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how to make a fiberglass tank? (...not a tutorial)

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 12:46 pm
by mysta2
I want to make a fiberglass tank (maybe with the transluscent stripes on the side :))... how do I go about it.

I have plenty of time working with glass... but I've never made something as critical as a gas tank. My idea was to do a dunstall style tank for my 750. The plug would basicly be the shape of the inside of the tank. I'd split it and wrap it in three parts: each side, and the center channel, build up as thin a layer as possible to hold each shape, than pull them off and glass it all together and build until I get a nice rigid form (leaving a couple of vent holes) let it cure, sand it sexy, and drill all the final holes.

Are there certian resins that will/willnot hold up in gasoline? Do I want to baffel it... what's the methodology for this? Do I need to get it coated and pressure tested after I build it? Where can I do that? Is por15 appropriate for FG or can I have it done better professionally (I'm aware that coating it will likely effect my ability to do the stripe or not)? Anything I haven't though of?

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 5:18 pm
by BuzZz
I don't know Jack about how to make a fiberglass tank, but I do know they ain't street-legal in N.A. The DOT has this bug up thier azz about tanks splitting in an accident and covering everything with fuel...... :?

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 5:25 pm
by jmillheiser
You might be able to do a fiberglass shell and put a metal or plastic tank inside it, and not have to worry about your creation holding up to raw gas.

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 5:26 pm
by jmillheiser
A lot of the chopper builders do something similar but they make a custom metal cover for a genaric style tank