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Old 01-17-2011, 02:41 PM   #1
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Polished Aluminum Tanks

Not sure if this is the correct place to post this but here goes... Where is the best place to purchase polished aluminum lp tanks. Who has the best pricing? Also can they be purchased pre polished? If not is it the same process as polishing the Airstream? Cut with Angle grinder then cyclo? Any help is appreciated. Also is the a market for the old steel tanks in good condition?

Thanks.
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Old 01-17-2011, 02:48 PM   #2
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Hi,....I do not know of any place to buy pre polished Worthington tanks. They polish quite easily using the compounding and cyclo (or by hand) system. Securing the tank while you polish is the most challenging part. I have used a large box with paper and a towel supporting the tank and I have used a large vice to hold the tank by the top or the base.....careful not to hurt the tank.
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Old 01-17-2011, 02:56 PM   #3
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You have to polish the tanks your self. You must purchase Worthington Alum. tanks. As stated above the job is not too hard. I made a wooden cradle and lined it with sweatshirt cloth. It allows the tank to lay down for polishing. I got mine from Vintage Trailer Supply last spring and as I recall it took me a little over an hour to polish each.
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Old 01-17-2011, 03:06 PM   #4
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Thanks guys. Thats a huge help. An hour is not bad at all. Is there a method to it? For example start at top or bottom or it doesn't matter?

I think I will just purchase them thru VTS. The price seems fair.

By the way Tim your Airstream is gorgeous.

Thanks again.
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Old 01-17-2011, 03:15 PM   #5
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We polished ours ourselves too...not aware of anywhere to buy them pre-done. When they come from VTS (or anywhere else), they sometimes have little "nubs" on them from manufacturing...we found if you knock those off with very fine sandpaper (600 - 1000) first, it makes the actual polishing go much smoother. The "nubs" seemed to catch on the polishing pads...

Also, alot of it has to be done by hand or with a Dremmel - it's too tough to get the "big tools" in around the valves at the top & base at the bottom. I found Mother's Mag Cleaner worked pretty good in those areas...

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Old 01-17-2011, 04:01 PM   #6
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I did mine totally by hand (before I got a cyclo) and it took a few hours each. I also used very very fine sand paper on mine, mostly at the seams. I think the stuff I removed was splatter from the welding.
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Old 01-17-2011, 04:08 PM   #7
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I found that a Mothers polishing Ball for mag rims works good around the valves
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Old 01-17-2011, 05:40 PM   #8
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I made a simple cradle for the tank and used felt where the tank set in it. I used a product called Star Bright from lowes which is used to polish storage boxes in trucks.
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Old 01-17-2011, 06:05 PM   #9
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Thanks Richard for the pics that seems like a very good tool to hold the tanks in place. I will definitely be making on of those. Again thanks everyone for the help. I will post some pics when I have some updates to report.
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Old 01-17-2011, 06:07 PM   #10
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Oh one more question Richard are those the 30 lbs 7.1 Gallon or the 20 lbs 4.7 Gal? We currently have the 20 lbs but I think we might get the larger ones. Thoughts?
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Old 01-17-2011, 06:14 PM   #11
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Mine are 30# tanks. I believe your trailer came with the 30# tanks as well. The PO must have wanted to save a few bucks sometime in the past.
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Old 07-05-2014, 02:11 PM   #12
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What about the sticker?

What about the sticker that says DO NOT REMOVE, DEFACE OR OBLITERATE THIS LABEL? Not only is it ugly, but its on crooked!

Will I be sent to jail if I remove it?

Will the propane guy fill my beautiful shiny new bottles?

This is just too stressful!
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Old 07-05-2014, 03:31 PM   #13
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I polished my tanks this morning. I put the Do not remove labels in a box with the Threat of death and jail time labels from old mattresses. Propane dealers don't care. Be sure to tell em they are new tanks...they have to run a purge before filling. NOT stressful at all.
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