Cutting Steel Rings from an 8.5kg gas cylinder

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Hire a plasma cutter , grinding wheels , marking out , time spent cleaning up ? How much time have you got ? And money ?

I was a fitter in engineering all my life . So , the best and cheapest solution is to get your local fab . shop to roll you up some rings .
 
You can use a circular saw with a cutting disc in it and use the fence that comes with them, that would be the most accurate and safest way, Because the saw does not have the speed of the grinder just take your time and don't force the Saw just let it do it at it's own pace, :Y:
 
It can be done. Get your self some 50x50x3mm rhs cut a notch in the bottom and drill a hole in the top. 15mm I used. This is for your leaver bar. Remove the tap handle on the bottle then strap the bottle to something very solid. Place notched end of rhs over valve and use a bar through the hole you drilled in the top and undo the valve. They are stuck in very well. Once the valve is removed fill gas bottle with water then empty. You should now be very safe to cut the bottle up. I have done this many times and the worst part is getting the valve out.
 
Mike678 said:
Cutting disc cost ? Time to mark out ? Time to clean up ? Time to cut ? Better and cheaper to get your local fab . shop to make them . JMO ....
Click to expand...

Mike, Totally agree with your solution, however, he's not listening. "You can lead a horse to water but.........."
We all know gas bottles can be safely cut up, however is there a need.
During my Fitting & Turning apprenticeship the company I worked for had a contract with the fuel companies to repair leaking tankers. Back then tanks bolted to the tray of trucks not bulk tankers.
The leaking tanks would be dropped off in a shed at the back of the engineering workshop. They were flushed with a solution (can't remember the mix), then again filled and sealed, the leaking area was then positioned upper most and the welding procedure carried out.
At an inquest it was determined the deceased had failed to refill the tank before grinding and welding.
When the tank exploded he must have been straddling the tank.
Still have flash backs seeing his mangled body almost severed vertically.
Personally would only use a gas bottle for what it is intended for.
 
I am listening - just don't want to wait till year's end when Melb is out of lock-down.
I like the idea of getting one fabricated though, so may bide my time.
 
In a town not far from here,

Whole shed disappeared one day in a huge explosion.
Only the slab was left.

Turns out a bloke was cutting some plate steel,
with an acetylene bottle under it.

When repairing fuel tanks after I had flushed them out, I filled them with
water only exposing the area to be repaired.
I only did the ones worth repairing.
And did not use a flame.

Went to work early one Saturday Morning.
Unlocked the front door and thought,
Gee, That smells strange,
Whole building was full of acetylene.

Major evacuation was performed after I cut the power to the shed.

And it was not a small shed either.

Nightjar said:
Mike678 said:
Cutting disc cost ? Time to mark out ? Time to clean up ? Time to cut ? Better and cheaper to get your local fab . shop to make them . JMO ....
Click to expand...

Mike, Totally agree with your solution, however, he's not listening. "You can lead a horse to water but.........."
We all know gas bottles can be safely cut up, however is there a need.
During my Fitting & Turning apprenticeship the company I worked for had a contract with the fuel companies to repair leaking tankers. Back then tanks bolted to the tray of trucks not bulk tankers.
The leaking tanks would be dropped off in a shed at the back of the engineering workshop. They were flushed with a solution (can't remember the mix), then again filled and sealed, the leaking area was then positioned upper most and the welding procedure carried out.
At an inquest it was determined the deceased had failed to refill the tank before grinding and welding.
When the tank exploded he must have been straddling the tank.
Still have flash backs seeing his mangled body almost severed vertically.
Personally would only use a gas bottle for what it is intended for.
Click to expand...
 
I hear you Nightjar. I did my F&T apprenticeship in the early 80's before going on to further study. I still remember seeing a photo of a man who tried to weld the top of a wheat silo, that was "empty" (wheat dust of course being the same as a tank full of gas or petrol vapor). He ignited the wheat dust left behind inside, & what was left of the silo looked like a blackened peeled banana, and in my mind I can still clearly see the bloody imprint of his face and body on the ceiling.

It killed the apprentice working with him too. I did get an old welder at work to weld my leaking BSA petrol tank, but he knew his stuff. He made me flush it multiple times with detergent and water, left it with compressed air circulating through it for a whole day, before finally pushing Argon gas through it as he welded it. It had to be done though as there was no alternative, he was fully qualified and experienced, and I was still yet to get my own welding ticket. But as you say, unless you have to, don't go there.
 
I used to repair motorcycle tanks for a living. Very early on I use the flush and fill with water method till one twin style tank filled with water had a flash off that buckled the tank.
They I found out about the purging of the vapours in the tank with the exhaust gas from a leaded vehicle run through it for 15 min. Perfectly safe to weld then. No vapours, never had a flash again.
Was still using the method when leaded petrol phased out to ULP. But with ULP gave it a 30min purge. Had a flexible steel exhaust tube that went from the cars exhaust pipe to the tank.
 
I would just get new 6mm flat bar rolled, or make the jig yourself. Try youtube of how to make one.
I won't have to be heavy duty to roll 2-3mm flat
 
Been reading some of the solutions.

Scary stuff.

Im with Mike, off to the local engineering fabrication workshop.

A mans got to know his limitations.

Im good with my hands, can knock over most jobs, but somethings I wont do.

Cutting gas bottles would be right up there

MaYbe thats why I still have two hands ;)
 
Bigwave,
If you don't wish to wait out the lock down it would be simple to roll your own rings.
Advice:
Measure the circumference of your gas bottle.
Cut your flat bar to this length. (The end result diameter may vary a mm or two, but imagine it wouldn't be critical)
NOW - Using your hammer curve both ends (approx 100mm) of your flat bar to the shape of your gas bottle.
Finally - Bend the flat bar around the cylinder.
Obviously when finished the ends won't join together. (They will spring open when pressure is released.)
Use rope/wire in "Spanish windlass method" to pull both ends together, weld and you will have your rings.

Good luck mate.
 
I now have the sundial's gnomon and analemma ready for welding (yes - I suck at letter punching).
The centre hole represents the Equinox and the mean solar time - you can see that the whole figure 8 is slightly (deliberately) asymmetric (as is the Equation of Time).
1601533873_analemma_b.jpg

I will cut slots into the brass rod to fit over the arrow head, fletch and analemma.
I only have a MAPP gas torch, so will I be able to braze these joints, or (if not enough heat) just silver solder?
I'd like it to be as strong as possible, so I'm putting it out there for your advice.
If you recommend only silver soldering, then what % Ag rods should I use with the MAPP torch?
I use 5% for silver soldering small copper pipe with a propane torch, but with the hotter MAPP torch, should I use 2% Ag or try brazing?
Thanks for any/all feedback.
 
Your 5% AG rods should be fine, the higher the silver content the better ductility, flow and slightly lower melt point. Go Mapp, bring both parts to cherry red, introduce rod, it should draw into joint nicely.

If any doubts doa practice run on some scrap.
 
or doable with a normal old hand hacksaw . i have a fair sized steel cutting horizontal bandsaw and to hold that job to cut it in that saw would not be easy . the vise would just crush it or not hold it tight enough.
 

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