On 19 Sep, 17:10, Tabby wrote:

If its lost its gas, presumably its ok to drill through the lot and
put a bolt in, fixing it at one height.

Yes and no. Assume that there is still _some_ gas pressure in there.

I wouldn't open one of these things myself, and I certainly wouldn't
heat one. However I do quite happily get one of my machines to open it
for me, either the pillar drill or the bandsaw. Either way though,
watch out for high-pressure gas and flying swarf.