Favorite Tank Paint in your Neck of the Woods

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Mhops
Posts: 11
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2022 11:58 pm
Location: Atlantic coast

Favorite Tank Paint in your Neck of the Woods

Post by Mhops »

Hello and Thank You All
for this collaboratively created resource!

New user, first post, please shake me gently.

I’ve embarked upon a 1978 40+ MkII restoration … and have found so many mechanical Qs answered here that I’m focused on paint while parts are in transit. Holy Sheen Man, there are some killer paint jobs on display here.. I’d name names and ask directly but fear leaving someone out.. a n d see most are in nonUS localities where Seagulls saw heightened popularity. Kudos all around on the brilliant restoration results seen here. I’m impressed.

Not to forgo any worldwide paint brand suggestions (sure to help future readers) but yep, I’m in the US, and am concerned to see poor petrol contact tests on YouTube re rattlecan paints. An early 70s 4x4 I frame up reno-ed in my youth showed me the value of single phase automotive paints like Imron, especially when it comes to touch-up, shake open apply with match stick, sand buff wax voila. But I’m not too interested in huffing that if I don’t have to. Same goes for POR-15, A+ killer results, but can’t I keep this simple?

Looking for a black tank paint in a line that provides a solvent similar clear coat I can use over the water slide decal.

I see duplicator is said to do well on tanks as a paint, but not a topping clear because that coat becomes a gooey mess when gas is added. Appealing to your experiences? Looking for black and clear to top it over the decal.

Please chime in if you’ve struck ore and found a go-to brand that doesn’t become a bog from petrochemical contact it’ll be sincerely appreciated and I hope help others with the same question who come back from the future, hallewww.

As no finish can exceed the quality of prep, I’m on that bent now. Wish it were brass, but this is a steel tank, in solid condition, but scoping the insides showed years worth of gradoo, dried and shrunken into the familiar alligatored surface also known as plate tectonic islands of ick. It’s all currently soaking in gasoline with some GumOut plus 23 nuts for inner abrasion… I shake it in cycles as my energy returns. Hmm, should I follow up with overnight Apple Cider Vinegar inside? Has anyone tried a soak in coke? If it’ll consume coinage will it remove tank rust? All suggestions besides seeking a body shop accepted.

Looking forward to being initiated as a gas friendly paint applicator,
Hope others do the same for you

Mhops
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Oyster 49
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Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2010 6:55 pm
Location: Derbyshire, UK

Re: Favorite Tank Paint in your Neck of the Woods

Post by Oyster 49 »

To clean out the tank, I do the following start with soaking with kerosene (Paraffin in the UK) after that drain and fill will a caustic soda solution. After that put a handful of clean pea gravel in and shake, shake, shake. Remove the gravel and inspect, repeat if required.

For paint simoniz tough black is very good, but thin coats only, rub down well betweeen coats, watch for runs.. They also do a clear laquer which is compatable with the paint.

Enjoy! Remember preparation is the basis of a good paint finish 8)
Mhops
Posts: 11
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2022 11:58 pm
Location: Atlantic coast

Re: Favorite Tank Paint in your Neck of the Woods

Post by Mhops »

Ahoy Oyster and thank you kindly,

Only wish simoniz tough black and their lacquer was something I could walk onto my local auto parts store and procure. Sadly it appears even those selling at exorbitant prices on eBay can’t ship paint, unsure if that’s pressurized can issue or just chemical regs. But I’m pleased all who respond will report their favorite brand, so all who read this can learn.

I see “autocorrect” incorrectly respelled what I wrote concerning the one US brand, DUPLICOLOR I’ve seen written about favorably with petrol contact, but as I said, their clear coat is reported to go gooey with gas. Hence my search for US available product.

Again, many thanks to all responders, I appreciate it.

Mhops
Journeyman
Posts: 137
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2018 6:26 pm
Location: Pembrokeshire

Re: Favorite Tank Paint in your Neck of the Woods

Post by Journeyman »

Hi Mhops, we are lucky where I live in that we have a good Auto Paint Shop that specialises in mixing colours for local garages. As well as supplying paint for spraying they can put any paint they mix into Rattle Cans. They stock petrol resistant paint and laquer clear coat. I’d suggest finding a similar shop near you, they will also be good for advise on what is compatible with water slide decals.
But what ever you use you’ll need to experiment and do trials.

Good luck, Dave.
Mhops
Posts: 11
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2022 11:58 pm
Location: Atlantic coast

Re: Favorite Tank Paint in your Neck of the Woods

Post by Mhops »

Thank you Dave, I bet your tank looks glorious!

I’m a fair enough painter that I could even brush and buff coats and coats of enamel if that would work?

I’m geographically pert near nutt’n for supplies here.. no auto repair shops.. no paint outfits.. mainly the post which doesn’t help as few will ship pressurized cans of anything. I’m pleased for future readers at each generously shared experience, encouraging each who has painted to add their own here too.. I hope my personal need will be sufficed by someone in the US who relates the brand of paint and clear coat they successfully used : )

So many tanks have been painted.. may time scrawl out the answer for each future painter here.
Mhops
Posts: 11
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2022 11:58 pm
Location: Atlantic coast

Re: Favorite Tank Paint in your Neck of the Woods

Post by Mhops »

Yerg. I now see I neglected to review the product review oracle known as Amazon. See reviews there that blast DUPLICOLOR brand paint, saying petrol or gas contact causes damage quickly. Sad, but I’d rather know than go to the trouble of all of the work required only to rinse and repeat. Still looking.. please let me know of and US a paint brands that prove tank-worthy? Thanks
Mhops
Posts: 11
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2022 11:58 pm
Location: Atlantic coast

Re: Favorite Tank Paint in your Neck of the Woods

Post by Mhops »

AHA,

Found a post here with an interesting finishing idea.. written by Rustbucket..
rustbucket wrote: Thu Jun 08, 2017 12:21 pm I recently refinished a steel tank -
After stripping it, I sprayed it with a light coat of self etching primer, and then finished with some Valspar anti-rust enamel -
This was just rattle-can paint, not fancy 2-part, and I think other brands might work as well - Rustoleum, for example.

After air drying for a day or so, to let most of the volatiles gas off, I baked it in the oven at 200º for an hour, and let it cool in the oven.
It seems to be fuel-proof so far - It's the baking that does it - I got that trick from the folks that restore Coleman lanterns.
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Oyster 49
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Location: Derbyshire, UK

Re: Favorite Tank Paint in your Neck of the Woods

Post by Oyster 49 »

One thing to note re using 2 pack rattle cans. The hardener is highly toxic, and this paint should only be used with a air fed mask in a proper spray booth with extraction.
Mhops
Posts: 11
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2022 11:58 pm
Location: Atlantic coast

Re: Favorite Tank Paint in your Neck of the Woods

Post by Mhops »

Many thanks, Oyster… agreeing on paint safety first. Just so hard to believe there is no single phase coating that’ll work on gas tanks.. considering all of the vehicles with tanks? Feel free to speak up, please.
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Nudge
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Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Re: Favorite Tank Paint in your Neck of the Woods

Post by Nudge »

Never tried it before but I wonder if powder coating would work?
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