Swaggie
SubscriberI've got a nice space under my canopy on the 130 to put in a custom made water tank of about 66 Litres. It won't be for drinking water, just "grey" water for washing up etc.
I went to the steel supply shop to buy some 2mm Steel sheet to fabricate a basic steel "cube", but they strongly advised against doing it in steel, and suggested either stainless or aluminium. They said steel would rust through in just a few months (which I find a bit hard to believe...).
However, I can only weld steel (MIG). I thought about plastic, as you can buy some really cool tanks for caravans, but it is positioned right over the exhaust, so plastic is out.
What can I treat the steel with to stop it rusting, on the inside of the tank?
Surely there must be some product I can slosh around inside and then empty, which will protect the steel from rusting. Epoxy paint? Cold Galv? (what about hot galv?). I also spoke to a powder coater but he said it couldn't be done on a closed vessel.
The other construction option is to build an open topped cube, and then rivet on a lid with silastic. Then it can all be painted before final assembly. I'd prefer to have it all welded though.
Hope there are some paint/steel experts out there to advise.
Thanks.
Cynical Moi?
POR 15 Fuel Tank Sealer worked well for me on my 2A tank. I can't see why it wouldn't be satisfactory on a water tank for grey water. Contact the distributors & ask I suppose.
http://www.por15.com/INTERNATIONAL/t...6/Default.aspx
Once pre-cleaned & primed, it leaves a firm coating on the insides & is applied just as you suggest. Sloshing it around.
Last edited by 4bee; 30th May 2006 at 04:57 PM.
Master
I think this is the same stuff that I used several times in motor cycle fuel tanks to keep rust at bay, works well. In anycase build the tank for zinc coated steel, this will help except for the welded seams.Originally Posted by 4bee
glen
ForumSage
Have you looked at the triangular space between the cab and the tray?
Once I discovered it was there I have been thinking it would make a great space for a water tank.
Swaggie
SubscriberThanks 4Bee - am looking at their website now.
George130: my 130 has a canopy on the back. I have just pulled it off to refurbish it, and found this very nice gap behind the cab, between the chassis and the bottom of the canopy:
Who told you a MIG can only weld steel? Spool up some aluminium wire and go hard on an aluminium tank!!!
SneakyPete
ForumSage
Yep thats the space I was thinking of. I have a dual cab and factory tray with canopy. Didn't realise there was that space for a month or two. Does the base of your rear cab wall also slope inwards?
Swaggie
SubscriberOh yeah - I see what you mean. The triangle space where the cab slopes down. Maybe I can expand it into that area too, although 66L should be plenty as there is already a 50L fresh water underslung tank which attaches to the underside of the canopy.
SneakyPete: I was told I have to change the feed to a teflon coated one, change the tip, get a new spool of wire and change the gas to pure Argon. Sounded like too much hassle to me. Apparently it is also very tricky to weld Aluminium compared to steel. Goes to liquid before you know it, and then you have a big hole.
The POR15 idea is looking good at the moment!
OldBushie
Most fresh, grey and black water tanks are made of stainless or some ort of polycarbonate material for hygene reasons. If you add chemicals to the water what would you use it for. Would you really wan't to wash your dishes with chemicals all thoughout the water.
Saying that normal steel will rust out in a couple of months is a bit of a porky I think, a couple of years maybe, unless you keep the water inside the tank permanently which you wouldn't do. you only have water inside for only a couple of days at a time. If you flush it though regularly it could last for ages
Aren't hot water systems normal steel?
Swaggie
SubscriberI found this on the POR15 web site. Just what I was looking for. $39 for 500ml which should be enough to treat my proposed tank size.
BTW - I love the way you can just cut and paste stuff in this new version of the forum. Very neat!
Tank Sealer
Seals pinholes and seams. Now sold on every continent, US Standard Fuel Tank Sealer is the toughest, non porous coating, flexible coating made. Forget zinc chromate and rust inhibitors. The only way to stop rust is to keep moisture away from the metal. Only a non porous coating can keep moisture away from metal. And we make the only one that's been tested and proven to work with all fuels, including ethanol & methanol. It has superior strength and fuel resistance and is non flammable. Though for any tank sealer to work properly the tank must be free of contaminants, hence we usually sell this product as part of our money saving kits.
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