Karl Townsend wrote:

"The Kid" is on a rolling layoff, so I'm hiring him to do the fabrication
on my 6' by 10' plasma cutter. We're building a water tank 16" high by 6'
by 10'. Our question, how thick a steel do we need to prevent the water
pressure from severely deforming the tank. The main issue is, of course,
the
bottom and it would be no big deal to put in a reinforcing angle iron
every two feet.

"The Kid" thinks 0.070" or 14 gauge should be enough. I'm leaning toward
0.100" or 11guage to be sure. Any way to know?

Not exactly my area of expertise, but (when has that ever stopped
anyone ;-)):

I've helped a couple of friends with a small winery. They have 1000 liter
stainless steel fermentation tanks (about 40" diam x 60" high, IIRC). My
impression of the tanks' construction is that they were nowhere near 0.10"
thick. I can lift one (empty) pretty easily. When filled, they sit on some
4x4s, about 2' apart. So at 16" deep, I don't think you'll need anything
too thick as long as you support the tank bottom.


These tanks have all welded and ground seams (food grade requirements not to
have any place for crud to hide). I don't know how they were welded at the
factory, but it must be possible to keep things from warping somehow.

--
Paul Hovnanian
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Have gnu, will travel.