Ruste Converter

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At our local fire station we (I) have just converted an old 15k gallon diesel tank to a upright water tank. I have a little more welding to do on it this afternoon. I remember my old boss telling me about a product that actually converted rust into a sealer on metal. He said they use it on underpasses and stuff like that on the highway. Has anyone heard of this. The tank has got some surface rust on it and this week we will be ready for paint. They talked of renting a sand blaster but the tank being 30ft tall and 10ft round it would be such a pain to blast it.-JeremyLast edited by jroyster06; 08-02-2009 at 02:17 PM.
Reply:Phosphoric acid of the correct strength will react with rust to turn it into iron phosphate. It will first start converting the surface and may take lots of time to react with deeper layers, assuming the acid remains in contact that long which isn't likely in your case.Some commercial 'converter compounds' are, I think, a mixture of the acid with something like latex or a synthetic polymer which then seals the surface  after the reaction has finished.
Reply:They talked of renting a sand blaster but the tank being 30ft tall and 10ft round it would be such a pain to blast it.
Reply:If you are painting the outside Oxpho should do the job. The Sherwin-Williams Paint Store here carries it but I don't know the actual manufacturer. Scrape off the loose scale and rust and spray it on using a non-metallic sprayer. I did a 40' cargo container over a year ago and then painted it. It's holding up fine with no rust through. I used the same 2 1/2 gallon plastic weed sprayer that I use to spray Round Up on the weeds that come up in my driveway.
Reply:Well its the outside of the tank. We all run off wells here we are out in the country. I googled it earlier and i found something that i think will work. its expensive but when you think about renting a blaster that size and all the sand required its cheaper check it out seems like really neat stuff!http://store.interstateproducts.com/...FQZinAodU0NG_Q
Reply:Originally Posted by jroyster06Well its the outside of the tank. We all run off wells here we are out in the country. I googled it earlier and i found something that i think will work. its expensive but when you think about renting a blaster that size and all the sand required its cheaper check it out seems like really neat stuff!http://store.interstateproducts.com/...FQZinAodU0NG_Q
Reply:They don't give away any secrets as to their ingredients, but it really doesn't seem any more expensive than regular automotive primers. Good deal.
Reply:Originally Posted by Oldiron2Contact the company and tell them you need the MSDS for a job you're doing; I'd bet it contains phosphoric acid in some kind of special paint.