Depressurising helium canisters

[Adam Marshall]

I have 3 empty helium bottles and was thinking of making a oil tank out of them can they be depressurised easy or is it a job. They are just the normal balloon helium bottles nothing fancy. Thanks

 

[Spark plug]

Do you not just open the tap and let the gas out?

 

[Adam Marshall]

Won't it go bang when I try and cut it or drill it

 

[mr migwire]

helium isn't flammable... just open the tap / valve to vent then get busy...

 

[HMB]

Yes sort of. There is still pressure inside once valve is opened and nothing appears to come out.

 

[Spark plug]

I wouldn't have thort so as long as there is no pressure inside. Helium isn't flammable.

 

[HMB]

There is STILL pressure inside even tho nothing may come out the valve. It's designed that way for filling so they don't need to clean or vacuum out the inside.

 

[Pete.]

Perhaps so but if the valve is opened then any pressure increase caused by heat from drilling will be safely vented.

 

[outofthefire]

Just put a small drill bit through it, there won't be much heat generated the skin on the helium bottles i've cut up haven't been anywhere near as thick as gas bottles.

 

[HMB]

Just put a small drill bit through it, there won't be much heat generated the skin on the helium bottles i've cut up haven't been anywhere near as thick as gas bottles.

Gas? Propane/butane cylinders? Thin walled not too high pressure

He/Ar/N/O cylinders and the like very high pressure. Around 6-8 mm wall

 

[outofthefire]

Gas? Propane/butane cylinders? Thin walled not too high pressure

He/Ar/N/O cylinders and the like very high pressure. Around 6-8 mm wall

Not the ones for filling balloons

 

[sardine]

I think the OP means the disposable kind which are about 1 mm thick, rather than a contract cylinder .

 

[Mr shiney]

Yes sort of. There is still pressure inside once valve is opened and nothing appears to come out.

No there isn't. They are standard valves. Open is open. When they are refilled they are vacuumed before filling.

 

[Anguz]

doubt they are vacuumed before filling as balloon gas has added air to stop asphyxiation when you are doping squeaky voices at parties

 

[HMB]

Hey ho. Cut them up as you wish. If you get hurt cause it's still got pressure don't say I didn't tell you