Gently warming Blow molded holding tank.......

Sy-Revolution

Sy-Revolution

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........with an electric paint stripper so that it can be 'made' to fit a tight space. Is this possible? I probably need to get it to shift just a few mm (15-20) at one corner. Can't find another tank 'off the shelf' to fit the space I have available. it's that or perhaps remaking/shaping a GRP stringer which I'm loath (won't) to do.

Whaddaya reckon?
 
IIRC some thermosetting polymers don't melt when heated, they just change to a solid more crystalline and brittle
structure, so the tank would lose its flexibility, and perhaps its ability to contain grey/black water.

Prolly worth contacting the manufacturer fir a quick check first ?
 
Possible but the temperature may be fairly critical. Just overdo by a small amount and you might bu$$er it.

It'll be a thermoplastic not a thermosetting plastic I would think. What is it polypropylene? polythene?
 
If the tank is polypropylene it's T-plastic not T-setting. My mistake /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Agreed, however, the heating is critical. Some PP can oxidise at high temps, and decent, long-lasting mouldings will have an anti-oxidant added. Holding tanks in particular will need to resist some of the nastier chemicals used in WC systems.

I'd be reluctant to risk changing the physical properties of the tank by heating it yourself. There are some clever people around who will repair PP tanks though. Maybe worth talking to them about cutting off one end and refixing the wall ?

http://www.watertankrefurbishment.com/
http://www.stansa.co.uk/services.htm
 
If its blow moulded, it has to be Thermoplastic -- likely to be PP (polypropylene) or HDPE (High density poly ethylene) - Most mouldings these days have a identifier such as PP adjacent to a recycling logo - that should tell you what it is.

You should be able to warm and modify the shape but of course when you heat up an area, you release any internal stresses and it may go a shape you weren't prepared for!

I once heated up a car front valance and a large dent popped out i.e it went back to its original shape.

A word of warning however, it will need to be reasonably hot to move (paint stripping gun) so don't touch it with bare hands or you'll stick to it and get a nasty burn - use the flat of a wooden spoon or something to gently push the corner in.

Julian
 
[ QUOTE ]
A word of warning however, it will need to be reasonably hot to move (paint stripping gun) so don't touch it with bare hands or you'll stick to it and get a nasty burn - use the flat of a wooden spoon or something to gently push the corner in.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks Julian, I was thinking of heating it up, placing it where it needs to go and sitting on it, till it goes cold /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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