prep for painting a plastic tank

[fabiodriven]

It won't last, it never does. Unless you paint it and toss it on a shelf to look at. Someone always chimes in and shows their beautifully painted plastic fenders and tanks or what have you, but they're always pics of the completed project just after completion. Funny how you never see pics after they've actually ridden the machine.

Paint+plastic=mess.

[atc007]

I have lined 4 tanks with good results except for one. as far as prep work I washed the tank out with dish soap and water then let the tank dry a few days before lining it. The one that failed I washed out with alcohol. I was talking to the guy with the chameleon tecate at trike fest. He said he did not line his tank.
He said he roughed up the tank with 80 grit until it was "furry" then put 8or 9 coats of dupont valuecoat on the tank. after it cured he sanded it smooth then put the color on. He did it just over a year ago and it still looks great

We've all seen the messes Fabio,,but I believe it can and HAS been done : )

[Blown 331]

It won't last, it never does. Unless you paint it and toss it on a shelf to look at. Someone always chimes in and shows their beautifully painted plastic fenders and tanks or what have you, but they're always pics of the completed project just after completion. Funny how you never see pics after they've actually ridden the machine.

Paint+plastic=mess.

Maybe I'm wrong but I agree with this.
If you paint a tank now I think it will look worse in 5 years than if you just leave it alone.

[atc007]

Guess I'm just an optimist. the technology is there,,no reason it can't be done.. Maybe Ben has pics of his 3 successes?

[yaegerb]

My two cents....I think you can get away with blasting the inside of the tank and IMO it will be more efficient. First choice would be soda, but if you don't have access to a soda blaster use 130 grit glass bead. I have blasted plastic with glass bead before and as long as your pressure is low it works just fine. Also, I would not paint the outside of the tank. Send Mr. Clean or Fire1 a PM and they can tell you the proper way to hand sand a tank and it will come out looking 10 times better than paint.

Good luck!

[atc007]

He has a 2nd gen Tecate... ^^^

[just ben]

Guess I'm just an optimist. the technology is there,,no reason it can't be done.. Maybe Ben has pics of his 3 successes?

I have had success lining 3 tanks only 3 of the 4 were ever painted. One I don't own anymore but I seen it last saterday and it still looks great. another I painted was only used for a short time then put on the shelf,and the last one I painted is the one the liner failed and the tank now looks like a toads back,it was fine until I left the bike outside for a couple days and by the end of trikefest was horrible.

[fire1]

I should have my caswell epoxy tank kit here today . I need a white tank and want much more dept and shine than what the Clarke white tank I have now offers. So I'm going to epoxy line the inside and epoxy prime the outside and paint a stock 250r tank I figure I have nothing to loose if it doesn't work out I'll just put the Clarke back on.