homemade gas tank

[r97]

i'm planing to build a home made gas tank out of steel. i got some 22ga steel and a fcaw welder rated down to 18ga, so we will see how that turns out . i bought a little gas cap, the kind that doesn't thread onto make it easier to attach the gas cap to the tank. its a pretty simple tank, a 6" long 3 1/2" dia cylinder with a gas cap, and fuel valve.

only thing i'm having trouble with is how to prevent the thing from rusting! i am NOT interested in buying 30 dollars worth of paints and stuff to paint this. so if i paint it, it needs to be cheep.

i would guess having it zinc plated or something would be very $$$.

what about a plastic bag, or maybe someone can think of a plastic container that will fit nicely. i suppose i could try attaching some plastic spouts on a water bottle and try welding with the bottle inside the tank, but if i melted the bottle it would be a pain.

lastly, and most simple, could i just throw some fuel stabilizer into there and keep the fuel level at either full, or bone dry.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

While there are specialty coatings for the insides of fuel tanks, you are looking at a few bucks. Come to think of it, even my alternate suggestion of an epoxy is going to cost you a few bucks. When you watch shows like American Chopper, they are constantly making fuel tanks, but nobody ever mentions if/how they are treated to prevent rust...

 

[r97]

i was thinking the same thing about american chopper, but i'm sure they do something fancy like zinc plaiting, 30 bucks of paint probably isn't too much to them. i'm OK with spending like 15 dollars, maybe a bit more. do you guys think i could just degrease the metal and throw in the paint? most of these painting tanks are made to paint rusted tanks, so i was thinking maybe most of the cleaners are unneeded for a brand new tank.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Just make sure whatever you buy is fuel-resistant. Heck, maybe even POR-15? I think you could probably pour a bunch of whatever coating you like in the tank, slosh it all over, and dump the excess back out.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

http://www.canada-por15.com/por-15-tank-sealer.htm

Go figure... Well at least I beat Bighead to it!

 

[r97]

i might try that, i can get like 1pt of POR15 fuel tank sealer shipped for 15 dollars. maybe if i decide to paint the bike with POR15 i can use the cleaning stuff from that, but orange POR15 is expensive!!!!!!! i can get black, or silver, or gray for cheaper, but those aren't very interesting colors.

i was just reading the instructions on the por15, it says i have to throw ou the leftover paint!, thats a huge waist of money, and paint!

 

[slideways]

Look for a product called Red-Kote. Not sure if you can get it smaller than a qt though. Its about $40 a qt i think.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

how about getting an old old small engine tank (the round cyl. type) and paint everything eith orange rustoleum (if you cant afford POR15)

 

[r97]

thanks, i just checked and it appears i can get 1qt for about 30 bucks, that said i was reading a bit on a antique small engine restoration forum and came across this,
http://www.enginads.com/pedersen/

both are still expensive, but i'm realizing i might just need to suck it up and hand over the extra cash to get a good finished product. if i get one of these i will probably get the red kote as i can get it from sites like ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RED-KOTE-GAS-FUEL-TANK-SEALER-LINER-REDKOTE-QT-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3f07037474QQitemZ270700606580#ht_500wt_1182

 

[Bluethunder3320]

can you use the one that comes with the bike kit? too big?

 

[r97]

how about getting an old old small engine tank (the round cyl. type) and paint everything eith orange rustoleum (if you cant afford POR15)

i'm planning to make the frame orange, and because por 15 would cost like 50 dollars plus shipping to paint orange i probably will stick with rustoleum, and maybe i could throw on some clear coat. the tank, not sure what color, silver? i would get a small engine tank (i'm basing this tank off a vintage tank) but they cost a bit, and i didn't find a small enough one on ebay. i suppose i could paint the tank silver and coated inside with por15 for........ 30 plus ship.

 

[r97]

i could possibly use the one with the kit, but i didn't think it fit with the look i wanted, and i can sell it for like 20 bucks. i'm not sure if it would be too big, but i would guess it would.

 

[r_chez_08]

Could you get one of those balloon-like things from inside an air compressor? Or would the gas eat it?

 

[newrider3]

Masterseries silver. Cheaper than POR15 (and some say better), you can use it on the inside and outside of a fuel tank.
You don't have to throw out the unused portion, you just can't use it straight out of the can. You have to pour some off, or else it will all cure while the can is open.

 

[r97]

no clue about the balloon. i guess that master series paint is yet another option.

p.s. my mistake on throwing out the paint, thanks for correcting me.

 

[r97]

what do you guys think about making a tank out of pvc pipe, then welding a sheet metal cover around it? hold a bit less gas, but saves at-least 20 bucks! i will have to see how close i can weld to pvc pipe

 

[Bluethunder3320]

how about just all pvc? it should stand up to gas... just need a good sealer for the ends.

 

[r97]

just read something that said pvc wont work.... i would make it all pvc, but it wouldn't fit the vintage look.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

well if you painted it... but why wouldnt it work?

how about large diameter steel pipe/

 

[r97]

i bet pipe would rust just as easily around the welded areas, not to mention being heavy!

i guess PVC doesn't hold up to gas, i might test that tomorrow. i'm looking into zinc plating.....