Topic: How do I paint to withstand gasoline?

[50words]

Here's how I painted my gas tank. All with Dupli-Color rattlecans.

1) Grind off decals and tape residue with a wire wheel.

2) Sand half-assedly.

3) Three coats primer, wet-sanded all three coats.

4) Three coats Universal Black, wet-sanded in between 1, 2, and 3, but left the top coat alone.

5) Three coats Clear Coat.

Gas spills on my tank, and the paint gums up. My paint job looks like crap now because I've had a couple decent spills while doing various things negligently. This didn't happen with the previous paint job.

So what is the solution? I am going to have to get it done professionally? (I'd like to anyway, I just didn't plan on doing it until this winter.)

[kghost]

You didn't mention what type of clearcoat you used.

Todays Premium paints all stand up well to gas. Some thing out of a can..... well thats another story.

A good polyurethane will resist gas. Dupont or some other name brand will do.

Basecoat/Clearcoat will work great too. Easy to work out mistakes.

Unfortunately they don't come out of the rattle cans.

[jotor]

You didn't mention what type of clearcoat you used.

Unfortunately they don't come out of the rattle cans.

I've had pretty good results with Duplicolor clear engine enamel from Auto Zone.  I used it on my 400F (see gallery pix) over the top of the stickers.  I like to bake the paint in the hot sun for a couple days befor and after the clear goes on.  Also, I'm very careful not to spill gas on for several warm weeks.  Certainly not as good as pro paint but it ain't bad.

[78_SaltLick]

I have done alot of poly finishes on wood. Can i put the same polyurethane over auto paint colors?

[dusterdude]

some that spray can stuff might work,but you really need to use a catalyzed clear coat out of a paint gun.

[Lumbee]

50words...u'r clear coat was probably lacquar basesd...sands/polishes up nice, but don't stand up to gas as all.

[hymodyne]

get the tank professionally done. nothing from a spray can will stand up to fuel or the elements nearly as well. you can reduce the cost  of the job by stripping the tank and prepping (masking badges) really well.

hym

[Alan F.]

Go to a hobby supply store, and buy the clearcoat that they recommend for model airplanes, the fuel they use is pretty nasty stuff.

[Bodi]

Model plane fuel is normally methanol and nitromethane (0 to 100% depending on the application) with some castor oil or other alcohol mixable lubricant (normal oil won't work with methanol). I don't know if resisting this fuel means that a paint will resist gasoline.
The best bet is to have a real paint shop us do it using automotive paints, or get a spray gun and use automotive paint. Generally this paint is only sold to professionals though, something to do with the chemicals involved and liability issues should a hobbyist decide to do without the required safety equipment and be injured or die. You have to use the prescribed respirator system to be safe, different paints need different types of filters on the masks and some require masks with pure outside air supplied through a hose. Spray can paint is hardly healthy to breathe but professional paints may have some very nasty stuff.

[Jonesy]

Spray can paint is hardly healthy to breathe but professional paints may have some very nasty stuff.

That's why the pros refer to DuPont VeriPrime (Zinc Chromate Self-Etching primer) as "Yellow Death"! It contains acids that eat into whatever you are painting. So, if you get it on your skin, it eats into it. Breathe it in, it eats into your lungs! It has mind-warping vapors, but it's tops for priming metal. It's even difficult to sandblast it off once cured!

I'm afraid spray bombs just won't cut it. You'll need to go with a professional 2-part paint system, which usually requires the paint, reducer (thinner) and a catalyst. Once you mix it you have to spray it within a couple hours. If you have to stop in the middle, you can put it in a freezer to slow the reaction. The urethane paint systems will stand up to pretty much any common bike fluids. The stuff is expensive and yes, the fumes can be hazardous. Make sure you fully research what you plan on using if you decide to do it yourself!