Spray Paint for Gas Tank

[wbeaton]

Does anyone have a recommendation for fuel proof spray paint? I normally use the VHT engine enamel or VHT flameproof paint. They are heat cured and nearly indestructible, but they don’t have a colour I want. I’m painting the tank and flywheel on my rusty old Ruddertwin and I’d like to use a dark grey or some other period correct colour instead of silver.

Wayne
Upper Canada Chapter

uccaomci.com

[PM T2]

The Armor Coat line of rust enamel that Chinadian Tire (most everything they carry anymore other than paint is made in China) sells is fuel-proof when fully cured.

I use it on my rowboat motors and drip gas and oil on it all the time, if you wipe it off right away it does not stain or alter the paint in any way.

Fully cured = at least 48 hours drying time. It is dry to the touch within an hour of application, but when I put it on a gas tank, I give it a couple of days before I put fuel in it.

Hope it helps.

Best,
Chris S

He's livin' in his own private Idaho..... I hope to go out quietly in my sleep, like my grand-dad did..... and not screaming, like the passengers in his car...

[RICHARD A. WHITE]

You can use any paint you choose, sort of…..as another option is using Automotive clear coat over the paint and decals. I have also found a spray bomb clear with a hardener capsule included… Shake the can for 2 minutes, pop the ampule, then shake for 2 more minutes…you have approximately 48 hours to use the contents of the can before it becomes useless. A bit salty at $28 per can, but with no mixing and zero cleanup afterwards, this could be the ticket…

http://www.richardsoutboardtools.com
classicomctools@gmail.com

[outbdnut2]

I’ve used Krylon spray paint with no problems (get it at Menards). In addition, anything made for automotive use or touch-up works because it is made to withstand fueling dribbles down the side of the car. The thing to be careful of is mixing paint types and primer types. One brand of paint may wrinkle up another type pf primer. The two-part epoxy-based primer seems to accept any paint, but being a two-part mix, you won’t find it in a spray can….unless it comes inthe type of can describedinthe post above – I hadn’t heard of that before..
If you get into spray guns and automotive paint, beware of urethane based auto paint because the fumes are very toxic and activated charcoal filter masks, suitable for lacquor and enamels does not take out the bad stuff from urethane automotive paint that does a non-restorable number on your lungs. The pros use headgear with fresh air pumped in through a hose to spray urethanes.
Dave

[wbeaton]

I’m surprised to hear that Armor Coat and Krylon will hold up to fuel spills. I considered using clear coat over a base colour, but I was afraid of incompatibility. I’m not afraid to spray some automotive two part urethane. It just seems like a waste when all I’m planning to paint is the tank and maybe the inside of the flywheel. However, 1947-50 Evinrude teal blue is looking pretty good to me and I could use the left overs to paint one of the Zephyrs in my shed. Oh the possibilities.

Wayne
Upper Canada Chapter

uccaomci.com

[PM T2]

these were all painted with armor Coat Rust Enamel, less than 5 dollars a can

WOrks well in these low-speed applications anyway.

Best,
PM T2

He's livin' in his own private Idaho..... I hope to go out quietly in my sleep, like my grand-dad did..... and not screaming, like the passengers in his car...

[joecb]

Don’t forget our fellow AOMCI member Barry Ferrari of http://www.reprotint.com that offers a full line of exact matched color paint for motors and tanks. High quality paint and Barry is always helpful in answering application questions. See his full page ad in the "Antique Outboarder" magazine each month.
He frequently attends our meets and has, for the past couple of years put on a paint application seminar at Constantine.
Joe B

[thumper]

Barry doesn’t ship to Canada

[joecb]

oops! that’s true. But if you find yourself at one of the Great Lakes Chapter meets across the river from Windsor, Barry would be happy to bring your order. He does attend many of our meets once the weather warms up around these parts.

Joe B

[wbeaton]

I took a trip to Canadian Tire today and found a Bahama Blue made by Krylon that I liked so I guess we’ll see how it turns out. I know this isn’t correct for a Ruddertwin, but painting the tank and motor both silver seemed boring and nickel plating is cost prohibitive. I think this blue will match the decals better than silver anyway. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Wayne
Upper Canada Chapter

uccaomci.com

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