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Water Tank Made Out Of 750-Gal. Oil Barrel
I made a virtually indestructible 1,100-gal. water tank out of an old 750-gal. oil barrel that had caught on fire. The tank measures 15 1/2 ft. long by 6 ft. wide and 2 ft. high.
  The oil barrel originally was 15 ft. in diameter and 24 ft. high. The oil company cut the tank up with acetylene torches and left 2 ft. of metal on the bottom. They also cut the rest of the tank's sides into 4-ft. strips. I could have left the tank bottom on, but it was made of 3/8-in. thick metal and would have been too heavy and awkward to move around. So I cut a 6-ft. wide strip out of the center of the tank bottom. I also cut 2-ft. strips of metal for the sides and welded them in place.
  I welded two 3-in. steel pipes 5 ft. apart at the top of the tank to give the tank extra strength, and so that I could hook a chain onto it and move it with a front-end loader. I also welded a 2-in. nipple in one corner at the bottom so I can drain water out of the tank in the fall. To complete the project I had a neighbor sandblast the tank inside and out to remove any oil and contaminants. I also gave the tank a coat of lead-free rust paint." (Bill Pinchin, Marengo, Sask., Canada)


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2002 - Volume #26, Issue #1