Tank liner removal

[Nessism]

I've stripped three tanks and have posted extensively about this subject in threads now in the archives.

Paint stripper is the best to soften the old liner, and MEK is second best. Physical abrasion is also needed to scrub the metal and sharp edged aquarium rocks are the best thing I've found - they work much better than screws, ball bearings, nuts, chain, etc. because they are small and able to cover the entire tank.

 

[rustybronco]

Ed, I'm curious. have you tried stripping a liner out with a caustic solution yet? (by boiling it in the solution))

 

[Nessism]

Ed, I'm curious. have you tried stripping a liner out with a caustic solution yet? (by boiling it in the solution))

Never tried that Dale. Two of the three tanks I stripped had decent paint jobs on them and I didn't want to strip them completely.

 

[chuck hahn]

OK...I went and got a gallon of MEK which the Kreem site says to remove the old liner. Before i make the metal covers for the sending unit and petcock holes, I have a question. Should i remove the rubber seals around the sending unit or leave them so the cover will seal? Anyone that has had actual experience with the MEK and the gaskets please expound on my quandry. AND...I was wondering about the effects on the plastic on the gas cap.

 

[chuck hahn]

Just found that MEK is a plastics " welder" type solvent..but i cant find any info on its effects on rubber gaskets.

 

[chuck hahn]

I threw an old rubber gromet into the MEK overnight and there wasnt any dterioration or anything...just some really clean gromet when i took it out.

 

[chuck hahn]

MEK is working extremely well on the old liner. Melting it like butter setting in the sun. Large sheets of it already have peeled away and the hemos will fish them out easily. Once its all cleaned out its off to Larry for the painting. Skunk 2 will be done in about a month.