Inline Air Tank is rusty inside-should I do something?

Hi Folks,
I've recently disconnected my inline Air Tank from my compressor because the Air Regulator started leaking on it. When I took the Air Regulator off the Air Tank I noticed the the tube it was connected to was orange with rust. I tipped the Tank up to empty any water out but it was dry and I heard a sound of loose stuff inside. I am presuming its bits of rust. I'm thinking this is what might have damaged the Regulator, I saw something in the water trap that looked like a bit a rust.

So before I buy a new Regulator and put it on this Tank is there something I can do about the rust? Should I use it?

I took this Air Tank off my old cheapo AS186 compressor to use as an inline Air Tank with my Silent Wherther A20 which only has a 1.5 ltr Tank. I'm wondering if I should not use this Air Tank anymore and think about buying a new one. I've seen a 5.3ltr one with Air Regulator http://www.everythingairbrush.com/compressors/air-tanks/sparmax-air-tank-system-5-3-litres.html
Or could I get something cheaper. I can't get too big a tank because my compressor is only small and I don't want to over cook it.
Cheers Mel

You could try some rust convertor, tip some of that stuff in, swish it all around, rinse repeat LOL..It will convert any rust back to metal, dunno what its like on rubber and things so be wary if ya do grab some but perfect for the inside of a tank, and when considering if because of rust ya need a new one, that same compressor could sit at the bottom of the sea for prob the next 80 odd years before it would rust to the point of being dangerous or thinning the metal to that point, the worst it will likely do is turn your whites a kind of orange, hey when ya think about it that may help with ya blue shift LOLOL..

Any tank will get some surface rust on the inside thats made with steel most of them have a drain valve/plug of some sort on the bottom or end of the tank so you can drain excess water out after use! like rebel air said you could pour some rust converter in it and roll it around to coat the inside and that would do the trick but its easy to just add an air filter in-line before the regulator to keep out small bits of rust and junk from the tank.

@RebelAir and @basepaint Thanks guys, I just bought some Rust Converter stuff so I'll give that a go. It looks like it will be a real faff because I'm going to have to take all the fittings off (if I can), put some metal nuts inside, seal off the holes and shake to get any loose rust big loose and break them down. Then flush the rust bits out, dry, re-block the holes bar one to pour the stuff in, roll it around, drain excess (keep) and leave it to dry for a few days, then repeat!! That's a load of faffing about!! Oh well! I'll be happy when it's done. The new Regulator is on it's way too
If I have any trouble with this process "I'll be back"

Its pretty easy m8 so ya shldnt have any probs, just make sure ya leave it on long enough to do its job..Shld keep ya going for awhile, but whilst its all apart, maybe chuck a cheap inline filter in as mentioned before you put another reg on just in case and future proof it a bit..GL

RebelAir said:

Its pretty easy m8 so ya shldnt have any probs, just make sure ya leave it on long enough to do its job..Shld keep ya going for awhile, but whilst its all apart, maybe chuck a cheap inline filter in as mentioned before you put another reg on just in case and future proof it a bit..GL

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Hey Rebel, you are right it wasn't so bad. I removed a lot of small rust flakes and got the first coat done and I'll be leaving it for 2 days, which is what the guy in the shop recommended, before repeating. I bought Epoxy Branox which is apparently a Primer coat with a Rust Converter in it. It wasn't cheap at €12 for a small pot. I used half the pot and none came out when I finished but when I pulled the bungs out they were coated so I'm presuming I covered all the inside. If not the 2nd coat should catch any places I missed.

I probably won't put on an inline filter as the cost is already creeping up although I could use the one I have at my airbrush end so I'll think about it. I'm hoping the 2 coats of this stuff will do the job Cheers for the tip.

No doubt the primer may help reduce it in the future for ya mate, but glad ya getting it sorted..These days I just cant be bothered and will just buy a new $70 compressor every cple of years LOL..Why maintain when its cheaper to buy new LOL, but yer if its an expensive compressor or a fave, anything ya can do to save it

RebelAir said:

No doubt the primer may help reduce it in the future for ya mate, but glad ya getting it sorted..These days I just cant be bothered and will just buy a new $70 compressor every cple of years LOL..Why maintain when its cheaper to buy new LOL, but yer if its an expensive compressor or a fave, anything ya can do to save it

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Luckily my expensive compressor was never in question, it is the Extra Air Tank that I attached that blew it's Air Regulator. My oil-filled quiet compressor has a tiny 1.5ltr air tank so I took this 3ltr one off my cheapo AS186 compressor for extra capacity. You can see the Air Tank sitting on top of my compressor in the picture. It does make a difference because I can definitely feel a slight surge in the air flow when the motor kicks in now the extra tank is off-line. With the extra air tank the air flow is consistant and the motor doesn't have to work so hard.

Weld a big bolt on the left of the cupboard and a big bolt opposite on the right and you'll def have Frankencompressor LOL..Gotta luv ingenuity..

RebelAir said:

Weld a big bolt on the left of the cupboard and a big bolt opposite on the right and you'll def have Frankencompressor LOL..Gotta luv ingenuity..

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Ha Ha Ha! I think that would surely give it a Look Now where did I put my Frankinstien so I can nick his Bolts He He Heee, honestly I knew I shouldn't have put that Frankinstein Flap in my door!!

Just to let you know that the Epoxy Branox Primer/Rust Converter worked really well and my Air Tank is up and working again.

No more rust inside the Air Tank and no more loose rust particles flying around to block up the Regulator. I left the 1st coat 5 days to really dry before putting in the 2nd coat which I left for 3 days. I used paper kitchen towel rolled up to block the holes while I rolled the Branox around inside the tank and it didn't leak. I drained out the excess after the 2nd coat and put it back in the pot. It should be waterproof inside now and not rust anymore. I'm very happy and it was quite easy.