A nice lantern from AGM, with the old tank problem. The tank had a lot of stress cracks I filled in a fuel and pressure resistent Epoxydfluid and in this way the tank was sealed
Hi Karli, There has been a LOT of discussion with respect to using tank sealers to seal stress cracked founts. I posed this question to the engineers at Restomotive. They make POR-15 US Standard Gas Tank Sealer. They told me that their product which is EXCELLENT for coating steel bottom founts to prevent further rust, IS NOT a "structural component". It was designed to seal gas tanks that are under ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE. NOT for sealing pressure vessels. With the forces involved longitudinal and radial at just 30 psi tank pressure it gives me pause when I hear of people using these sealer products to seal pressure vessels. Especially those filled with volatile fuel in proximity to an open flame. I used to seal cracked founts with US Tank Sealer. After researching it's properties, I no longer subscribe to this practice. So BE CAREFUL when you do this. Bob
I am not convinced. Most manufacturers would react the same. It is not designed for pressure tanks so they won't recomend it for that purpose. Can't blame them given our litigation prone society but there is another way to look at things. Basic engineering principle:- if it works then it is OK and don't need any more fixing. You can seal tanks with epoxy and pressure test to over 50psi and they hold. The resin is not being used for it's structural strength but only to fill pin holes and cracks. So I hear what you say but I shall continue to use POR15 for cracked tanks. I reckon I have done over 40 now and never had a problem. ::Neil::
Hi Karli what a beautifull old classic lamp but what a terible shame about the stress cracks in the font. i my self only have a few lanterns my main collection is stoves and no matter how bad a condition a stove is in i much prefer to restore a stove/lamp rather than use it as spare parts but lucky for me i have not come across one yet with stress cracks and if ever i do that is one task i will not ever attempt i have seen some great fettlers that have taken tanks apart a soldered brass sheet over the stress cracks which will make a 100% job of it but if it has developed stress cracks then the rest of the tank is prone to crack in the future,in the USA gasoline is the most common fuel for lamp's and stove's and gasoline can be so very easily ignited with a spark so if the tank was to rupture burst or leak while the lantern was used it would be most certain a huge problem, you have a lovely old classic i would have that a for show only unless you could source another tank some where
Here is the adress: http://shop.r-g.de/en/Polyurethane/170139-2-800-g-kit-400-g-resin-400-g-hardener.html
Well I'm not an industrial chemist, but that's casting resin and not tank sealer - two different things, I would imagine... Anyway, one thing that's intrigued me about these epoxy type sealers is whether putting the tank under slight pressure during curing would help or hinder the process. In theory at least, that ought to force the epoxy into the cracks, possibly even through them, resulting in a superior seal. Just wondrin' aloud...
