Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

[flydangler]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

Methinks I sense an entrant for this year's Darwin Awards competition...................

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

Yeah, alright then, I guess I'm going to blow myself up and everyone else within 10 miles. Se ya'll in hell...

 

[KeltonKrew]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

Wear shorts....it's a tad warm down here right now

 

[45_red]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

2 ?s:Vent?;Rust?

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

2 ?s:Vent?;Rust?

The gas can comes with a vent and is made from plastic. The pickup tube I made is galvinized.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

I do beleive that the federal regulations for portable gas containers and actual gas tanks are different. I am not sure, but I would bet that there are different requirements for venting, tank pressures and sealing.<br /><br />Weather your homeade tank is safe or not is only for you to judge. I can tell you that I will not get in a boat with a homeade tank that has not been properly tested to meet federal requirements.<br /><br />Remember -- One gallon of gasoline has the explosive capacity of eight (8) sticks of dynamite. (BOOM!!!) So yes, that untested ONE gallon tank can be very dangerous.

 

[flydangler]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

And with all the money saved by Mickey Mousing your little gas tank you might consider this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=26432&item=2450501898

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

Would you guys stop it already! It's a welded steel gas cap on an otherwise untouched gas can. It is safter than any plastic crap you would buy premade. It would pass any certification it needed to pass, although I'm not going to do that. Even if my weld just poped off and there was a big hole in this gas can (which is impossible by the way) the hole would be no bigger than the vent hole in my regular gas tank. People weld up their own aluminum and steel gas tanks all the time...hell, some people weld up holes in used gas tanks. Even they don't usually get blown up.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

I would worry that the epoxy will not stick to that plastic can too well. <br /><br />IF (and that is a big "if") I were to do this, I would get the plastic fittings that go on the 3 or 6 gallon cans and mount them on your 1 gallon can. At least you will have the same setup as the larger cans on a small one. <br /><br />My advise is this: If you want a 1 gallon o/b gas can, keep shopping around till you find one.<br /><br />Mark.

 

[Franki]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

I'm glad you mentioned that Knight, as I was about to...<br /><br />I don't know about the US, but here in Au, its illegal to make your own fuel containers unless you get them passed by the feds and get a compliance number etc...<br /><br />An insurance company. (for your boat, or your life) would likely deny payment in the event something happened, possibly even if your tank wasn't to blame..<br /><br />I wish you luck...<br /><br />rgds<br /><br />Franki

 

[Elmer Fudge]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

Hi Zm, JB said it right,go and buy your self a portable tank, whatever size that is you need,they're relatively inexpensive,safe and hassle free,i'm sure you can find one right here at iboats or a number of other sites .<br />Ain't you the feller that wanted to make an air compressor tank out of a beer keg? <br />Where do you get these ideas from?

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

Oh for the love of god! Yes, I have learned my lesson. And that lesson is not to ask any questions here relating to doing something differently than everybody else...

 

[ED21]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

Pat K.<br />Thanks for the laugh. <br />BTW How far does a gallon get you?

 

[daveswaves]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

Zmoz, too bad Santa didn't bring you a gas tank for Chrismas. At the risk of furthering this thread there is one thing that you have not considered and that is static discharge. There is a good reason why fuel tanks are either all plastic (non conductive) or all metal (conductive). You either want to make sure that you don't conduct static energy at all, or if you do you want to conduct it AWAY from the fuel. Your device has a direct, electrically conductive path into the fuel.<br />I think some might call it a "fuse".

 

[flydangler]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

Ed asked "How far does a gallon get you?" My answer - not very far at all!<br /><br />In my 30 years in the Navy I only served on one carrier, and that was the recently decomissioned Constellation back in 69-70. The fact that most of my time was spent with the Marines probably works against me, though I did serve on seven different ships. <br /><br />If memory serves me right each boiler (the Connie had four) burned a couple thousand gallons per hour, maybe up to 10,000 gallons per hour running full tilt boogie. Mileage wasn't very good, and she was a real bear to get up on a plane, but she was fast (so fast we could outrun our escorts).

 

[DJ]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

Pat Kapsner,<br /><br />That kind of brute power fascinates me. WOW! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

Pat adn Djohns19,<br /><br />I recall reading that large cruise ships with diesel engines get about 6 inches to the gallon.<br /><br />Makes my Town Car look like an economy vehicle!<br /><br />Mark.

 

[flydangler]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

Oops, my bad! <br /><br />The Connie had eight steam boilers that powered four steam turbine engines which drove four five bladed fixed pitch propellers, each with a maximum shaft horsepower of about 125,000hp. Fully loaded out I think she displaced over 100,000 tons. Don't know what her actual top speed was, the Navy just says in excess of 35 knots, but methinks it was well in excess of 35 kts.<br /><br />The nuclear carriers are even faster, I've seen the Enterprise kick up a "rooster tail".<br /><br />How's that for brute power?

 

[zzzzz]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

Something that never came up since original post"why not on the bottom of the tank?"...! 'cause that's where the WATER collects !!

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Any reason I shouldn't make a gas tank out of a gas can?

ZZZZZZZZ:<br /><br />So where is your pick-up tube in your gas tank?? Even though it is on the top, your pick-up tube is at the bottom! (where the water collects) Thats what water separators are for! <br /><br />ZMOZ:<br /><br />thatll teach ya! there are just some things you keep to yourself! Im sure you did a great job on the tank, just dont store it in an inclosed area! <br /><br />LubeDude