Paint a translucent plastic tank?

[wheelbender6]

Most of the friction mounted engines come with the somewhat see-thru plastic fuel tank. Can that tank be painted successfully? I would leave some of the tank unpainted for obvious reasons but would like to paint most of it.

 

[GearNut]

I suppose you could try Krylon Fusion paint for plastics, but I don't know how well it would hold up to fuel.
Engine enamel does hold up to fuel well, but I don't know how well it sticks to plastic.

 

[CTripps]

What if you used the Krylon, and then use an engine paint clearcoat or topcoat?

 

[MotoMagz]

Wipe the tank down with thinner...apply Rustoleum plastic primer(light coat) and then a top coat of Rustoleum engine paint.Give it a try on the bottom of the tank first.

 

[thegnu]

Heres the truth about attempting to paint that tank you have , it is made of a high temp high silicone base plastic , in my buisness we have seen this type of plastic many times in my paint shop an it does not accept primer or paint very well at all. ( even with the best adhesion promoters an primers).
Gary

 

[Barnfresh]

You could always dye it another color with regular ol rit dye........

 

[Barnfresh]

Or Plasti Dip it. Just tape off the part you want to use as a level gauge first.

 

[Venice Motor Bikes]

How about hobby model paint for RC cars?? That paint lasts thought high speed crashes & spilled nitro fuel!

 

[foundmydog]

Heres the truth about attempting to paint that tank you have , it is made of a high temp high silicone base plastic , in my buisness we have seen this type of plastic many times in my paint shop an it does not accept primer or paint very well at all. ( even with the best adhesion promoters an primers).
Gary

I have tried almost every paint under the sun and they will peel or drip right off with the first drop of gas on it

Plastic coating may work, but could be a few extra dollars

 

[curtisfox]

I don't know how good it is but I just read in the new trucking magazine the PlastiKote has plastic bond primer.....................Curt

 

[cannonball2]

I dont know if the plastics are similar, but we paint the plastic canopies that come in the R/C heli kits. They are commonly referred to as bleach bottle canopies because that what the material looks like. You can sand it, prime it with what ever you like and it probably wont stay on. The trick to making paint stay is to "flash" the plastic with a propane torch. As you move the torch over the plastic you can see solvents wave off of it. Once that is done it will hold paint well even through a crash. This process works on corroplast too. I have heard it some how crosslinks the surface, but dont really know. All the said you might not want to do a gas tank that has been used, might get a real flash!

 

[curtisfox]

A full tank will never blow even with gas in it but use water. I know a lod welder that used to weld tanker trucks full of gas and never blew.............Curt

 

[UriDead]

Most of the friction mounted engines come with the somewhat see-thru plastic fuel tank. Can that tank be painted successfully? I would leave some of the tank unpainted for obvious reasons but would like to paint most of it.

This process, these products.
Dirt Bike or ATV Plastic Restoration via Painting By Edward Pinzel on 4Strokes.com

Or try this and whatever other rattle can paint.
http://www.plastikote.com/products/Primer/Plastic-Primer.html