Secure a Welding Tank

You do not want a tank of shielding gas rolling around from one side of a pickup truck to the other. I have seen people lash tanks with ratchet straps or load the truck bed with old tires to keep a tank secure. My device will secure a tank using only a short piece of nominal 2 inch lumber.

Materials

• 2 x 2 or 2 x 4 lumber
• Screws
• Glue

Tools

• Square
• Saw
• Drill and bit
• Clamps
• Screwdriver
• Angle grinder and cutting wheel

I have made a couple of these before. Then I scribed an arc and followed it with a bandsaw. See the first photo. But, the rubber tires on my inexpensive bandsaw broke apart and I cannot use my bandsaw right now. The first photo shows a compass with the center for it planted on a piece of lumber the same thickness as that which I am marking. The center of the arc should be about 6 inches from either end of a piece about 12 inches long. Cut it with a bandsaw or a jigsaw.

I am also showing how to do this project with the simplest tools possible. I measured and used a square to mark so I could saw by hand to get a piece of 2 x 2 about 12 inches long. See the second photo.

I want to know the diameter of the tank. I used two “C” clamps to fasten two squares to a piece of lumber and positioned the squares so their blades lightly touch the sides of the tank. The diameter of this tank is a very tiny bit more than 7 inches.

The photo in the Introduction shows my first attempt. I cut an arc with a bandsaw. It was also cut for a slightly larger tank. But, after a couple of years my supplier discontinued that larger tank. My tank support still works well.

Another way to calculate the tank diameter is to wrap a string or a tape measure around the tank once and divide by π or 3.14.

I used a 45 degree angle on a speed square to cut two blocks like you see in the second photo.

I decided to glue the blocks in place one at a time. After applying glue, I clamped the block to the base of the support and drilled for drywall screws. I drilled to prevent the wood splitting with a crack. I used a driver to seat the screws. I used two screws per block. My screws are a bit too long. I cut them flush to the bottom of the support device and ground on the ends of the screws a little to be certain they have a slight recess.

After the first block was secure, I held my support against the tank and positioned the second block for a good fit. Mark or hold the second block in place. Glue and secure with screws as with the first block.

Ideally, the tank touches the support at three points: two sides and the bottom. Even if the support is a little loose fitting, it will work just fine.

This is a functional piece, not a display piece. Still, you may want to make it as presentable as possible. I trimmed the ends of the 2 inch lumber so both are even and flush.

I store my support device on my welding cart. I made one for a friend and he stores his behind the seat in his pickup truck. He runs a shop and never knows when he might need to exchange a tank. It takes very little room and is always with him.

To use this support, put the tank into the bed of your truck. Pick up the valve end by the screw-on cap. Slide the support under the body of the tank.

Normally I haul a longer tank than shown in the photo. This one is from my son-in-law’s welder. His driveway is steep and the tank did slide off of my support. Next time I will place the tank so it is parallel to the back of the truck or I will place it so it cannot slide farther forward.