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Sandblasting Fuel Tank

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Gene37

05-15-2007 11:48:37

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I am concerned about fuel vapors igniting when I sandblast my A fuel tank. Should I fill it with something that would be non crossive?
Thanks
Gene

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Larry in WNY

05-16-2007 08:53:16

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Re: Sandblasting Fuel Tank in reply to Gene37, 05-15-2007 11:48:37

Fill it with water and seal off all the openings with heavy tape. That should keep it clean and safe.

Larry

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Georgia Boy

05-15-2007 17:00:08

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Re: Sandblasting Fuel Tank in reply to Gene37, 05-15-2007 11:48:37

I used aircraft style paint remover, steel wool, sanding blocks, and a lot of elbow grease. I was skeered of those fumes.

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Mike Van

05-15-2007 15:35:27

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Re: Sandblasting Fuel Tank in reply to Gene37, 05-15-2007 11:48:37

I've always used a detergent, like 409 or Fantastic, then rinse well. A welder told me this years ago. I've brazed gas tanks & propane bottles, never had one so much as pop. The detergent does a better job than just water.

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F-Dean

05-15-2007 13:57:29

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Re: Sandblasting Fuel Tank in reply to Gene37, 05-15-2007 11:48:37

I know a guy who sodders gas tanks. The way he does it is to direct the exhaust of a lawnmower into the tank to expell all the oxygen. This prevents any explosion.

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Bob M

05-15-2007 12:13:38

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Re: Sandblasting Fuel Tank in reply to Gene37, 05-15-2007 11:48:37

I've had the local sandblasting outfit do several tractor tanks for me the past several years. They require the following before bringing the tank to them:

1 - Drain the tank COMPLETELY. After draining mop out the inside with clean rag, paper towel, etc. to remove the last drops of liquid.

2 - Now remove filler cap and sediment bulb assembly and set the tank outside in the sun for a day or two to "bake". (No sun? Shine a floodlight on the tank from a couple feet away....)

3 - Finally replace the filler cap and plug the sediment bulb port with a pipe plug before bringing the tank to be blasted.

----

Incidentally I believe the blaster shoots a quick blast of CO2 "snow" from a CO2 fire extinguisher into fuel filler and corks it back up just before blasting for added insurance.

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Tom Windsor

05-15-2007 12:11:37

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Re: Sandblasting Fuel Tank in reply to Gene37, 05-15-2007 11:48:37

I did that once. Never Again. I dont think I every got all the sand out of it. So do it some other way. BY ALL MEANS, if you are going to do the outside, tape all the holes very very good...do not...DO NOT let any sand get in the takn. IF YOU GROUND THE TANK, you are not going to have any electrical spark that could ignite anything with the sand blasting.

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Andy Martin

05-15-2007 13:13:43

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Re: Sandblasting Fuel Tank in reply to Tom Windsor, 05-15-2007 12:11:37

You create an occasional spark sand blasting, which could be hazardous if flammable vapors are present.

Like when cutting on a fuel tank or a drum, filling with water first is best to greatly diminish the vapor space.

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Owen Aaland

05-16-2007 14:25:05

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Re: Sandblasting Fuel Tank in reply to Wardner, 05-15-2007 13:43:46

The articulated four wheel drive tractors, like the I-4366, have a fuel tank that is actually the rear frame assembly. The procedure for repair is to completely fill the tank with diesel, peen the crack shut so that it no longer leaks, and then weld the crack. This steel is probably thicker than the truck fuel tank so heat tranfer to the fuel is not so much of a problem.

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SuperA-Tx

05-15-2007 13:41:01

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Re: Sandblasting Fuel Tank in reply to Andy Martin, 05-15-2007 13:13:43

There was a car shop about a block down the street and one young guy was cutting on one of those 55 gallon drums and it blew up on him. I heard the blast and it sounded like someone had shot off a cannon. Found out the drum had been sealed and he didnt bother to clean it out or even open it to check it or anything. He was a police officers son, lots of people attended the funeral.

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SuperA-Tx

05-15-2007 12:05:03

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Re: Sandblasting Fuel Tank in reply to Gene37, 05-15-2007 11:48:37

I sand blasted the outside of mine to bgin with and left the gas cap off after I rinsed it out with water first.

For the inside I mixed some sand and water and strapped it to a dolly wheel and spun it around for about an hour. It got all the stuff out on the inside except on the very bottom where it kind of has a lower area. I ended up just sticking the tip of the sand blasting gun as far as I could in the opening and blasting it.

Hard part was getting all the sand out of the tank. I rinsed that tank out several times with water then a couple of times with gas. Then blew it out with air. Even after al that there was still some sand in there that settled in the sedament bowl. I had an inline filter on the gas line and after a few hours I took it apart and got what I could out. So far its worked fine.

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