Aluminium water tank...
Submitted: Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 21:43
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Member - Blue (VIC)
The company I occasionally drive for uses neat aluminium tanks on their trailers to store water... It got me thinking(which is always dangerous) about fabricating an aluminium
water tank for the camper... My brother-in-law works for Capral so acquiring the ally shouldn't be difficult, I know I can mig ally as I've done a little bit in the past, are there any reasons why it could be bad for storing drinking water...???
Reply By: Member - Omaroo (NSW) - Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 21:46
Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 21:46
Aluminium will oxidize - even under water in a pretty short peirod of time. I'd make one up and just keep flushing it with baking soda every couple of months. It'll stay nice and clean - no problems.
AnswerID:
165681
Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 21:55
Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 21:55
I figured it'd oxidise to some degree but wasn't sure whether this may taint the water... Plan was to keep it fairly regularly flushed whether it be stainless, ally or HDPE...
FollowupID:
420552
Follow Up By: Alloy c/t - Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 22:03
Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 22:03
Aluminium is proven to be a contributing factor in Alzheimers ,so dont you forget it.
FollowupID:
420553
Follow Up By: Member - Omaroo (NSW) - Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 22:07
Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 22:07
That's very true Alloy
If I remember reading articles on this subject, I think they may have been referring to users of aluminium saucepans, where the edges of the pan were constantly being scraped with steel spoons and the like - adding aluminium particles to the food.
Still - stainless would be better if you could do a contra-deal of some sort. Alternatively, could you make it up and then have the inside coated with some type of food-grade polymer at all?
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Follow Up By: Member - TPM (SA) - Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 22:22
Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 22:22
That was proven to be untrue by aluminium pan manufacturers, up to you if you trust it ? In a tank it shouldnt really be a problem............what were we talking about.......oh yeah thats right........
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Follow Up By: Exploder - Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 22:25
Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 22:25
So that’s why they paint the inside of the ally water tanks.
FollowupID:
420558
Follow Up By: Alloy c/t - Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 22:50
Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 22:50
Exploder ,truth be known ,if my memory is still intact ,the real reason ally tanks are painted on the inside is because a use had to be found for millions of litres of LEAD based paint , so now we cant remember where our lead poisoning and cancer came from ,,,aah
well I just wish IcouldrememberwherethespacebarisandwhereIleftmybottleofschotch.
FollowupID:
420562
Follow Up By: Skid - Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 22:56
Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 22:56
I'd read that the team that cut up and anylised the brains of old timers disease victims made a basic mistake by using aliminium contaminated instruments -
I've had an 40 litre aliminium belly tank on my troopie for 10 years never had a problem - flush at least once a month though as a precaution
FollowupID:
420563
Follow Up By: warthog - Sunday, Apr 09, 2006 at 00:02
Sunday, Apr 09, 2006 at 00:02
Interesting segment on dementia on catalyst the other night. The gist of it was that approx 50% of dementia cases are thought to be a vascular problem. What is good for your heart is good for your head.
FollowupID:
420797
Reply By: Member - TPM (SA) - Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 23:05
Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 23:05
Has any one used the OL Poly tanks, I had my eye on one. it obviously goes inside and would need decent tie downs. A few different shapes on offer.
AnswerID:
165704
Follow Up By: Member - TPM (SA) - Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 23:06
Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 23:06
Site Link
I can never work out that link thingy !
FollowupID:
420565
Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 23:50
Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 23:50
Hoping to do it as cheap as possible for the following reasons:
1. It's cheaper...
2. I need new guttering on the house.
3. My fences need replacing.
4. I need a new set of muddies.
5. My trail bike needs 2 new tyres.
6. The missus is making me prioritise expendature...
FollowupID:
420578
Follow Up By: Member - TPM (SA) - Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 23:59
Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 23:59
Suggestion
1. It's cheaper...
2. I need new guttering on the house.
3. My fences need replacing.
4. I need a new set of muddies.
5. My trail bike needs 2 new tyres.
6. The missus is making me prioritise expendature...
1. Cut back on food... apparently humans can survive quite a while
2. Get the missus to install to cut down costs, keep her fed though for energy
3. Your missus will be so angry she will be like a guard dog
4. Buy the Muddies
5. Buy the bike Tyres
6. Ignore her
7.Ignore me also, I am heading for a divorce
FollowupID:
420581
Reply By: awill4x4 - Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 12:04
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 12:04
Blue, aluminium does tend to taint the taste of water a bit. If it were me, I would prefer to use Stainless Steel as it is basically "taste neutral". Have fun welding the tank with the Mig, I think you'll find the quality leaves something to be desired. It's fine on thicker sections but on thinner sheet you really should be Tig welding it.
I Tig weld all day on all materials so I've got a bit of experience here ;-)
Depending on your tank size you may seriously want to consider internal baffling otherwise the hammering of the water from one end to the other will destroy a tank quick smart. Also instead of bolting it in it's better if it's strapped just the truck fuel tanks are.
Regards Andrew.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 17:26
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 17:26
Andrew,
I would prefer to use stainless too but the ally should be free... Yes baffles were on the cards as I was thinking of using 3.2mm tread plate and figured it would deform with the water surge. I have successfully welded the 3.2 before using the mig and a little patience, I don't have a steady enough hand to tig and I'm not very good at it either... Straps were the order of the day as I figured tabs bolted to the chassis would fatigue and crack in short order...
Blue
FollowupID:
420699
Reply By: roofscooter2 - Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 17:07
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 17:07
Have you thought of using stainless beer kegs.For water not amber fluids.Cheer's Bob.
AnswerID:
165810
Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 17:28
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 17:28
Bob, the tank is going under the camper so clearance would be an issue with kegs... Plus the temptation to go away with 2 kegs of
home brew may cloud the initial view that water is in fact more important...
Blue
FollowupID:
420700