Transfer Tank - To Coat Or Not To Coat!

Lanse · Sep 6, 2017

Good morning, everyone!

So, in the future I might find myself building a ~90-100 gallon truck bed transfer tank. I'd likely make it out of steel so as to be as resistant to punctures/abuse/etc as possible. I was wondering, is this something I should plan to coat internally?

What came to my mind is that Red-Kote gas tank sealer. Would this be a good bet? I've heard of people having issues where it "comes loose" and destroys fuel systems! What would the odds of that be on clean, but "smokey" (from welding) steel?

Would it be better to simply plan to keep it filled full or close to it, so as to prevent the emergence of rust?

Thanks in advance for the input.

Mike M · Sep 6, 2017

Weld one up out of stainless steel.

A few posts back a lot of guys were having problems with liners.

Steve@Advance · Sep 6, 2017

I think I would go for a plastic tank, build a suit of armor for it.

ptfarmer · Sep 6, 2017

Keep it filled, and if you are going to mount it on your truck no coating is necessary. I enjoy your welding videos, back when I was welding new tops of reworked pad mount electric transformers on we had a simple leak test. Since the transformers have mineral oil in them to keep them cool, after welding the new top on we would mix up some blue chalk that's used for chalk lines. With the blue chalk mix it in a container with some acetone, and paint the chalk over the welds. You can put some water in you tank, and slosh it around, the dried chalk will turn to a dark blue if there is any pinholes leaks in the weld you could go back and re-weld the pinholes.

jeffcat · Sep 6, 2017

Aren't thos3 big plastic ones tough enough. Why reinvent the wheel? Stainless would be the perfect metal but man what a price ! Take a look at how it's made.
tankers

IA Roy · Sep 6, 2017

Be sure to check legality of homebuilt fuel tank for on road transport. A lot of regulations. A lot of liability issues. DOT regulates capacity and other things. I have no doubt you could do it and do it well. But protect yourself and do it legal per regulations. If you are only offroad, go for it. My brother hauls a 500 gallon storage tank on a flatbed trailer for farm diesel. Pretty sure not to code.

Bob Bancroft · Sep 6, 2017

I have several fuel tanks around here. All old, steel tanks. I think I've purchased one new tank, and that was probably about 40 years ago. I have room for 1000 gallons of fuel and 500 gallons of gas. Plus the 100 gal pickup tank, which doesn't get used. And I just acquired another 300 gal skid tank w/elec pump from a neighbor who is retiring. I'm sure they all look ugly inside. All fuel pumped out of them is filtered. I've had zero problems, even with ethanol.

fixerupper · Sep 6, 2017

No need to coat it. The harvesting crew I worked with had a 500 gallon rectangular fuel tank they made a good thirty years ago and it is still clean inside. It now sits on their service trailer they use for spring and fall use. However they have had to weld some cracks in the corners due to stress. You are an excellent talented welder and I have no doubt your welds will be tight but it might not hurt to research portable fuel tank construction techniques to hopefully avoid structural flaws in the future.

Whenever our harvest fuel tank would crack a seam the boss welded the cracks shut while the tank was full of diesel fuel. The other guys on the crew ran for the hills but I stayed right there beside him to put out the flames. He would weld a while then stop to give me time to snuff it out. Then he would weld a little more. We never did have a catastrophe.

Lanse · Sep 6, 2017

Wow, thanks for the help, and the kind words everyone! This helps a lot

Anyone know anything about the laws on these things? It seems ridiculous that there are government regulations about small transport tanks, but such is the world we live in.

I've been looking around online and everyone speaks of these regulations but no one actually seems to have any to quote or reference. If it makes a difference, I live in Texas

K Effective · Sep 6, 2017

just bought a replacement farm diesel tank last year when I found I could buy new cheaper than sandblast and repaint the old one (paying someone else to do so, I should say). The new tank is clearly marked "For Stationary Use Only" on every side, to preclude use as mobile tank.

Mike M · Sep 6, 2017

I'd check with a big rig truck junk yard. Might be able to get a truck tank reasonable ? Then just weld feet on it so it doesn't roll. Or find a square one ?

ptfarmer · Sep 6, 2017

(quoted from post at 10:09:25 09/06/17) Wow, thanks for the help, and the kind words everyone! This helps a lot

Anyone know anything about the laws on these things? It seems ridiculous that there are government regulations about small transport tanks, but such is the world we live in.

I've been looking around online and everyone speaks of these regulations but no one actually seems to have any to quote or reference. If it makes a difference, I live in Texas

Here in Texas (like other places) it depends on who pulls you over. For farm use they tend let some things slide, for business use they will find everything they can to ticket you for. My brother has CDL, since he still uses it on occasion he still bought a D.O.T. tagged 30 gallon tank for diesel even though the truck he has it on has farm plates.

JD Seller · Sep 6, 2017

Lanse go to a heavy truck salvage yard. Many of the older trucks had square steel fuel tanks. They would have a DOT label on them. Then just weld a 2 inch bung in the top for your transfer pump. I have several transfer tanks I have made this way. I have had DOT inspectors look at them. As soon as they see the DOT tag their fine with them.

90-10 gallon tanks can be found. IF you can live with a round aluminum tank then 100-150 gallon tanks are easy to find. I have a pair of them with the frame brackets still on them, bolted together to make a double tank. I keep gas in one and diesel in the other.

rlp in Co. · Sep 6, 2017

You were very lucky! One guy I worked with said diesel won't explode. I went to the other side of the building as he started to weld. Two seconds later, boom! He was lucky he wasn't hurt. It just blew the top open but the liquid didn't ignite. Tank was ruined.

ss55 · Sep 6, 2017

Can you have fuel delivered to your work sites rather than transporting the fuel yourself? As a non-farm commercial business you won't get the same exemptions from many laws that farmers receive.

The reason the regulations are increasing on transporting fuel and other hazardous materials is when things go wrong the general public is put in danger. Those old pickup bed fuel tanks did cause an unacceptable number of innocent people to be burned and killed.

retired farmer · Sep 6, 2017

Had a gas tractor tank cleaned and coated with that red stuff years ago. Kept coming loose and plugging up the sediment bowl.

fixerupper · Sep 6, 2017

It needs to be vented or it will go boom.

ztrmowers · Sep 6, 2017

heck of it is last time i did those tanks i could go out buy one cheaper than i could make one,then that also got me out of some of the legal issues.i stopped using my pickup tank went put it on trailer this way it was not behind my back all time in truck.

ztrmowers · Sep 6, 2017

heck of it is last time i did those tanks i could go out buy one cheaper than i could make one,then that also got me out of some of the legal issues.i stopped using my pickup tank went put it on trailer this way it was not behind my back all time in truck. not coating just good filter . whay ask for trouble its clean steel isn't it

Lanse · Sep 6, 2017

Alright guys, I think I've read enough to make up my mind. If I end up building this thing, I'll just leave it "unlined" and make it a point to keep it full! Thank you so much everyone who replied! Have a great evening guys. I learned something(s) new today!

JD Seller · Sep 6, 2017

(quoted from post at 13:04:03 09/06/17) You were very lucky! One guy I worked with said diesel won't explode. I went to the other side of the building as he started to weld. Two seconds later, boom! He was lucky he wasn't hurt. It just blew the top open but the liquid didn't ignite. Tank was ruined.

I have welded and repaired many fuel tanks over the years. I drain them and wash them out if I can. Even then I run a line from my argon/CO2 tank and fill them with inert gas before welding/cutting/drilling on them.

Transfer Tank - To Coat Or Not To Coat!

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