I saw that it hadn't been replied to since mid last year so I thought I'd start anew, instead of bumping it up to the top.
My penny's worth.... the restoration and sealing products I've only ever used on tanks that actually leaked from internal corrosion or welded seam failure. or were otherwise irreparable or irreplaceable.
Just general scaling and corrosion from standing for ages half full, for instance., this works great.
Based on my successful experiences cleaning small metal stuff in a jeweller's or lapidiarist's tumbling drum I tried this on a several different tanks.
Remove the taps and any internal filters. Put in a whole bunch of ball bearings,, old stainless fastenings, nuts and small bolts, maybe even the proper pea grit. some gas or old diesel or engine oil. put on the gas cap. bung the tap holes with anything, corks whatever. Forget the shaking and leaving for a couple of hours every couple of hours for days. ..... thoroughly wrap the tank in blankets , corrugated card board bubble wrap do it well this is the longest part of the operation. wrap it in tie down straps and secure it inside a cement mixer barrel . ok,.. but I don't know anyone who either doesn't have one or can't beg borrow or steal one for a few hours. Really jam the tank in, and use nylon ratchet ties to hold it in place to the double helix scoop things inside the mixer. it mustn't move or you have a new paint job to do. if the outside finish is going to be redone, then just jam it in with any old cardboard.
turn it on watch it for a few minutes, Walk away and do something else. Change the angle of the barrel every twenty minutes, half hour. leave it running for as long as you can be bothered. an hour or two should be fine.
when you take it out you will be amazed how shiny the inside of the tank is, and you'll have a whole bunch of shiny nuts and bolts. as far as I know the insides of old bike tanks never had any coating anyway, but if you want you could use a sealer. I make up shellac crystals in alcohol and schloosh it round the tank, but only if its a bike i think is going to stand around for a while unused.
My penny's worth.... the restoration and sealing products I've only ever used on tanks that actually leaked from internal corrosion or welded seam failure. or were otherwise irreparable or irreplaceable.
Just general scaling and corrosion from standing for ages half full, for instance., this works great.
Based on my successful experiences cleaning small metal stuff in a jeweller's or lapidiarist's tumbling drum I tried this on a several different tanks.
Remove the taps and any internal filters. Put in a whole bunch of ball bearings,, old stainless fastenings, nuts and small bolts, maybe even the proper pea grit. some gas or old diesel or engine oil. put on the gas cap. bung the tap holes with anything, corks whatever. Forget the shaking and leaving for a couple of hours every couple of hours for days. ..... thoroughly wrap the tank in blankets , corrugated card board bubble wrap do it well this is the longest part of the operation. wrap it in tie down straps and secure it inside a cement mixer barrel . ok,.. but I don't know anyone who either doesn't have one or can't beg borrow or steal one for a few hours. Really jam the tank in, and use nylon ratchet ties to hold it in place to the double helix scoop things inside the mixer. it mustn't move or you have a new paint job to do. if the outside finish is going to be redone, then just jam it in with any old cardboard.
turn it on watch it for a few minutes, Walk away and do something else. Change the angle of the barrel every twenty minutes, half hour. leave it running for as long as you can be bothered. an hour or two should be fine.
when you take it out you will be amazed how shiny the inside of the tank is, and you'll have a whole bunch of shiny nuts and bolts. as far as I know the insides of old bike tanks never had any coating anyway, but if you want you could use a sealer. I make up shellac crystals in alcohol and schloosh it round the tank, but only if its a bike i think is going to stand around for a while unused.
