Old Fuel Tank Makes Low-Cost Storage Shed

Old Fuel Tank Makes Low-Cost Storage Shed BUILDINGS New Techniques 21-6-32 Old diesel fuel tanks can be turned into low-cost storage sheds, says Jay Puzey, Fairmount, Ill., who converted a 15,000-gal. diesel tank into a shed located next to his main machine shed. "I use it to store anything that would otherwise get my machine shed dirty, including a 500-gal. used oil tank, barrels of hydraulic and engine oil, grease tubes, antifreeze, wind-shield wiper fluid, etc.," says Puzey. "My only cost was for the concrete floor." He got the 10-ft. dia. by 15-ft. long tank free from a scrap yard. It has 1/2-in. thick sidewalls. He had to use a crane to move it. For safety reasons he let it air out for a year, then cut a door into one end of the tank and welded on a pair of steel hinges. A pair of electric lights mount above the door. To avoid having to cut off part of the tank, he dug a hole in the ground and lowered the tank into it so that about 3/4 of the tank is above ground, then poured a concrete floor. A vent turbine from a house bolts to the vent hole on top of the tank to provide ventilation. Puzey also cut small vent holes into each end of the tank. The holes are covered with wire mesh to keep birds out. Steel hooks welded onto the wall inside the tank provide a place to hang grease guns and other equipment. As a final step Puzey painted the tank white. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jay Puzey, 107 West Front, Fairmount, Ill. 61841 (ph 217 733-2728).

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