How close it too close?

Whats the closest you'd weld to the fuel tank without removing it?

I've got a rear cross member to do, some plating on the passenger side chassis rail and some plating on the driver side chassis rail just behind the tank!!

Its a 90, so the tank it underneath the driver side seat!

Use a fire blanket between the tank and whatever you're welding .. with a bucket of water and garden hose pipe at the ready!

Mind you, I've set alight a couple of my Landrovers a few times each now, but none have been anywhere near the tank!!

If its a diesel Landy and the area is clean then carry on but always have an extinguisher at hand.

It would depend whether it was a petrol or diesel tank!

A full tank or empty ... the near empty tank would trouble me more ..

stew laws said:

A full tank or empty ... the near empty tank would trouble me more ..

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An empty tank will still contain vapour. The tank either needs to be full of diesel (which is quite tricky to set fire to!) or full of something inert like CO2 or water!

Its a petrol tank, on the red. Probably got around 5 litres in.

So fire blanket & Fire extinguisher?

Drain the tank, fill it with water and leave the filler cap off.
Bonfire night has been and gone

private penguin said:

An empty tank will still contain vapour. The tank either needs to be full of diesel (which is quite tricky to set fire to!) or full of something inert like CO2 or water!

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Probably my wording but yes the vapour is the issue

Dispense a CO2 in there and put the cap back on.

Rather than risk blowing yourself up (vapours) or setting fire to the Landy I'd always remove the tank.

philsefo said:

Whats the closest you'd weld to the fuel tank without removing it?

I've got a rear cross member to do, some plating on the passenger side chassis rail and some plating on the driver side chassis rail just behind the tank!!

Its a 90, so the tank it underneath the driver side seat!

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rear cross member and passenger side is no problem, if its very close to the tank just screen it as already mentioned, but welding a front radius arm mount for instance has little worry for me if tank is sound ie not leaking

jamesmartin said:

rear cross member and passenger side is no problem, if its very close to the tank just screen it as already mentioned, but welding a front radius arm mount for instance has little worry for me if tank is sound ie not leaking

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The tank is in good condition, never seen a leak and no smell of petrol ever. I'll see if it'll come out easily, if not i'll screen it.

Thanks everyone

Fill it with co2.
I had an aquarium here the other that id filled with co2 - you can lower a match into it and its amazing how it extinguishes on the boundary.

If you dont believe me, put a skin of petrol in the bottom of a bucket, fill it with co2, and then drop a match in.

CO2 in a bucket sounds like a good science experiment. I usually stick a blanket of CO2 on top of the home brew and didnt think about doing the same with the petrol tank!

philsefo said:

CO2 in a bucket sounds like a good science experiment. I usually stick a blanket of CO2 on top of the home brew and didnt think about doing the same with the petrol tank!

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I work in the physics department of a school....

Flossie said:

Drain the tank, fill it with water and leave the filler cap off.
Bonfire night has been and gone

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doriz said:

Dispense a CO2 in there and put the cap back on.

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Either of the above should probably work rather well - best thing is, if it will come off, then take it off. I know its boring, but safety first

julianf said:

I work in the physics department of a school....

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I have a degree in it, still struggle with basic electrical issues though!

Disco1BFG said:

Either of the above should probably work rather well - best thing is, if it will come off, then take it off. I know its boring, but safety first

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I'll do that. probably worth inspecting the tank and the areas of the chassis it hides anyway.

Anything worth doing while its off?

philsefo said:

CO2 in a bucket sounds like a good science experiment. I usually stick a blanket of CO2 on top of the home brew and didnt think about doing the same with the petrol tank!

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CO2 in a bucket? Ha ha! been there, done it, or something very similar.
As a GPO telephone engineer apprentice, a long time ago, I was told about CO2 collecting in the cable manholes and how to get it out.
After testing for and finding CO2 using a miner's davy lamp, the CO2 should be baled out with a bucket; in other words, stand at the top of the manhole with a bucket on a length of string and lower it into the hole, making sure that it tips on it's side at the bottom. Then pull the bucket up out of the hole, being careful not to spill any of the contents and pour away down the gutter.
Actually true, but yer don't half feel a wally doin' it.