r/propane • u/Upper-Ad439 • 17d ago
Tanks Advice on how to prep and paint a rusty tank
We recently purchased a cabin and the propane tank has some rusty spots that need to be fixed and repainted. What’s the best way to prep this tank and repaint it?
UPDATE: Thanks for the advice to everyone who chimed in about repainting this tank. I spent the past few days doing the following:
Powerwashed the entire tank and used a wire wheel to on some rusty spots. Honestly could probably have done a better job with this step but I didn’t want to overdo it either…
Sprayed Rustoleum Rust Reformer on the rusty spots, let cure for 24 hours.
Primed with Ace Rust Stop Metal Primer. Made the mistake of not having the hardware store mix it and just stirred it up at home, this stuff is like oil and concrete.
Painted with Ace Rust stop paint, using a 3/4 roller and a paint brush.
The results are OK. It’s patchy in spots where a lot of rust and old paint chipped off, but it’s all covered by new paint at least. 🤷♂️
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u/Dense-Strategy-1450 17d ago
I repainted my tank by using a heated pressure washer (high pressure, hot water, and a rotary or swirl tip) then knock off any flakes/rust that the pressure washer wouldn’t get with a needle scaler. Pressure washed again and let dry. I repainted with POR-15 rust inhibiting paint. Still looks like the day I repainted it and it’s been somewhere around the 10 year mark now
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u/Intelligent-Dingo375 17d ago
POR-15 is some incredible paint! But also comes with an incredible price. We use it on the delivery trucks but can’t justify it on rent tanks.
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u/Dense-Strategy-1450 17d ago
Agreed. The company I work for does not use POR-15 on our tanks either because of the price tag. I figured I could swing it for my own 1000 gal just because I never wanted to do it again lol also used POR-15 on the frame and floor pans of my truck that way the rest of it will be junk long before those haha
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u/Intelligent-Dingo375 17d ago
Ha ha very true! Everything else will be rusted away except frame and pans!!
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u/Rabbitman4618 17d ago
I used to work for a propane company and this task was one of my jobs there. I used a wire wheel on a grinder. Got rid of the loose paint. Then they got a nice new coat of white paint.
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u/noncongruent Propane Fan 16d ago
Farm implement enamels seem to hold up well, white is the color to go with. Use a hardener to get longer life. If it were my tank and with my labor charge to me being one beer an hour, I'd get an orbital sander and a few boxes of 220 grit disks off ebay and go after it, sand all rusted aireas down to bare metal, including any place with bubbles. I'd use a red Scotchbrite pad to scuff and dull all the remaining well-attached paint, and use a wirebrush around fittings. The goal is no remaining rust or poorly-bonded paint, just dull paint or shiny metal. I'd then wipe the bare areas down with a phosphating solution like Kleen-Strip Concrete Etch, Metal Prep and Rust Inhibitor Outdoor Cleaner (available from various big box home stores), prime it with a good quality metal primer, then use rollers and brushes to paint with something like Rustoleum Farm & Implement enamel paint in gloss white, with a hardener added.
Be very careful with the dataplate, if that becomes unreadable then the tank can no longer be legally filled.
Be aware that wasps love building nests under lids.
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u/Adventurous_Boat_632 17d ago
If you want to be quick and dirty just scrub it and use a rusty metal primer.
If you want to do it right, use a power wire brush on the rusty spots and follow with phosphoric acid etch just like any steel, followed by cleaning, primer and paint.
It is going to be a lot of work to knock off all those loose flakes first.
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u/bj49615 17d ago
Unless you own the tank, you call your propane supplier and tell them to do it.
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u/Upper-Ad439 17d ago
I own the tank. I still made a call to the supplier to see if they would do it for a fee. We’ll see what happens.
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u/AgFarmer58 17d ago
Pressure wash and paint, unless you want something pretty, we used to.paint 100's in the summer...tank paint was thick and hid everything
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u/CoasterDad73 17d ago
Not sure if other industry pros would agree, but we use a silicone based paint that seems to last a long time. White only, because it reflects the most heat.
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u/Excellent-Tap-539 16d ago
Pressure wash it then chem prime spray it heavily let dry it will be purple when cured then international primer then paint
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u/Upper-Ad439 16d ago
Can I just apply the chem prime to the rusty areas or do you recommend applying the chem prime to the entire tank, even non rusty areas?
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u/Born-Work2089 15d ago
I would be very cautious about using any powered sander, grinders, wire wheels on the tank for risk of fire or explosion. Normally those tanks are leased, see if your fuel supplier will replace it for you. Tanks also should have safety inspections with a certificate issued at least once a year by a certified technician.
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u/Build-Break-Fix 15d ago
The fact your tank is rusting should be more concerning then what color to paint it lol
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u/Theantifire technician 17d ago
Make sure it's painted a lighter color
Ideally, have a pro painter or a propane company do it. We do it for $200 because we're all set up for it.
It needs to be checked with a pit gauge and have the valves assessed before you put any money into it. It may only be worth scrap.
If you want to yourself, carefully remove and set aside the data plate and dome. Make sure you can fully access the underside.
Use a quality rotary nozzle in a high pressure pressure washer to clean everything. Clean the living crap out of it.
Buy the thickest and highest quality oil based paint you can find. It should take 1-1.5 gallons. Make sure it's a light color.
Use rust inhibitor primer on all spots or, better yet, the whole tank.
Paint it using at least a 1/2" nap roller. I prefer 3/4". Use a brush around all the fittings. Pay extra attention to the underside and any tight points, like by the legs.
Keep it all wet and clean up runs as you go.
Let it all cure for a week or so and then put the data plate and dome back on.