painting a gas tank

[hansimusmaximus]

i have a spare gas tank that i will be painting. it has no surface rust and is in very good shape overall. what is the best way to go about painting it? i'll be using all rattle cans but i think it should turn out pretty well if i take my time and do all the prep work right. so what steps should i take? should i strip it down bare to start? should i use the original paint as a base and rough it up and prime? any help will be appreciated. thanks!

 

[LANDO]

If you are set on using a rattlecan just scuff it with #400 grit sandpaper and have at it. Unfortunatley the first time you get gas on it your paint will be affected. If you leave the original paint on the tank it will make a good base and it will not be affected by gas. This will allow you to redo your paint several times before it needs a real paint job.
Doing paint properly is pricey. The cost of the paint and chemical involved is high and with labour thrown in it adds up quickly.
If you have anyone in your area that does painting you might be able to work some type of side deal if you approach them properly. Try trading some of your labour for some of theirs. Please keep in mind that a reasonable paint job on a gas tank is worth at least $100 of your labour.
I will be doing a post on "paint 101" in the near future, in which I will try and clear up some paint myths.
Hope this helps.
LANDO