residue was to use a model-rocket ignitor and ignition
> system, and just light the tank up from afar in a big
> open space to burn off any traces of fuel.
>
> Of course I'm not stupid enough to try this, but wonder
> if it would be practical with some form of inert gas to
> slow down the burn rate and make it burn rather than
> explode.
>
> Usual disclaimers, etc apply to anything stated here.
>
> Cheers,
> -Neil.
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pic microcontroller discussion list
> [mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU]On Behalf Of Andrew Warren
> Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2002 5:48 PM
> To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject: Re: [OT]: RE: [EE]: Fuel tank sensor / real world solutions
>
>
> Spehro Pefhany <PICLIST@mitvma.mit.edu> wrote:
>
> > > Don't think I will try, but according to the instructor,
> > > you can weld tanks which have already had fuel in them,
> > > by filling them with water.
> >
> > I've heard of steam cleaning plus filling them with CO2.
>
>     Seems like a lot of trouble; the only method I've ever seen is
>     the one previously mentioned (filling the tank with water).
>
>     I've never met ANYONE who likes welding on fuel tanks, even when
>     the tanks are filled with water; I can't imagine a welder being
>     comfortable working on a tank filled with an invisible gas.
>
>     -Andy
>
> === Andrew Warren -- aiw@cypress.com
> === Principal Design Engineer
> === Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
> ===
> === Opinions expressed above do not
> === necessarily represent those of
> === Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
>
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