JB Weld on an air tank?

It sounds like it's got cancer. You go to welding it will just burn a bigger hole in it. You either have to replace the bad metal or buy another one. It's mush easier to buy another one or find a truck junkyard.

JBWeld has a high psi rating for a short fix but why even go there? It has to be fixed right.

 

Hehe looks like some of the mechanically minded posters know that when you hit that tank with any kind of welder you will be chasing more pin holes with your welder than you know what to do with. They ain't worth the trouble trying to repair, no reason you couldn't patch it with your magic product until you can replace it tho.

 

Yeah most tanks rust inside out because of small amounts of mosture inside, if you see holes then the tank is shot,

 

If you could coat the inside like how we would "cream" steel motorcycles gas tanks, it might work.

Better to put new tank on. If you can't afford $100 you are out of business but just too stupid to know it yet!

 

This is old, but since I am in a shop for this exact thing... No to welding and no to JB. Also no to the $100 tank. Maybe in 2013, but tanks today are over $250. Mine anyway. Cheaper online, but do you have time to ship one in? Mine was $357 local. $239 online. Plus labor, plus parts delivery fees if required. One tank and some straps will put you over a grand at a TA. So ######## who said if you can't afford $100 doesn't know what he's talking about. The parts are the least of it. I'm sure the OP was trying to get home or to fix it later at a much more reasonable price. I don't fault him for wanting to try. At $104/hour for a crap mechanic and making pathetic freight rates (majority of drivers, I don't need to hear from the PeterCar tough guys making all that money...yet still living in a trailer...but I won't go there.) - you have to do anything you can out here. God bless one and all.

 

Not all tanks are steel. I have aluminum tanks on my Peterbilt. One of them split once, I tried to weld it but never had any luck, air tanks breathe like a lung, you can weld steel (if its not rust that is the problem) or aluminum tanks but only at the seem. The lifespan of an air tank is directly related to how often you tug on that cable hooked to the drain... Do that every day and your tanks won't rust, I have my compressors turned up to 135 psi so that probably has something to do with my tank splitting. If your job doesn't require it, keep your pressure at 110 and drain your tanks every day.

 

I agree, one of the tanks on my trailer started leaking and you can chase your tail on it, new tank was only $80 , can spend a lot more time than that messing with it, run the risk of weakening the metal beside the weld , not worth the trouble

 

I've welded up pinholes in air tanks before but only as a temporary fix until a new tank comes in and it gets replaced. Its bush league but what else can you do? Sit at home for a day or 2 while you wait on a new tank?

 

Ya I hear it NM, I did the same thing, chased around with the wire feed then went and hauled a load to pay for the tank, not much into the 12oz league, to much to do