painting an unseen reserve tank

[mickfulton]

I have a virago with a reserve tank hidden from view. Its steel and painted black but a little rusty. I want to cover it with a paint that will prevent rust and protect it but doesnt need to look good or be petrol resistant due to its position.

Whats the best option for me ? Sand the whole thing (which may cause some holes) and prime it then paint? Or preferably get something in a tin and brush on some think strong paint (can this be done over the still painted tank ?) ?

Cheers for any advice,


Mick
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Current half-cars :2004 SV650, VX535 1991
Exes: YBR 125 2007,GPZ500S 1998

[Dazbo666]

Hammerite, Rust-Oleum, or POR-15

depends on how much time and ££'s you're willing to put in to it??
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1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[_Iain_]

If sanding might cause holes bin it!! Fuel +hot = firey death.

Brush on looks gash, some tool did my entire Gs frame
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[nisp]

one word HAMMERIGHT!! rub off any chunks of rust and smuther in hammeright job done, £10
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Suzuki TS 50 1999 Honda CB 125 t2 1981 Yamaha XJ 600 s Diversion Honda cx 500 MZ ETZ 250 1985 Yamaha FZR 400 1981 Suzuki TS 185 1984 Triumph bonneville 790 2001 MZ TS250 1979 Suzuki sv 650 1999 KTM exc RFS 450 2007 Hercules mx 125 1976

[mickfulton]

hammerite it is then .................cheers
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Current half-cars :2004 SV650, VX535 1991
Exes: YBR 125 2007,GPZ500S 1998

[Johnser]

just my 2p: hammerite is gash.

-overpriced
-cures poorly
-as a "paint over rust" product it sucks. peels off quickly
-not a very hard finish - chips easily to reveal it hasn't done any of the "chemical bonding" rust encapsulating paints claim to.

por 15; the "kbs" range; and epoxy mastic 121 all have good reputations. I can vouch for por15 but with the caveat that prep is key.

All these products come at a premium though and shouldn't be needed for a small job that frankly wont be sat in the north sea. a better use of your cash might be to strip it to bare metal, buy a decent etch primer, then give it a couple coats from that half used tin your dad painted the garage door with in 1991.

If you strip it an find holes you know you need to sort them. if not all good!

[Vincent]

I've used Hammerite loads of times and, in my experience, it's excellent stuff.
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Space Is Deep

[EazyDuz]

[Sload]

[EazyDuz]

For what the OP is wanting to do, it should be more than fine.
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To shreds you say? Tss tss tss

[Johnser]

I'm not going to get into a "what paint" argument. there is a hammerite vs *every other paint* topic on just about every other automotive forum. as well as some impartial test studies all within reach of google.

the thing to take away is that there are no miracle cures. any paint you use can only be as good as its claims make out to be if you follow the prep to the letter which are often just as difficult as de-rusting fully anyway.

[Sload]

[cornish]

just my tuppence-worth. My GT is kept outside and we live in Cornwall within earshot of the sea. Lovely for us, pants for the bike. Since it's been off the road it's slowly being consumed by the sea air. I am in the process of embalming every inch of it in hammerite. I've sanded and/or rust-treated first then slapped it on.

Seems to be doing the trick
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