Prep to new fuel tank

bill3337

bill3337

Member
I just got a new fuel tank for my '67 Camaro. It came with a film of wax or oil on it. I wiped it down first with laquer thinner to help with the stubborn coating, then I scrubbed it thoroughly with Dawn dish soap, then scrubbed really well with red scotch brite pad and SPI 700-1 wax and grease remover. I know it's normal to sand with 80 grit before epoxy, but I'd rather not sand through the zinc coating (I think it's zinc) Even though I'd rather not sand it, is it too risky to apply over the scotch brite surface? Thanks, Bill
 

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IF Zinc, remember zinc is a great rust protector but bad on adhesion.
Sand flat surfaces with 80 grit da.
Hand sand other areas with 180 by hand.
Take off what you can.
My last tank was galvanized, and I prepped it the same way but did not try to take the galvanize off.
 
Thanks Barry. I just looked up the coating on the manufacturer's site (Spectra) and it's called Ni-Tern Steel, which is an alloy of lead and tin coating. I'm not sure if that makes it better or worse as far as adhesion, but I'll follow your procedures above. Bill
 
Good, just sand till dull, clean, and epoxy dont need to take off, but if you do in spots, dont worry about it.
 
It could play a part as there are different types, we blend 2 in our primers and epoxy, and we must be careful on the %'s added as too much and you lose adhesion, and it can cause black to other funky things if the carbon load is heavy if you add to much zinc.
That is why if you use weld through primer 90-95% zinc on the majority of the cans you buy, you always sand off the excess back to the weld.
 
Barry said:
That is why if you use weld through primer 90-95% zinc on the majority of the cans you buy, you always sand off the excess back to the weld.
Click to expand...
Sorry for pulling this month old thread up, but just wanted to be clear. Are you saying remove the weld through primer from all areas except for the spots where the weld will be. Not many of us here use that primer, just curious. This could negate the use of it at all.

edit: Also on lead coated areas, they should not be sanded with Alum Oxide sand paper.
 
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