One Tank Polished One To Go

[DEITZ645]

We had unusually fair temperatures this weekend so I decided to spend Saturday outside polishing one of the 30 pound propane tanks that belongs to our '87. I did this to experience what polishing was like. Sort of like mountain climbing..."because it's there"

I set up my Black & Decker Workmate workbench and used it for a cradle. I set down a towel to keep the workbench from further scratching the tank.

Next I started with 180 grit wet paper and eventually got down to 800 grit wet paper. At this point I was satisfied that the oxidization was gone. The sanding process took me to lunch.

After Lunch it was off to the store for a high speed buffer, buffing compound, polishing compound, and extra bonnets for the buffer. I was at the buffer and hand polishing until 5:00 PM. I was pretty pleased with the end results. The hardest spots to polish were the bottom ring, the inside of the top ring and the area around the valve. I ruined just about every car polishing towel I own and my hands still have a tinge of bauxite to them. Next week I hope to tackle tank number two. But next time I will wear some surgical gloves to keep my hands clean.

I learned that I probably never want to polish an entire trailer, at least not one longer than 16' .

To all you vintage guys and gals out there that have polished entire trailers...

I salute you!

[1953 Flying]

Looking good

[easyride]

A high speed buffer is not always the answer,I got a variable speed from Harbor Freight,and it works a lot better on a lower speed. The high speed seems to dry out the Nuvite before it as done it`s work,also a small amount works better than a lot. Dave

[DEITZ645]

Originally Posted by easyride

A high speed buffer is not always the answer,I got a variable speed from Harbor Freight,and it works a lot better on a lower speed. The high speed seems to dry out the Nuvite before it as done it`s work,also a small amount works better than a lot. Dave

Dave,
I mispoke in my original post. The buffer I got is a variable speed unit. And you are absolutely correct. It seemed to work best at a setting between 3-4. At high speed it was very difficult to control.

Now that I am pondering polishing the second tank, does anybody have any hints on how to remove this label. It seems to be affixed with some kind of nuclear powered glue. The label on the first tank all but fell off.

[easyride]

Yes some of those stickers are hard to get off,I think I used a single blade razor blade and lacquer thinner.Then once you get them polished,you need to go to your propane store to get new stickers to meet Federal law.
I think it would look a little weird,you got the stuff ,go for it.Dave

[shermantic]

Wanna do mine?

[DEITZ645]

Originally Posted by shermantic

Wanna do mine?

Shermantic,
Sure send them on up, along with a blank check

[DEITZ645]

Well as if I didn't get enough punishment last weekend, I spent this Saturday bringing tank #2 up to a mirror shine. I was able to get the warning label off with a razor blade. I repeated the same process I used on tank #1, but tank #2 was more canTANKerous and I was out in the garage well past dark until I was satisfied. Now all my car polishing towels are ruined along with one barn coat. But now they are finished and I can put them back on the trailer and cover them up with the tank cover.

Does anybody need a slightly used Black and Decker variable speed polisher with a 7" pad and some partially used buffing and polishing compounds???