how to clean a tidytank.
 

I found a 100gal tidytank at the dump the other day, looked in ok shape, so I bought it home and thawed it in the garage. The next day about 5gal of very rusty water with large flakes of rust and sludge came out.

Is there any way to clean the inside effectively?

thoughts?

Don't, IBME it will shed rust flakes forever. Either that or lay in a gross of fuel filters

First I'd soak it with a degreaser (TSP perhaps, maybe ) followed by a blast from a 90 degree nozzle on a pressure washer to be able to blast all the sides through the small access. Then a soak in rotating positions with EvapoRust would take care of the corrosion. After the EvapoRust I'd rinse it with some gas or methyl hydrate and collect that for disposal or burning. The exterior refinishing would be obvious. Prior to all of this I'd tap around it with a hammer to locate of there's any dangerously thin spots that are almost corroded through, and abandon the project if its unsafe.

Lol ain't that the truth. Thought I was getting a good deal on a tank. Filled it up and headed to the coast. Pumped fuel from tank into truck at Hinton and by blue river my truck had a noticeable power shortage. Limped it to Clearwater and found a fuel filter but like a simpleton fueled up the truck again. Three filters later and I made it to Vancouver. So not only did I spend $100 in fuel filters I had a useless 100gal tank with 75 gal of scrappy fuel.

If it's in the dump its more than likely there for a reason.

What happins into the dump,

Stays in the dump ! :snapoutofit:

Great way to stall out expensive machinery!

If the opening is large enough, sandblast the inside and wash it out with varsol or gasoline. Then repeat until you are satisfied.

Worked on several old crusty hydraulic tanks for me, and hydraulic systems tend to be pretty finicky and not take well to contaminants. As has been said, make sure the tank is still in useable shape. Giver the tap test with a hammer to make sure the walls aren't to thin.

If it's that rusty it will leak on you in short order. I wouldn't use it.

Sounds to me like you shouldn't go to the dump unsupervised!

Find a use for it other than holding fuel. It was thrown out for a reason and probably has a leak.

This,

It will cause you more grief then needed

I salvaged an L-shaped tidy tank from the dump with a little crack in the corner. Fashioned a hook up for an air-compressor through the bung and set it up to blow air steady at 10 psi for a weekend and washed it out good with water, then welded her up. For a little effort, a piece of scrap turned into a useable fuel vessel, still used today. A little leak is no reason to junk it.
If the walls are thin, you are probably spinning your wheels though.

Some of my best "treasures" came from the dump! People throw all kinds of good stuff away, never ceases to amaze me.
And no....I'm not a hoarder lol. I just like repurposing things.

Agree, I have had some great finds at this dump, including a 20t bottle jack that just needed jack oil. I was looking for ideas on cleaning not whether to use it or not, I will make that determination, it is water tight so that is a good start.

Maybe do a low pressure air test. Plug the holes and put maybe 40 psi to it. See if its still sealed. No sense cleaning it if it won't hold air. Certainly worth trying as I have pulled like new stuff from the dump. Including a brand new ghetto blaster that makes mp3s from FM.

Good luck.

I am picturing a tidy tank as about thrre foot tall dome tank? Please don't pressure test one to 40 psi. Full of diesel the pressure would be less tha 1.5 psi. 40 would be a lot to put to it and it may cause injury if it bursts.

I don't think anything made to convert FM is in the realm of New.. :sHa_sarcasticlol:

Best of luck with the tank but I'd bring it back to where you found it, dirty fuel and leaky tanks are Bad News Bears.

If it was me, I would fill it with water .Then take a zip cut and cut a large openning in the top of thank .Then drain it ,pressure wash it inside then sandblast the inside clean it out good and weld it back up and should be good to go............ but that's just me. i wouldn't tell you to do that in case you got hurt cuz then I would feel bad.:)

If you put 40 psi in that thing it will turn into a bomb.

I don't know what you would pressure test to, but a couple psi would be all that I would put to it.

3.5 PSI will blow the top of a 45 gallon drum. DO NOT put 40 psi in that tank.

Yah, I wouldn't go more then 5 psi