Plasma cutter?

oil246gas

do you own a plasma cutter? - if not i would use a grinder with cutting wheels for stainless -i use the wheels all the time they work great --just make sure you have safety gear on - i've never had a wheel break on me but i don't think i'd want to

Timco

I have a very old indirect tank to remove (about 8' long and 3-4' in diameter) and the last time I took one out I used oxy / acetelyne. Problem is I do not have access to an exterior door for ventilation this time and last time the oxy / act had a tough time with the 1-2" of rust & build-up on the inside of the tank...even at 40/10 with a huge tip. What would be best? Electric grinder w/ cut off blade? I hate to go gas-powered as I have no fresh air or way to ventilate. Plasma cutter?

Thanks guys, Tim

Jack

Both methods will work

The plasma cutter will need significant amount of compressed air. Do you have a compressor available. If it isn't large enough you will wait and wait for it to catch up. As well, if there are a lot of deposits internal to the tank you will jsut get a lot of blow-back unless you have a powerful plasma machine.

I'd start with a small angle grinder. You can get the thin cut-off wheels or go with the thicker wheels. If you cock one of the cut-off wheels it can come apart. I'd get my sawzall into the mix also.

tim smith

Steel or stainless

Stainless indirect normally fairly thin steel, sawzall works just fine. If it is steel, samething or if you use plasma or torch, we take a 5# sledge along the cut line as we go and hit it to break free the sludge/rust build up. Plasma will blow back just like a torch I found so you need to break the stuff up a bit.