Paint on old Genesis steel 100

[Dr. Lecter]

Just got another of the narrow-necked Genesis HP100 tanks, which after hydro/vip will go into a set of small/light doubles with funky angled valves on the manifold.

My other Genesis tank is galvanized, but this new one is covered in an ugly blue expoxy paint that I want gone. Anyone know:
(1) If painted Genesis tanks were also galvanized underneath? If not, I'm concerned that removing the blue paint might leave me with a rusting tank unless I repaint it and I'm not a fan of paint.

(2) If sand or other media blasting the paint off could harm any galvanizing on the tank? I get that hot-dip galv is a chemical reaction and therefore can't just be chipped off, but guess that the chemically altered layer on the steel tank can't be all that thick.

Any advice on removing paint from tanks would also be appreciated... I'm tempted to just buy a giant piece of PVC pipe and a couple caps, and build a big paint stripper pipe for the thing.

 

[KD8NPB]

Paint-on aircraft stripper is the way to go. You want to avoid the use abrasive media.

For my epoxy coated tank, it took about 5 coats of aircraft stripper and a putty knife.

My advice would be to give the tank 2-3 coats of cold galvanization spray and call it good.

I used Rustoleum rusty metal primer and Rustoleum Safety Yellow enamel on my LP72s...it matches my gear nicely (I'm all black & yellow), but, it's chipping off pretty badly.

 

[2TH DIVR]

All my PST Genesis tanks were galvanized under the paint.

 

[spectrum]

I have a red and blue. I don't believe they are galvanized. I would start stripping with a small sample patch.