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Old 10-11-2015, 17:00   #1
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Product for Sealing Leaking Tank Weld

I am wondering if anyone knows of a product that can be used to seal a small leak in the weld of one of my stainless potable water tanks, would like to cover all the welds on the inside of tank, needs to be non toxic when cured.
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Old 10-11-2015, 18:02   #2
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Re: Product for Sealing Leaking Tank Weld

Have you checked on JB Weld?

WaterWeld Epoxy Putty | J-B Weld
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Old 10-11-2015, 19:57   #3
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Re: Product for Sealing Leaking Tank Weld

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Have you checked on JB Weld?

WaterWeld Epoxy Putty | J-B Weld
Ha ha! My ex has used j-b weld to practically rebuild the pipes in his house. I have to say, it works very well but the repair is only good for about 2-3 years. Not so good for marriages, but good for leaky pipes and tanks
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Old 10-11-2015, 20:30   #4
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Re: Product for Sealing Leaking Tank Weld

I have used two products with great success, G-flex epoxy by West System and Belzona. Follow all the proper protocols for applying, as in thorough cleaning, roughing up the metal to key in the epoxy, proper temperature, etc. My cutlass bearing is aligned into the strut and fixed in place with Belzona, I painted all the seams inside and out in my alloy fuel tanks with G-Flex epoxy thickened with high density powder. It is formulated for metal bonding.
Another alternative is to have the tank sprayed with Linex or some such truck bed liner if it is removable. I did my anchor locker/tank and holding tank with that product.
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Old 10-11-2015, 20:58   #5
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Re: Product for Sealing Leaking Tank Weld

If you have a large enough opening on the tank to reach all of the corners, you can use HENRY'S COOL TAR.

It is FDA approved for fresh water cisterns & tanks.

It can be applied with a paint brush or shaped trowel.

It is sort of like thick tar/asphalt and is pretty nasty to work with, but lasts forever and seals any leaks.

Also gives the water a "fresh / clean" taste.

I've used it on fiberglass and stainless steel water tanks - works great.
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Old 11-11-2015, 07:05   #6
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Re: Product for Sealing Leaking Tank Weld

A guy on our old dock in Long Beach said he repaired his cold iron fuel tanks by filling them with an inch or so of epoxy.
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Old 11-11-2015, 09:03   #7
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Re: Product for Sealing Leaking Tank Weld

In my opinion you are postponing the inevitable, that of replacing that tank. You could cut out the baffles and insert a membrane or you could replace the tank. There are certain things on a boat that just shouldn't be jury rigged. Waking up in the middle of an ocean with your fresh water sloshing around in the bilge is life threatening, if not for you then perhaps for the hapless soul who buys your boat down the road. This is not a place to skimp. If you must make a temporary repair do it only as a means of buying some time to save up to do it right.
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Old 11-11-2015, 09:27   #8
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Re: Product for Sealing Leaking Tank Weld

I have used these products by Devcon. A little pricey but really do the job.
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use the material for Stainless Steel
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Old 11-11-2015, 09:30   #9
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Re: Product for Sealing Leaking Tank Weld

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I have used these products by Devcon. A little pricey but really do the job.
McMaster-Carr

use the material for Stainless Steel
forgot to give you the catalog number - 74575A69
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Old 11-11-2015, 09:33   #10
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Re: Product for Sealing Leaking Tank Weld

The recommendation for the Henry's is a good one. As an alternative, 2 part epoxy paints formulated especially for potable water tanks are available, PPG is a good source. Either will make a permanent repair of any weld pinholes, so long as the surface prep is done right.
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Old 11-11-2015, 10:46   #11
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Re: Product for Sealing Leaking Tank Weld

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I am wondering if anyone knows of a product that can be used to seal a small leak in the weld of one of my stainless potable water tanks, would like to cover all the welds on the inside of tank, needs to be non toxic when cured.
There is a Loctite product for sealing holes in car gas tanks. It is an epoxy stick that has an activater built in. You mould it together like putty and it goes off rock hard.


You could do worse than using chewing gum, after you have chewed it. That was the fix for car gas tanks in the early days of motoring on rough roads.

Why seal the inside of the welds instead of the outside?

SS water tanks get "rotten" after 10 or so years and often can't be rewelded.
I replaced mine with flexible tanks ( made in Auckland NZ. by Covertex). They have been very successful and have more capacity in the same space. After a few flushes the taste disappears. With proper filtering there is no initial taste.

A scrap metal recycler paid $60 for my old SS tanks which went towards the cost of the flexible tanks.
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Old 11-11-2015, 15:22   #12
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Re: Product for Sealing Leaking Tank Weld

There was something called creem (sp) originally designed to seal motor cycle gas tanks. It was a very thin epoxy you put in the tank, sloshed it around and let it work its magic. Believe POR also makes a gas tank sealant.
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Old 11-11-2015, 16:03   #13
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Re: Product for Sealing Leaking Tank Weld

Belzona. Awesome stuff- follow the directions and its damn near indestructible. There are many formulas. Talk to an experienced belzona rep to select the right one.


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Old 11-11-2015, 16:46   #14
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Re: Product for Sealing Leaking Tank Weld

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Originally Posted by cburger View Post
I am wondering if anyone knows of a product that can be used to seal a small leak in the weld of one of my stainless potable water tanks, would like to cover all the welds on the inside of tank, needs to be non toxic when cured.
You won't want to hear this, but a major drawback to stainless tanks [fuel or water] is crevice corrosion. Do some research on the subject and save yourself a lot of heartache trying to repair what will likely be an ongoing problem. The problem is oxygen starvation in poorly fitting joints and welds.

You will hear a lot of opinions, but talk to some knowledgeable systems people and get the facts...
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Old 11-11-2015, 17:16   #15
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Re: Product for Sealing Leaking Tank Weld

Take the tank out and weld it. If the condition from the RVS a trouble is do than fiberglass in or round it.
There are 1001 products but gif properly not a definitive solution or are expensive.
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