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Old 27-04-2012, 07:58   #1
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Building Water Tanks

So after two sets of plastmo inflatable water bladders, over the last 10 years, I'm thinking of making my own poly tanks..
But the info I've found on the internet is somewhat confusing as far as what goes with what, and at what temps its welded at..
Any help here.......
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Old 27-04-2012, 08:23   #2
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Re: building water tanks

Not sure about thermo welding plastics but can I suggest an alternative.

Paul Tilley makes rib tubes and as done for a long time. However, he did say once that the can also make water tanks:

TIDEL : Flexible : Water Storage : Pillow : Bladder : Tanks : Dartmouth Brixham Salcombe Plymouth Devon Cornwall Torquay

Great video here of them making rib tubes which are probably more appropriate for home building.



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Old 27-04-2012, 08:37   #3
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Re: building water tanks

I was thinking more in the lines of a solid poly tank..
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Old 27-04-2012, 08:39   #4
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Best lads I've seen yet for bladders

http://www.turtlepac.com/en/home.html

Sometimes what you think you save by making it yourself doesn't really add up. Check these and the ones Peter recommended. Water is important on a boat and issues with you water supply can be an unpleasant surprise...
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Old 27-04-2012, 08:50   #5
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Re: building water tanks

Quote:
Originally Posted by Randyonr3 View Post
I was thinking more in the lines of a solid poly tank..
Oh hmm, I watched a guy from Tek Tanks make one at a boat show with a glorified soldering iron, a strip of poly something and a couple of sheets of plastic. It looked all very easy making them. You should find everything at a home depot and have the tanks made in an afternoon I think

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Old 27-04-2012, 09:08   #6
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Re: building water tanks

well.... you'll need to draw the plan up. anyway... you might as well send it to Tank Depot for a quote when you do. They were amazingly cheap on a project I did....
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Old 27-04-2012, 10:54   #7
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Re: building water tanks

Thats just what I was looking for...................so another project begins
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Old 27-04-2012, 10:56   #8
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Re: building water tanks

Eh, you lucky ducks living in technically minded cultures.

Here in Canary Islands it is all about 'oh we can order one for you from the catalog'. Building things costs USD 70 per hour of their work plus materials (materials are expensive too as everything except for the blazing sunshine is imported). The final product reminds anything but what you asked for in your order.

I have to weld it myself. Rigid poly plates, some torches and electrodes, etc.. Gluing an option too.

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Old 27-04-2012, 16:15   #9
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Re: building water tanks

You can make one using a hot air plastic welding gun , the correct tips for the join type and suitable filler rods. The gun is available on eBay. Not all that difficult if you get your temps right.
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Old 27-04-2012, 16:29   #10
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Re: building water tanks

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Originally Posted by boden36 View Post
You can make one using a hot air plastic welding gun , the correct tips for the join type and suitable filler rods. The gun is available on eBay. Not all that difficult if you get your temps right.
Regards,
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Will the material be polypropylene? Do you know if I can re-use the material or should I rather buy new sheets?

THX
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Old 27-04-2012, 17:35   #11
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Re: building water tanks

Can we possibly glue such tanks with this:

http://www.stealth316.com/misc/dp8005.pdf

?
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Old 28-04-2012, 03:18   #12
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Re: building water tanks

Great thread, I have been putting off making some plywood / epoxy water tanks, I might have to get modern and make plastic ones (OK I know epoxy is plastic, but you know what I mean).
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Old 28-04-2012, 07:12   #13
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Re: building water tanks

The glue looks like it is strong enough but I cannot find health info on it.

Then again there is the economy. No extruded polypro here ;-( Stainless easier to buy so may be I will become a little welder with big red eyes ;-)

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Old 28-04-2012, 16:02   #14
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Re: building water tanks

I suggest you consult your supplier re the best plastic for the job. Your filler rod will be the same material. There are some good videos on the net which show you how to do the welding. I have welded PVC ( fumes are a hazard) and polyethylene and found it fairly easy if you follow instructions. The polyethylene was an old moulded dinghy which is still OK years later.
You can buy tips to go onto your heat gun, and you feed the filler through a channel in the tip which makes for a good fillet weld, or just use a round tip and feed the rod in freehand.
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Old 17-05-2012, 07:45   #15
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Re: building water tanks

Has anyone made further DIY progress on plastic water tanks? I am very interested in doing this for my Peterson 44, which also needs fuel tanks.
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