Removing Paint From Tanks

[kramynot2000]

I saw the thread about painting tanks and was wondering about removing paint. I have two aluminum 80's, one has just aluminum but the other is painted blue. I've always wanted to get the blue off but wasnt' sure whether it would leave the aluminum unprotected or something.

These are US. Divers tanks bought in 1997. I'd like to just get some paint remover and get it all off of there. Is this OK? If so, will I think have to coat the bare aluminum with something?

Thanks,
Tony

 

[SDAnderson]

Be very careful - you can easily damage the tank. I think you'll pretty much find that this is a big job with limited benefit, but to each his own.

A search of this board will turn up a lot of prior discussion on this subject, but here's one thread that I found.

Tank stripping, priming and re-painting

Would you like fries with that?

Steven

 

[Mo2vation]

OR -

you could roll it around in a gravel parking lot to even out the scratches...

I'm sorry. Bob3 just killed me that that in another thread...

I gotta pee.

 

[Lead_carrier]

Check the net, lots of good articles on stripping tanks. I believe that I read that "ZEP" is one of the recommended paint strippers that should be used. I have used a bead blaster but you have to get it done smoothly and quickly or it is suddenly a very tall lamp.

 

[Stone]

I stripped an AL80 the other day with "Aircraft Remover" (purchased at "Auto Zone"). I've used a lot of strippers over the years (no pun intended), but this stuff worked great. I used the spray on stuff which even sticks to vertical surfaces.