Safe Cylinder Pain Removal

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Hey guys,I have a fugly argon tank I want to peel the pain off it and repaint it with some more appropriate colors, like yellow and black. J/KBut I would like to get the crappy pealing orange paint off the tank and repaint it. Suggestions for safe removal and good paint to repaint it would be most appreciated.Regards,RobGreat Basin WeldingInstagramBlue weldersRed weldersMy luscious Table DIY TIG Torch cooler
Reply:You might want to check with who fills it. The only reason I say this is because I'm sure there have been damaged cylinders where someone painted them to try and cover the damage.
Reply:Using a wire wheel should do the trick. Take it easy to avoid building up heat. Glass bead blasting would be another good alternative, just make sure you mask the valve off well.
Reply:can't you burn it off? I've seen a photograph in one of the places I worked for of a bottle of acetylene with a piece of rebar welded to it, to act as a lifting lug. Thus a blowtorch shouldn't hurt
Reply:Originally Posted by kingnerocan't you burn it off? I've seen a photograph in one of the places I worked for of a bottle of acetylene with a piece of rebar welded to it, to act as a lifting lug. Thus a blowtorch shouldn't hurt
Reply:It maybe a good idea to check with the supplier you will exchange it with as for color. Some suppliers have their own color too,my pure argon is all brown , one 75/25 is all blue  another 75/25 is orange and silver.
Reply:Thanks guys, I think I will avoid the torch  but the wire wheel sounds like a good idea. The tank is empty argon so that might be ok.I talked to my LWS and they paint so many that they just paint over it. I dont want to be painting again for a while so I don't really want to do that.Regards,RobGreat Basin WeldingInstagramBlue weldersRed weldersMy luscious Table DIY TIG Torch cooler
Reply:As long as your welding supply place doesn't have an issue with you painting a cylinder...We used to strip cylinders using graffiti remover. It comes in a spray can at Depot or Lowes, I forget. Just make sure to well mask off the valve so you don't get anything in the valve that can contaminate the system. Aircraft stripper would also probably work.Nice thing about the graffiti remover was it came in a spray can for easy application, as well as the fact you cleaned everything up with water when done. Simply spray it on, wait the time suggested, then scrape the paint off or use something like rubber gloves and a scruggie pad to  help loosen the paint. If need be apply again. It used to work really well at removing some of the plastic like paints that were applied to some Scuba cylinders.As places wouldn't fill repainted scuba cylinders, we'd just strip off the badly scrapped up original  paint and leave them plain. Big industrial cylinders we'd usually just have the hydro shop we used shot blast the cylinder and repaint it for us since most times we were sending the cylinders in for new hydros anyways..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Thanks Doug, that's what I was looking for.Regards,RobGreat Basin WeldingInstagramBlue weldersRed weldersMy luscious Table DIY TIG Torch cooler
Reply:Originally Posted by kingnerocan't you burn it off? I've seen a photograph in one of the places I worked for of a bottle of acetylene with a piece of rebar welded to it, to act as a lifting lug. Thus a blowtorch shouldn't hurt
Reply:Originally Posted by kingnerocan't you burn it off? I've seen a photograph in one of the places I worked for of a bottle of acetylene with a piece of rebar welded to it, to act as a lifting lug. Thus a blowtorch shouldn't hurt
Reply:I have used chemical stripper on antique tractors with great success. I use a power washer to remove the loose paint.  Dan D.Manipulator Of Metal
Reply:What would your gas supplier charge to shot blast and paint?
Reply:They politely refused.Regards,RobGreat Basin WeldingInstagramBlue weldersRed weldersMy luscious Table DIY TIG Torch cooler
Reply:I would power wash to get loose paint and oil off.  Then use aircraft paint stripper sold at home depot  its fast and easy.  i checked to make sure you weren't in Cali cause when i was stationed there home depot wouldn't sell the good stuff
Reply:Seen as your LWS "Politely Refused" to repaint, do you think they are going to take your pretty colored tank and refill it?I would want the answer to question in writing first!
Reply:Yeah, they have no problem filling it. I think he would be afraid it might end up in his cylinder inventory.Regards,RobGreat Basin WeldingInstagramBlue weldersRed weldersMy luscious Table DIY TIG Torch cooler
Reply:Originally Posted by Bigrich954rrI would power wash to get loose paint and oil off.  Then use aircraft paint stripper sold at home depot  its fast and easy.  i checked to make sure you weren't in Cali cause when i was stationed there home depot wouldn't sell the good stuff
Reply:Warning do not heat the bottle with a torch !!!!!        You are messing with about 2200-3000 psi. Even if you empty the bottle when gets refilled they use liquid argon that is negative 302 degrees Fahrenheit that causes the bottle  to contract. Any form of external heat could cause the metal that the bottle is made of to expand or contract unevenly on the bottle be it grinding or heating will cause the metal to lose its elasticity there fore making it brittle. best advice I to buy another bottle. For a good pic of an argon bottle that has exploded  check this one out. Pics worth a thousand words. http://my.firefighternation.com/foru...Comment3311319Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Reply:Interesting picture of a ruptured cylinder from a fire, but the description leaves a lot to be desired. "This bottle contained ARGON from a cutting torch set "
Reply:.......Last edited by Bosco99; 02-09-2015 at 08:40 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by Robert HallThey politely refused.
Reply:Ill be right over. Regards,RobGreat Basin WeldingInstagramBlue weldersRed weldersMy luscious Table DIY TIG Torch cooler
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWInteresting picture of a ruptured cylinder from a fire, but the description leaves a lot to be desired. I've yet to see argon used for cutting with a torch. Occasionally Nitrogen is used with some plasma systems. My guess is this was O2. This guys sounds about as knowledgeable about compressed gasses as the fire marshal who came out and told me my scuba cylinders were a danger in a fire. I proceeded to ask him why he let his guys run into fires wearing SCBA cylinders pressurized to 4500 psi if my 2400 psi cylinders were "dangerous". He left me alone after that.
Reply:Having been at ground zero for an O2 fire and seeing it vaporize quite  bit of 316 SS fittings and tube in the blink of an eye, I'm probably a lot more cautious around O2 that Acetylene.While O2 may not be flammable per say, it will cause just about everything else to burn, and burn very vigorously, and in some cases explosively. Everything burns if you put enough O2 to it at the right pressure with a bit of heat, hence the idea behind an oxygen lance. Some things like oil or grease can combust under the right conditions in the presence of O2 simply by the heat caused if you drop something heavy on it.I don't think near enough people give O2 the respect it deserves..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald ReaganI did not read why you dont just exchange it for a full one?
Reply:Originally Posted by Welder DaveAnd then there's all the people that talk about how flammable oxygen is... One place I worked left the empties outside on the dock and every couple of days they got picked up to get filled. The acetylene was separate from the other cylinders. One of the outside sales guys (not the smartest one)darn near had a heart attack because a customer was having a smoke on the dock about 4' from the high pressure cylinders. Then he makes a big fuss there needs to be a no smoking sign or we'll all get blown up. It was kind of hilarious actually. The acetylene was about 30' away.
Reply:Aircraft paint stripper works very well.12v battery, jumper cables, and a 6013.I only have a facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/VPT/244788508917829
Reply:Originally Posted by walkerI did not read why you dont just exchange it for a full one?