In a message dated 6/20/06 8:34:14 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
goofymuso@YAHOO.CA writes:

> . An indicator that a new tank
> needed. Or so I was told.
>
> Since I'm a bit of a Cheap-A**, can a rusty LP tank
> (dep. on cond.) be cleaned, checked, repainted and
> used safely? Or is this risky? i.e. it could soon leak
> where rust made metal too thin, leak at the threads
> and/or a part could pop off due to LP pressure and
> mega rust. (please forgive my ignorance on that last
> idea!)
>
> My gut says "new tank + valves/reg", as I don't want
> to wait for a leak to occur. But if I can *safely*
> save some bucks, then all the better.
>
>
"or so i was told"   by who?  someone who wants you to buy a new tank for
$350?  a fellow califonian who's scared off by alittle scaly surface rust?

that metal is 1/4 thick.   it wont ever rust thru.  your van's sheetmetal
body will rust out before you get a rust hole in your LP tank.  and in cali,
that's highly unlikely.
   im a east coaster and every LP tank ive ever seen has the ID plate
spotwelds coming off.  big deal.   cut the ID plate off if it bothers you or flatten
it back down and epoxy the edges (to mimick welds)  and wire brush your tank
and paint it with rustoleum and all will be fine.

2 cans of spraypaint and alittle elbow grease = $10 bucks.

an new LP tank almost $400 bucks.

you decide..

chris