Rust on steel tank

[soamelt]

I just bought a used PST HP 130 with original hydro of 2003, last one in 2008. The tanks weren't very well taken care of, you can tell that they weren't cleaned very often after diving in salt. There's a light ring of rust right above the boot. I took it for a VIP the other day and they said only one tiny piece flaked off when they were checking for pitting. They said the tank is fine, it passed the VIP, but I need to keep an eye on the rust. They said that area can be regalvinized and eventually will have to be.

Is that something that is easy to do for the inexperienced? Do I need to scrape the rust off with a wire brush first? Or should I leave it alone for now. Obviously, I would like the tank to last, but even if I only got a couple years of use, I would easily recoupe my costs of renting a second tank (I only owed one previously) when I needed one.

Thanks

 

[Scared Silly]

I would clean up the area with a wire brush and put some cold galvanizing paint on it.

 

[soamelt]

I would clean up the area with a wire brush and put some cold galvanizing paint on it.

Does all the rust need to come completely off? I know I'll take some additional coating off in the process which will be repainted, but can I damage the tank otherwise by scraping too hard? Should I just do the area that has the rust or the whole tank? Thanks.

 

[Scared Silly]

You want to take all the rust off. Otherwise it will eventually crack the new coating and then you are back to having the same problem. Basically, if it flakes off with the wire brush it needed to come off. I would probably just spot paint it at this point.

 

[Graeme Tolton]

Be sure to use something that specifies that it contains zinc. Zinc is what is the active ingredient in galvanizing is. It actually is supposed to prevent corrosion.

 

[spectrum]

Does all the rust need to come completely off? I know I'll take some additional coating off in the process which will be repainted, but can I damage the tank otherwise by scraping too hard? Should I just do the area that has the rust or the whole tank? Thanks.

Sacrificing some good galvanize around the rust spot is to be expected. Complete removal of the corrosion is essential. If the balance of the tank has the zinc finish leave it alone.

Do not use a die grinder or anything that can create a localized depression. I recently got a few blemished cylinders and a light touch with the sand blaster feathered the damage away nicely. A wire wheel/brush would be my 2nd best option.

Then follow with a cold galvanizing primer and top coat of your choice.

 

[soamelt]

Be sure to use something that specifies that it contains zinc. Zinc is what is the active ingredient in galvanizing is. It actually is supposed to prevent corrosion.

Will do, I know the shop I got the VIP at had a can of some spray stuff. Seems like it should be pretty easy.

Sacrificing some good galvanize around the rust spot is to be expected. Complete removal of the corrosion is essential. If the balance of the tank has the zinc finish leave it alone.

Do not use a die grinder or anything that can create a localized depression. I recently got a few blemished cylinders and a light touch with the sand blaster feathered the damage away nicely. A wire wheel/brush would be my 2nd best option.

Then follow with a cold galvanizing primer and top coat of your choice.

I lack in the tool department (although I am commonly referred to as one), but would just screw it up more if I had some power tools to assist. I'll just use wire brush, I think I have a new grill brush that should do the trick.

 

[knowone]

Sacrificing some good galvanize around the rust spot is to be expected. Complete removal of the corrosion is essential. If the balance of the tank has the zinc finish leave it alone.

Do not use a die grinder or anything that can create a localized depression. I recently got a few blemished cylinders and a light touch with the sand blaster feathered the damage away nicely. A wire wheel/brush would be my 2nd best option.

Then follow with a cold galvanizing primer and top coat of your choice.

A fine wire wheel and patience. just do the patch We get our tanks tested every year subsequently losing chunks around the neck. Its criminal on a brand new tank.

 

[Double Diver]

I would clean up the area with a wire brush and put some cold galvanizing paint on it.

First soak it in water treated with SaltX (saltx.com) then Do Not use a steel wire brush! Use only bronze (1st choice) Stainless, 2nd. Wire brushes wear down and leave behind microscopic residue, which gives us more new unprotected metal to rust. And you want to remove rust, not good galvanizing which is made of Zink, it is softer than steel so go easy. Then wipe the area with a good degrees-er. I use lacquer thinner before you put on the cold galvanizing. That's it. Unless you want to go for a 2 part Epoxy paint made for marine environments to the whole tank. It will look better than new.