Stripping steel fuel tanks

[fastjedi]

I want to strip and respray original 1980 steel tank.
I've tried a test square with a hot air gun and ended up with a 'mush'

How have others deat with this?

[Horsley-Anarak]

If it is the plastic coated variety, then the only method that worked for me was burning the plastic coating off.

You must remove cap, tap and every last smell of petrol and fumes, then use plumbers torch.
If you fail to remove all of the petrol it could explode.

H-A

[chris]

I was told the best way to make the tank safe is after making sure there is no trace of fuel is to fill the tank with carbon monoxide, A mechanic did this on a fuel tank off a car I owned after it had developed a bad leak from a hole which he welded up the same day.

[Stelios_Rjk]

Or you can just fill it with water and some caustic soda (50-100gr). That would kill any remains. But be careful with this stuff, it burns really nasty. Wear gloves, goggles and if you feel a soapy feeling on your hands after washing them you are getting burned. Use some vinegar to stop the reaction. Good solution but needs attention if you choose it.

[fastjedi]

O.K Thanks. Pretty much as I thought then.
I'm not planning to spray until the weather improves so i'll leave alone till the spring