Eric Sedletzky
Contributor
I just rescued another steel 72 that the dive shop gave me. They don’t want anything painted or vinyl coated so I take them.
The first thing I do is pop the valve off and look inside. In this case it was a Dacor J valve, which still appears to be on OK outer condition. Inside could be another story. The valve will probably be replaced.
I took a peek inside and it looks fabulous. No pitting, a little haze but nothing my cleaning tools can’t handle. And it’s not epoxy coated thank god!
So now onto the outer coating. It has to come off. There was a section missing where all the stamps are and it’s a little surface rusty but no deep pits at all. I also had to tap off the boot which is one of those tight fitting type that has rusted out so many bottoms. Perfect underneath!
So I began to just see what it’s going to take to remove the thick vinyl coating. It turns out the easiest way on this tank at least is to use a rigid putty knife that is sharpened like a chisel, and just slide it under the coating being careful not to gouge the tank metal. Some comes off in little pieces but most of it comes off in fairly sizable pieces.
After the tank is all stripped of vinyl it will get a light sand blast, a few coats of cold galvanizing zinc, then it goes to hydro.
It’s a PST 2250 with Dacor’s name on it and the born-on date is 5-67.
Another rescued steel 72 for the tank farm.
The first thing I do is pop the valve off and look inside. In this case it was a Dacor J valve, which still appears to be on OK outer condition. Inside could be another story. The valve will probably be replaced.
I took a peek inside and it looks fabulous. No pitting, a little haze but nothing my cleaning tools can’t handle. And it’s not epoxy coated thank god!
So now onto the outer coating. It has to come off. There was a section missing where all the stamps are and it’s a little surface rusty but no deep pits at all. I also had to tap off the boot which is one of those tight fitting type that has rusted out so many bottoms. Perfect underneath!
So I began to just see what it’s going to take to remove the thick vinyl coating. It turns out the easiest way on this tank at least is to use a rigid putty knife that is sharpened like a chisel, and just slide it under the coating being careful not to gouge the tank metal. Some comes off in little pieces but most of it comes off in fairly sizable pieces.
After the tank is all stripped of vinyl it will get a light sand blast, a few coats of cold galvanizing zinc, then it goes to hydro.
It’s a PST 2250 with Dacor’s name on it and the born-on date is 5-67.
Another rescued steel 72 for the tank farm.