Removing paint from Aluminum tanks

[dovii]

Hey All,

I searched for this and found a few threads that mentioned this, but nothing with a definitive answer.

Does anyone have experience removing the paint from aluminum scuba tanks? I definitely do not want to damage the tank. I have read that using aircraft paint stripper is the best option. Is there a preferred brand? Can this be picked up at any hardware store? Will the tank have to be inspected after doing this?

Also, is there a good method to buff up the bare aluminum tank afterwards? I received a couple of tanks that used to be painted yellow, and at this point there are just random paint chips all over the tanks, so I would like to remove the paint and then shine them up if possible. Mostly just because I like to take pride in my things...

Thanks for any help from people who have experience with this!

 

[tbone1004]

http://www.luxfercylinders.com/support/care-maintenance/58-paint-strippers-for-aluminum-cylinders

take a note from Luxfer themselves, they recommend zip-strip, but you can find comparables if you don't want to use that. Seems to be questionable reviews on it indicating a change of formulation.

I wouldn't worry about buffing them out, though you could probably get away with a car buffer and polishing compound, but they're just going to get beat up later...

 

[Colliam7]

I would use Zip-Strip on the remaining paint. Afterward, you might use some 400 grit sandpaper. Personally, as much as I like the looks of polished aluminum cylinders, I wouldn't try to achieve that with a stripped, previously painted cylinder - not worth the effort.

 

[bl6394]

Don't do it. Sanding or polishing the tank is something the manufacturer is not going to approve. An excerpt from Luxfer's user guide:

Do not shot blast (other than sling type) the exterior of the Luxfer cylinder, or use any abrasive cleaners or abrasive cleaning methods. Any method, which may reduce the metal thickness or create metal loss, should not be used to clean Luxfer scuba cylinders.

If I was doing a vis on a customer's tank - and it looked like someone had done this - I would start wondering how aggressively they had sanded - and how much metal they had removed. I would not put a VIS sticker on that cylinder.

 

[Colliam7]

If I was doing a vis on a customer's tank - and it looked like someone had done this - I would start wondering how aggressively they had sanded - and how much metal they had removed. I would not put a VIS sticker on that cylinder.

I would. I VIP over a 100 cylinders a year for our shop, and have been doing this for 10 years, across two shops. I agree with your caution that that aggressive use of abrasives is unwise. The one-time use of 400 grit sandpaper after stripping a cylinder doesn't qualify as aggressive use. The amount of metal which would be removed is miniscule, and less than that associated with the usual wear and tear on aluminum cylinders that comes from handling, diving, etc. Taking a piece of 400 grit paper and running it over the cylinder with your hand (you certainly wouldn't use any kind of power sander) will take off less metal than the occasional gouge that I see from sloppy prior removal of VIP stickers, or the AL lost in AL oxide corrosion, that I occasionally see inside a cylinder, when it is removed with glass bead tumbling.

 

[bl6394]

I would. I VIP over a 100 cylinders a year for our shop, and have been doing this for 10 years, across two shops. I agree with your caution that that aggressive use of abrasives is unwise. The one-time use of 400 grit sandpaper after stripping a cylinder doesn't qualify as aggressive use. The amount of metal which would be removed is miniscule, and less than that associated with the usual wear and tear on aluminum cylinders that comes from handling, diving, etc. Taking a piece of 400 grit paper and running it over the cylinder with your hand (you certainly wouldn't use any kind of power sander) will take off less metal than the occasional gouge that I see from sloppy prior removal of VIP stickers, or the AL lost in AL oxide corrosion, that I occasionally see inside a cylinder, when it is removed with glass bead tumbling.

@Colliam7 - We see the risk the same way. I just can't publicly recommend a method of which the manufacturer specifically disapproves - particularly when it's solely for cosmetic benefit.

 

[Candiru]

If you have a Home Depot near you they sell jasco premium paint stripper. It has the same active ingredients as zip strip and works exceedingly well on yellow scuba tank paint. Follow the instructions on the can it works really well.