Hot dip a painted steel tank?

[FIXXERVI6]

Does anyone know if it would be possible to strip a painted steel tank (worthington) then getting it hot dipped? Might be a lot of trouble.... but if not hey its better than paint.

 

[jonnythan]

Well, FWIW, those tanks are spray galvanized then painted.

 

[FIXXERVI6]

My understanding is if I gash the tank down to the metal, the zinc spray will not protect the scratch because of the paint coating.

 

[jonnythan]

My understanding is if I gash the tank down to the metal, the zinc spray will not protect the scratch because of the paint coating.

I believe this is correct, and I've seen painted tanks with exactly that kind of... wound.

 

[FIXXERVI6]

Thats why I was thinking strip it bare and hot dip it

 

[aquaoren]

AFAIk, Scuba tanks that were heated beyond a certain temperature, can not be used for Scuba anymore. You would have to hydro and VIP them anyway afterwards if possible at all.

 

[FIXXERVI6]

I figure I'm just gonna beat them up until they start showing rust and then lay my hands on some PST's but I got em, they are new and purdy just trying to think of a way to extend their life, I plan on keeping a bottle of corostop handy on all dives.

 

[SDAnderson]

just trying to think of a way to extend their life

Sell them to a freshwater diver and buy yourself some Pressed Steel tanks. I've never heard of an effective after-market hot-dip galvanization process.

 

[Tom Winters]

Do not mess with hotdipping a scuba tank. Just wirebrush any rust spots and locally treat them. I have a whole bunch of painted LP Fabers - yes, I would prefer them to be galvanized, but I don't like the HP PST's enough to spring the moolah for them.
Every six months or so, haul off the boot and take a look at what the paint looks like. Then take 10 minutes to fix it and get on with your life.
Don't get too anal about the appearance of a painted steel tank - you're diving - not walking down a catwalk like a model.

 

[FIXXERVI6]

What do you treat it with?