Tank Half-Stripped

If you ever decide to strip paint off an old propane tank, let me give you some information that will be helpful.

1. Propane tank paint laughs at stripper.

2. A 3200-psi pressure cleaner will not even budge rust or paint that has been soaking in stripper for twice the recommended time.

At times like this, I wish I had a sandblaster.

Hmm...no.

I've been using a drill and brush to get the crud off the tank, to the point where naval jelly will work. It took maybe forty minutes to do half the tank, not including the handle. I have realized that it would be easier to fabricate a new handle and weld it on than to get the paint and rust off the existing handle. In fact, I think I'll do that. It will take five minutes to get the old handle off, and I can probably cut pieces out of it that will make a great new handle. The existing handle conducts heat. I can make one with a wood insert.

Someone suggested sticking a wire brush in my grinder. Maybe. Don't they make flappy drill attachments for paint stripping?

I don't know what to do with the hole the valve came out of. Plug it I guess. Weld a disk of metal over it. It's useless. I need an air inlet on the lower half of the tank, but this is in the wrong place. It will fill with ash.

Maybe this would be a good time to think about design. Before I screw something up.

Anyway, it's fun. And I know I'll succeed sooner or later.

One final tip: a tiny drop of paint stripper burns like hell, if you spill it on yourself while working in flip-flops.

I read that somewhere.