Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 12

Thread: Tank Art

  1. #1
    Registered Users fooddude's Avatar
    City
    Merrick
    State
    New York
    Country
    United States
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Posts
    69

    Default Tank Art

    Hello everyone,

    Got my first tank last summer and want to decorate it with some "homemade artwork." Any suggestions as to what kind of paint and protective finish I should use? I understand that when the tank gets tested, some may want to know if I'm covering anything such as dings, etc., but I'll deal with that when the time comes... unless what I want to do is "illegal" in any way.

    THanks for the input.

    FD

  2. #2
    Registered Users
    State
    Suffering from Nitrogen Withdrawal
    Country
    Canada
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    313

    Default

    I'm currently using static cling stickers. Applied properly, they don't fall off, are removable, reusable & don't leave a mark when removed. & are available in many different styles, colours and sizes.

    You can even get custom printing/artwork.

  3. #3
    Registered Users hbh2oguard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    632

    Default

    Spray paint don't heat cure or anything like that. Make sure you go to an actual dive shop, not sport chalet, and see if they have a problem with you painting it. Also if you like the color it is just pain it with a brush. I don't know what your normal dive conditions are but my tanks get banged up so don't spend a lot of time. More than likely it will get messed up from banging a rock to transport and filling.

  4. #4
    Registered Users fooddude's Avatar
    City
    Merrick
    State
    New York
    Country
    United States
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Posts
    69

    Default

    Thanks for the input. I wan't planning on heating it or anyhting so complicated. My wife is a school teacher and the art teacher in her school offered to paint a logo and my name (probably no bigger than a can of soda on my tank to help me identify mine at the shop, on a boat, etc. Sure, my conditions ion the North Atlantic ensure my tank get beauty marks, but I love 'em. This is not for cosmetic reasons, just something subtle to personalize my tank. I'm an Ohio State Alum so I was thinking of "Brutus Buckeye" in scuba gear.

    What kind of paint should she use? Epoxy? Enamel? Any clear coat?

    Thanks again,

    FD

  5. #5
    Registered Users
    State
    Suffering from Nitrogen Withdrawal
    Country
    Canada
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    313

    Default

    If you're still considering Static Clings they have them in various sports logos.

    http://www.cbsohiou.com/decalz/decals.html

    http://www.hometeams.com/ohstbu11x17t.html

  6. #6
    Registered Users hbh2oguard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    632

    Default

    I used enamel, and then clear coated it with a clear enamel spray paint. That was two years ago and the paint is fine except the "beauty marks" I sanded mine to scuff it up and then wiped it down with acetone to give it a nice surface for the paint to stick.

  7. #7
    Registered Users hbh2oguard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    632

    Default

    Here are some covers which are nice but pretty expensive for what you are getting. You could buy five cans of spray paint and have some fun for the same price. I'm not artist but you can make some cool designs with spray paint. If you put liquid dish soap and then spray paint, the soap will act as tape and spray paint won't stick to where the soap is. Let the paint dry for 10mins or so then hose it off. Dry the tank and repeat and you can have as many colors as you want. Pretty simple and you'll be impressed how well it looks.

    http://www.leisurepro.com/prod/SHDTC.html

  8. #8
    Registered Users
    State
    Suffering from Nitrogen Withdrawal
    Country
    Canada
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    313

    Default

    oooh. I forgot about those. They are really nice looking in person.

  9. #9
    Registered Users fooddude's Avatar
    City
    Merrick
    State
    New York
    Country
    United States
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Posts
    69

    Default

    Hey,

    Finally got word back from Faber, my tank manufacturer, and they gave me input. They said that if I use very fine wet sandpaoper to scuff and allow paint to adhere, then use an epoxy paint with a urethane finish, I will have no problems.

    It should be almost as durable as the factory finish (not sure if I believe this), and will be flexible enough that upon tank testing and expansion, the art won't crack.

    FD

  10. #10
    Registered Users hbh2oguard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    632

    Default

    I'd believe it, I don't know if I would only use fine wet sanding. At min. I would use 100grit. Personally I used a disk sander on one of my tanks, that was only due to the fact that it's finish was cracked and all flakey.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •