Composite fuel tank

Roseand

Roseand

The Weaponizer
Site Supporter
Location
Wisconsin
I've done some searches on the x and it seems like people talk about it but haven't done it, or posted their results. I found a fuel resistant epoxy that looks interesting: http://m.ebay.com/itm/310412309596?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

I plan on making a large fiberglass tank for when I go to certain Freerides and ride spots, and I enjoy glass work and think it should be fun. My plan is to glue some EPS together and shape it as needed, and use it as a sacrificial mold(melt it out with acetone or such). If the resin is truly fuel resistant, you could just glass over the foam right away. But.. I was thinking. There are some chemical resistant sealants out there too. You could paint it on, let it dry, and then lay glass over that. You wouldn't need a special resin then.

Thoughts?

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Roseand

Roseand

The Weaponizer
Site Supporter
Location
Wisconsin
Yeah, I have one. It doesn't work well when you have to ride 2 miles there and 2 miles back to a ride spot. Or, even better, ride for about 20 minutes to finally get to your spot.

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Vumad

Vumad

Super Hero, with a cape!
Location
St. Pete, FL
Roseand said:
I've done some searches on the x and it seems like people talk about it but haven't done it, or posted their results. I found a fuel resistant epoxy that looks interesting: http://m.ebay.com/itm/310412309596?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

I plan on making a large fiberglass tank for when I go to certain Freerides and ride spots, and I enjoy glass work and think it should be fun. My plan is to glue some EPS together and shape it as needed, and use it as a sacrificial mold(melt it out with acetone or such). If the resin is truly fuel resistant, you could just glass over the foam right away. But.. I was thinking. There are some chemical resistant sealants out there too. You could paint it on, let it dry, and then lay glass over that. You wouldn't need a special resin then.
*
Thoughts?

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Does not mention ethanol. Vinyl ester is gasoline resistant too.
 
eastcoastjumper

eastcoastjumper

James
Site Supporter
Location
Long Island
@bikerdave (Dave brochurski from CT) (rad dudes) is welding up some 3.5 gallon aluminum tanks that incorporate a battery tray. I'd look into one of those. You wouldn't have to mess around with your battery behind your b pipe anymore and that could be beneficial.

The last thing I'd want is for my ski to go on fire/explode while I'm riding it. It seems like a composite tank would be pretty sketchy. It would probably end up being heavier with how thick you would have to make it to not crack open
 
hydrostyler

hydrostyler

X-
Site Supporter
Location
Central Illinois
Throw your gas can in the tray and keep it pinned in with your knees until you get to your ride spot. Stash it on shore and fill up as needed. Bets of both worlds. Have fuel and keep your ski light.
 
Roseand

Roseand

The Weaponizer
Site Supporter
Location
Wisconsin
I'd make it beefy and pad around it quite a bit. Not real worried about weight, since the times I'd use it are usually when riding rivers and hitting big waves.
I don't have 300$ to spend on a tank that's a gallon bigger than a cart tank, no offense. That's a lot of money for not much of a gain

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Roseand

Roseand

The Weaponizer
Site Supporter
Location
Wisconsin
Ducky said:
Or you could just run a stock gas tank? And spend your other free time cleaning your motor!
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Stock tank is going in my old superjet and I doubt it'd fit. Plus, that's another 100$ to get another one. This project would be max 100$

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Ducky

Ducky

Back in the game!
Location
Charlotte, NC
Roseand said:
Stock tank is going in my old superjet and I doubt it'd fit. Plus, that's another 100$ to get another one. This project would be max 100$

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Highly doubt it....materials would be less than $100, sure. But all the time you waste trying to build something that could and probably will crack the first time it encounters impact and then you probably will just ruin a bunch of other parts when it cracks while you are in the middle of this 2 mile ride. Save yourself time and headache, find something already built. And when you say you doubt the stock tank would fit....thats speculation. You never know until you try. I would be money it would fit....My limited slip tank fit in my RIP.
 
Vumad

Vumad

Super Hero, with a cape!
Location
St. Pete, FL
Well the advantage of composite is that anyone can make them assuming they have the talent to do a good job. The costs are prety low to the average home builder compared to planning aluminum, making the cuts and having it welded. Shape wise composite can also be a lot more intricate.

The dangers involved with a failing gas tank are questionable however. Thee are no places i have read online where people have raved great results. ,ost say buy a premanufactured tank or use aluminum. A guarenteed success first try with aluminum is cheaper.
 
Roseand

Roseand

The Weaponizer
Site Supporter
Location
Wisconsin
Vumad said:
Well the advantage of composite is that anyone can make them assuming they have the talent to do a good job. The costs are prety low to the average home builder compared to planning aluminum, making the cuts and having it welded. Shape wise composite can also be a lot more intricate.

The dangers involved with a failing gas tank are questionable however. Thee are no places i have read online where people have raved great results. ,ost say buy a premanufactured tank or use aluminum. A guarenteed success first try with aluminum is cheaper.
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I don't know how to weld aluminum or have the equipment to do so, and I doubt it's cheap to have welded unless you DIY. Using foam as a sacrificial mold would be very easy.. If I have to I would have it be a thick layup to be safe. And I have pool noodles around my tank currently to prevent it from moving around. IMO that would prevent it from hitting anything.

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Nate_D

Nate_D

Location
Houston, TX
Seems like a bad idea to me, but if you do it, post the results. Composites aren't the answer to every part. And I doubt $100 is the final cost. Did you factor in the XPS foam? Fittings? Cap? Consumables (acetone, sand paper, brushes, etc)? What's your time worth?


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Roseand

Roseand

The Weaponizer
Site Supporter
Location
Wisconsin
Nate_D said:
Seems like a bad idea to me, but if you do it, post the results. Composites aren't the answer to every part. And I doubt $100 is the final cost. Did you factor in the XPS foam? Fittings? Cap? Consumables (acetone, sand paper, brushes, etc)? What's your time worth?


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Xps or eps? I have glass and resin here and a lot of the necessary consumables, so it's mostly just with stuff I have laying around. Have a cap assembly I'm using and know what fittings I'm gonna use, and I don't think they'll be too expensive. It might be a fun project, or I might not even do it all. Just a thought.

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