What's first, clean the inside or paint strip the out side

[Rustyhama]

I'm going to have a go at the electrolysis method to clean the inside of my tank. I also need to paint strip the exterior ready for repainting. I can't decide which to do first, I'm leaning towards paint strip the outside first, then clean the inside, that way if a few spots of rust reappear on the outside, at least I'll know about it. Any suggestions or advice from experience?

 

[arkcom]

Electrolysis will also remove the paint. Do it all in one step.

 

[Rustyhama]

Ok, so for that to work I would need to fully submerge the tank in water with sodium carbonate?

 

[arkcom]

Yes. Epsom salt works well and is probably cheaper.

 

[hillsy]

Electrolysis will also remove the paint. Do it all in one step.

Only if the paint is over rust.

 

[arkcom]

http://www.oldgas.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=127342

Google is full of other examples.

They mostly us sodium carbonate (ph+ pool additive is easy to find). So you should probably go ahead and use it.

 

[hillsy]

Well that's interesting - I did a ZX11 tank by electrolysis and had it fully submereged in the washing soda solution and not a scap of paint came off. All the internal rust disappeared but the paint stayed totally intact.

 

[arkcom]

Guess it could easily depend on the type of paint. It worked on my cb200 tank, which was probably 20 years older than yours.

Good news is, either way it will get all the rust.

 

[hillsy]

Hmmm - I guess it might be to do with the paint type. Older enamel / acrylics v's 2pak.

 

[Rustyhama]

Hmm I'll think on this one for a while. Thanks

 

[2_DONE_THE_TON]

i would definitely start with doing the inside.

i´m currently derusting my tank with elysis (tank not submerged but filled with detergent) and it´s quite quite messy.

derust then care about the outside of the tank!