Amazing Tank Painter

[coachrenz]

I have a connection with a guy who does an amazing job painting tanks. He is using Hydroplane paint and airbrushes it on.

He has some standard designs that he can do and he will also do some custom work. See the photos below for some examples of his work.

My 40cft pony bottle with the bubble design

Bubbles close-up. Yep, it has glitter in it.

19 cft pony with a turtle design.

My 119 cft with a wood grain and nitrox designation. The Nitrox band meets the standard requirements that the stick-on bands have.

Wood grain close-up.

Close-up of the Nitrox "Sticker". Do you see the octopus tentacles in the background?

119 cft with a Sea Cucumber design.

Close-up of the sea cucumber spikes.

The wood tank in action.

If you want to see them in person or are interested in having your tanks done, let me know via PM or email and I will make arrangements to meet you or get you in touch with the guy.

They are even more amazing in person. The wood tank even has a knot painted on the bottom of the tank. These are real show stoppers. No need to put your name on them, your tanks will stand out in the crowd.

[Joshua Smith]

Pretty cool! I'm sure a bunch of people will chime in with a list of reasons for not painting tanks, but I gotta give it up for the artistry, here- your friend does very nice work!

[flik83]

hahaha ... and i wonder who took that tank in action picture hahaa !!!

[BASSMAN]

Nice! What is the aproximate Price?

[enchantmentdivi]

That is pretty darn cool.

How does this affect the tanks passing future inspections? I ask because I once considered painting some old tanks, and a very experienced VIP inspector told me that she'd fail any tank that had been painted by anyone other than the manufacturer. For the life of me though, I can't remember the reasons why she said she'd fail them.

[CaptnJack]

Cool airbrush work!

How does this affect the tanks passing future inspections? I ask because I once considered painting some old tanks, and a very experienced VIP inspector told me that she'd fail any tank that had been painted by anyone other than the manufacturer. For the life of me though, I can't remember the reasons why she said she'd fail them.

Heat kills tanks. AL moreso than steel. If you can't verify that the finish is applied with <250F heat for drying (many AL paints are heat cured) you should fail the tank. But really if the tank was hydroed AFTER it was painted there's no reason to fail it.

Personally I strip all of my tanks cause paint, tank racks on boats, and saltwater just don't mix. Paint looks like hell in no time.

[Nwbrewer]

Personally I strip all of my tanks cause paint, tank racks on boats, and saltwater just don't mix. Paint looks like hell in no time.

This I'm learning. My cool yellow Al6 is starting to chip after 1/2 dozen dives. I'll probably wait until it looks really bad, then strip the paint off of it.

[defied]

I've got two bottles that are clear coated that have been getting salt inside of them (The clear coat, that is). When I can, I'm gonna go get them blasted for $25 a pop.

D(B)

[Sounder]

The artwork is fantastic!! I especially like the wooden tank look.

I'd be interested to learn more about the paint too and what kind of life it'll have after being abused and submerged in salt water. I think it'd be a cool idea if there was durable-enough paint to withstand "divers' abuse" - it'd be especially cool on a scooter.

[defied]

The artwork is fantastic!! I especially like the wooden tank look.

I'd be interested to learn more about the paint too and what kind of life it'll have after being abused and submerged in salt water. I think it'd be a cool idea if there was durable-enough paint to withstand "divers' abuse" - it'd be especially cool on a scooter.

Powder Coat, or Gel Coat. our dive hats were Gel coated (SL17 for example). They could take some hits.



For a bottle though, the powdercoat requires heating at around 400F to really take.

D(B)

[Sounder]

Powder coating is how they do scooters presently... they're not tanks so they can be heated. I think a custom powder-coat job would be sweet.

[defied]

That wouldn't be too hard. It's almost like airbrushing, it's just electro-statically. Getting solid lines takes a little bit of finesse, even with masking, but can be done.

D(B)

[Stu]

I found a glow in the dark AL80 though its a little spendy.

https://www.diverightinscuba.com/catalo ... th=141_145

[CaptnJack]

I found a glow in the dark AL80 though its a little spendy.

https://www.diverightinscuba.com/catalo ... th=141_145

Worse than the price, its an AL80!!

"Coming SOON!!! New cylinders from Cyl-Tec that glow in the dark!! You can see your stage bottles, your buddies tank, at ANY Depth, in the Darkest lighting conditions!!" Our Price: $449.99

I will be rushing out to get one just as soon as I my Galileo Sol, 200W HMI, and submarine show up from layaway.

[loanwolf]

I've got two bottles that are clear coated that have been getting salt inside of them (The clear coat, that is). When I can, I'm gonna go get them blasted for $25 a pop.

D(B)

One thing to keep in mind is all the manufacturers state that aluminum tanks must be blasted with only walnut shell and not to use beads or sand. Bead blasting generates heat and also removes the tempered outside coating that forms during manufacturing. Also make sure all the stamps are legible, and that whatever type of coating you put on if it has to be heat cured at less than 250 degrees. Mark showed me a bottle someone had powder coated at 400 deg that had blown the side out. I am going to do mine soon and am going to use marine grade colored Rhino Lining to re-coat them after blasting with walnut shell.

[CaptnJack]

I've got two bottles that are clear coated that have been getting salt inside of them (The clear coat, that is). When I can, I'm gonna go get them blasted for $25 a pop.

D(B)

One thing to keep in mind is all the manufacturers state that aluminum tanks must be blasted with only walnut shell and not to use beads or sand. Bead blasting generates heat and also removes the tempered outside coating that forms during manufacturing. Also make sure all the stamps are legible, and that whatever type of coating you put on if it has to be heat cured at less than 250 degrees. Mark showed me a bottle someone had powder coated at 400 deg that had blown the side out. I am going to do mine soon and am going to use marine grade colored Rhino Lining to re-coat them after blasting with walnut shell.

Man you guys spend way too much effort on tanks for me. I just strip them and leave them bare. All my stages have MOD labels on them that get changed off and on depending on what I'm doing. Home Depot mailbox letters come off bare AL fairly easy with a razor blade. I got about 22 AL tanks afterall, just keeping them in hydro is enough hassle, nevermind trying to keep them fashion-compliant.

[Scubak]

Those are very nice paint jobs but I would worry about Diver Abuse...
My tanks have no paint, except my one HP 80 that came that way
Even my beautiful Orange Argon bottle and bright yellow Stage bottle have suffered from abuse.
I would rather they just came without!
Again, nice tanks though!
K

[OreCoastDiver]

I've got two bottles that are clear coated that have been getting salt inside of them (The clear coat, that is). When I can, I'm gonna go get them blasted for $25 a pop.

D(B)

After using any kind of abrasive on a tank it needs to be hydroed. So add a few more dollars to your sand blasting bill.

[Edge]

Could he paint strawberry shortcake on "my little pony"?

[Sounder]

Could he make it scratch & sniff?

[BASSMAN]

A scratch and sniff "Little pony?"

[DiverDown]

Wow they look really cool! I would hate to spend the money on them that slap vis/hydro stamps on them.

[Paulicarp]

Wow they look really cool! I would hate to spend the money on them that slap vis/hydro stamps on them.

he could paint the vis/hydro stamps on them for ya

[DiverDown]

Wow they look really cool! I would hate to spend the money on them that slap vis/hydro stamps on them.

he could paint the vis/hydro stamps on them for ya

Good luck with that.

[defied]

I've got two bottles that are clear coated that have been getting salt inside of them (The clear coat, that is). When I can, I'm gonna go get them blasted for $25 a pop.

D(B)

After using any kind of abrasive on a tank it needs to be hydroed. So add a few more dollars to your sand blasting bill.

Do you have the OSHA on that? I think it's a viz, not a hydro.

Capt, what do you use to strip the crap off your AL's?

D(B)