Most of us have welded on automobile frames at one time or and other and while I'm immediately leary the closer I get to the fuel tank while striking an arc, prevalent thinking is that it is not "unsafe" to do so. Walk into any muffler shop and watch a while. They arc away all day long on underbodies and I wonder if the weldor performs even a cursory check for any type of fuel leak before he starts MIG-ing away.
I've got a job to do for a buddy on a small RV camper putting him on a welded rear bumper suitable to a fix a towing hitch reciever to. Looking the job over I notice he's got a propane bottle in an enclosed aft compartment about 18 to 24 inches from where I may have to stike an arc. The bottle is currently fully charged.
Just wondering what the "rule" is for welding near propane bottles vs regular automobile fuel tanks. Obviously I would be concerned about leaks and will make sure no gas is venting before I start but also I'm wondering about any risks associated with passing current through the frame to which the bottle is in direct physical contact with.
Is there anything in the nature of propane that makes for greater risk of explosion compared to regular fuel tank as regards my secondary concern outlined above?
Dennis van Dam