Topic: game plan for stripping old tank liner

[greenjeans]

I'll start by reiterating that I really hate tank liners.   Anyway, I have a tank that has a liner.  The paint on the outside is
in very good unrestored shape.  Has anyone successfully removed a liner without killing the paint ?

Here's my plan:

Wax the tank very, very heavily with some 3M paste wax.  I'll leave the wax on.
Cover the tank with a heavy plastic garbage bag & duct tape (secured on the bottom)
I have an expandable plumbing cap that I will put in the filler neck.
I have a cork or an old petcock I can use for the bottom.

Will use either Acetone or MEK or I have used aircraft stripper in the past on a tank that I did not care about the finish.

Any other ideas for protecting the paint ?     What about plasti-dip on the entire tank ?    I'm open for any other suggestions, as I absolutely have to save the paint on this tank.

About to head to the store - what am I getting ?

[chewbacca5000]

You got everything right except the plastic bag.  The plastic bag will trap the fumes from the acetone or MEK and soften the paint.  It could even remove it.

[grcamna2]

Could you use heavy masking paper like they use in the Body shops when they paint cars and just wrap it up?

[Buttmask]

I'm pretty sure I've gotten some acetone on my paint and it didnt strip it. MEK would take it off in a second.

[greenjeans]

hmmmm....  ok, not plastic.   I'll just go super heavy with the wax ?

[ekpent]

I have taken a Kreme liner out of a nice tank. I also waxed it heavy and did the rubber plumber plug etc like you plan. Be very careful when you remove it because there is likely going to be a gas/fume build-up from the chemical reaction when you remove.
  I used some old school - gonna kill you - paint stripper from my wood shop because it works well and was -WATER- soluble for the rinse out.  My secret is to do them, either stripping or derusting, outside with a garden hose and wet rags handy to keep the outside flushed with water, laying on wet rags etc. in case their is a leak from one of the plugs.Keeps bad stuff severely diluted.  Rinse inside well with the hose water and for final quick drying I have a shop vac that doubles as a blower. Advertised 165 mph wind drys it out quick with nozzle stuck in filler.
   Never buggered up an original paint tank yet, Knock on Wood.  The biggest danger is dropping it    No winter cleaning here though.

[grcamna2]

another option I did when installing a liner is use clear packing tape and unwrap it as soon as your done;no sweat as long as you don't leave it on too long..

[fmctm1sw]

Is it a Kreem liner?  MEK (the real stuff, not the fake stuff I see in Lowes now) will make short work of it...  I see you're focused on not getting it on the paint, good move...

[Retro Rocket]

Do you guys have Glad wrap..?  That thin plastic film stuff that you wrap sandwiches in for kids lunches ..? Put the plastic film on after waxing, it will hug the tank and fit very tight, put lots of the plastic film on, its cheap, cover the gas hole too, when you've finished smothering the outside of the tank in plastic film cut out the hole you want to use to put the MEK/thinners/ what ever you use to strip the liner with...

[grcamna2]

Do you guys have Glad wrap..?  That thin plastic film stuff that you wrap sandwiches in for kids lunches ..? Put the plastic film on after waxing, it will hug the tank and fit very tight, put lots of the plastic film on, its cheap, cover the gas hole too, when you've finished smothering the outside of the tank in plastic film cut out the hole you want to use to put the MEK/thinners/ what ever you use to strip the liner with...

Heavy 'shrink wrap' is good also.

[Muckinfuss]

RustOleum and a couple of other manufactures make a plastic coating in a spray can.  Not really cheap...usually about 9+ bucks a can.  It sprays on nice and thick and sets up.  A couple of body guys I know use it for frisket and to protect certain parts from over-spray.  Check it out to see if waxing is needed to release after use and which solvents would be incompatible.  I've personally used low tack carpet protector film from Home Depot to coat as a frisket as well.  Easy to apply, easy to remove, easy to clean up afterwards.  Lots of ideas posted, you will be smart to test one or two before plowing ahead.

[mystic_1]

frisket

Huh!  Learned a new word today.  Thanks!

Frisket: A frisket is any material that protects areas of a work from unintended change

FRISKET:  a masking device or material used especially in printing or graphic arts

mystic_1

[Airbusboy]

hey...call me. I just finished that same job and learned a few tricks. too lengthy to type with one hand (just out of surgery). 404-931-4015.

Randy Gibson

[greenjeans]

Thanks Randy - headed out for supplies