British BBQ Society Forums

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ox ... e-19035426

Be carful folks!

My first thought was that I hoped it wasn't anyone here.

I'm not thinking of doing this myself, but for safety information, what's the best way to clear out the fumes in something like this?

Presumably give it a good rinse first?

Steve W

I saw a program once if a chap who turned old propanee gas bottles into coal/wood burning ovens. He had to weld empty them of course, and his technique was to fill it with water, then empty it. That was gas of course, and not oil, so I do not know if it would work both ways.

I guess anything you can use to displace the combustable liquid / gas & then the residue fumes. Our previous house (before we bought it) went up in flames as the builder didn't fill the petrol tank which was stored in it with sand before he started angle grinding it... predicably it went up in flames & took out the house & next doors roof.

That's terrible, most people would only be worried about poisoning themselves from the contents not combustible fumes coming from residue contents.

the best way is not to do it but if you have to the safest way would be to give a flush through then fill with sand.

I've never done this nor any intention of doing so, but if there is any flamable residue filling it with sand may not be the way to go. I'm basing my concerns on what was known as a Tommy Cooker used in the desert during WW2. A biscuit or petrol tin was filled with sand and 1/2 pt of petrol was poured on top and ignited and it would burn for a long time.
Is sand regarded as the industry safe way to do this?

The best thing as mentioned above, is not to use a drum that's stored anything flammable.

Failing that, I'd wash it out with a strong detergent/de-greaser, leave it to air out, then repeat the process at least two more times.

When it came to the actual cutting, I wouldn't use an angle grinder as they cause a lot of sparks. I would fill the drum with water, put the bung top back in, lay it on its side and go at it with a reciprocating saw fitted with a metal cutting blade.

There may be better ways but that's how I'd do it for safety.

I'm going to get a used drum that was used for food products.

Hi all

Not done it myself yet but as far as the gas bottle goes most people fill it with water, as mentioned above, and leave it for a few days just to make sure there's no gas pockets anywhere.

As far as the drum, mine held motor oil, I just made sure the holes on the top were not plugged by anything and then ran a grinder with a flap disk around the inside edge so no sparks went inside the drum anyway.

I uploaded a write up on how I did it here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7lndnbdgkom2h ... w%20To.pdf

I hope it may be of use to someone