Easiest & Cheapest way to remove paint / stickers / gunk from old aluminum tanks.

[Xhris]

I have several (~50) Aluminum tanks that have been condemned over the years. Most are just random drop offs at the shop.

I would like to use them in a new display. But to do this I need them to “match”. Is there an easy way (Chemical maybe?) way to get all the crap off the tanks? I can also scrape with a razor, prime, paint. I will repaint them either chrome or a metallic black.

I just don’t know what will give the most “uniform” look. I don’t have access to anything that would blast it. Do not care if it compromises the tank further, but would like it to last, so preferably something that won’t rust / Pitt the tank.

They have all been removed from service, have a hole in them indicating this. They can not be used for any type of diving / filling / pressure.

 

[happy-diver]

I grab heavy duty degreaser by the 20L
sodium hydroxide, alkaline salts category 8 corrosive in my country at least and soak them for a while

Sometimes depending on the paint condition after roughing up the surface with some 100 on an orbi

 

[halocline]

Paint remover works fine; you have to get the stuff that’s safe for aluminum, methylene chloride or something like that. It’s messy and I would definitely use a chemical mask, serious eye protection, and heavy chemical resistant gloves. Sounds fun, doesn’t it!

 

[Johnoly]

Do not care if it compromises the tank further

If it's out of service and want it the quickest fastest way, then 120 grit flap disc in a hand held grinder going in straight lines down the tank. Should take about 7 minutes & $5 disc per tank and it will be down to bare metal. No paint, no stickers, no pits, no stamps. Just a hunk of bare metal.

 

[bletso]

When we dry them after hydro and while still very warm to the touch, 9 out of 10 of them will just peel off.

 

[Lostdiver71]

You can also try aircraft paint stripper!

KLEAN-STRIP Aircraft Paint Remover, Professional Grade Paint Stripper for Cars & Metal Surfaces, VOC Compliant, 1 Quart
https://a.co/d/b5NH5dV

 

[Dsix36]

Take the valve out and toss them in a bonfire for several minutes. The burnt paint comes off easily and then minimal sanding to get the uniform look you want.

 

[bletso]

ABSOLUTELY DO NOT PUT AN ALUMINUM CYLINDER IN A FIRE. You could end up by creating a bomb by inadvertently altering the the heat treat of the cylinder or an area of it. Aluminum, unlike steel is heat treated at relatively low temps.

 

[TravisD]

ABSOLUTELY DO NOT PUT AN ALUMINUM CYLINDER IN A FIRE. You could end up by creating a bomb by inadvertently altering the the heat treat of the cylinder or an area of it. Aluminum, unlike steel is heat treated at relatively low temps.

Very true for in-use cylinders, but seems like the OP's have already been rendered un-fillable via an additional hole:

They have all been removed from service, have a hole in them indicating this.

 

[johndiver999]

Take the valve out and toss them in a bonfire for several minutes. The burnt paint comes off easily and then minimal sanding to get the uniform look you want.

This SEEMS to make a lot of sense. We use aluminum pans and posts to cook with, we use aluminum foil when baking, so a thick aluminum tank should be able to take some heat right?

Using a fire to remove paint from an aluminum tank is however, the worst advice I've seen on this forum.