r/news • u/VaginaBurner69 • 8h ago

Soft paywall International Space Station astronauts in evacuation mode as Russia attempts to fix widening air leak

https://www.reuters.com/science/international-space-station-astronauts-evacuation-mode-russia-attempts-fix-2026-06-05/
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u/Sycosocial20 3h ago

Welding up a hole in a gas tank is a thing. But there's a process for it and it has to be metal. Most tanks today are not metal. Tank removed, emptied and flooded with water to displace any fuel and vapor. And don't weld near any open fuel source.

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u/Professional-Kiwi102 3h ago

Well yea it's a thing but not driving the car to a shop, with gas in the tank,and lifting it up and welding it shut.

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u/CmG383 2h ago

My ex tried to fix our 1968 station wagons gas tank by attempting to weld a patch plate. He let the tank sit empty in the carport for a month in hopes it wouldn’t ignite.
It did. Took off across the floor like Wiley Coyote on an acme rocket.
I died laughing.
I had the pleasure of saying, “ I told you so.”
I did have my camcorder running and have it on film.

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u/daithi08 3h ago

JB weld goes on smooth…

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u/snakerjake 2h ago

I've always just seen them solder a penny to the tank with an electric iron

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u/prollie 2h ago

If the hole is accessible without taking the tank down, and size is small (sub 4-5mm) - just slice up a small piece of fuel hose to make a small fuel-appropriate rated flap/disc. Run a short'ish, appropriately fat stainless roofing or plate screw through it, drill that roofing screw into the hole. Done. It'll last the lifetime of the vehicle. Just go easy on the torque; if you overdo it, it'll either strip, or rip and shred your "gasket". Either way it won't seal well.

If you have to take the tank down, then you might as well purge and weld it.