How and what would you use or what's the best product for pickling one of these cans? Pretty much looking for suggestions to make this hardened to the elements like rain and dirt. Thanks.
I have a couple of ammo cans i have sprayed painted and they have held up well outside for several years now
One of the best things you could do is sand blast the can to bare metal and then coat with a commercial 2 part epoxy such as Rust-o-leum 9100 series coating. These type coatings are used on the inside of water tanks (like city drinking water tanks) and if properly applied and cured, they can handle chlorinated water, which is quite corrosive as the chlorine outgasses. 15+ years in water tanks is pretty common for a good application. But commercial epoxies are hard to get and in small quantities. If you can find a crew painting a water tank somewhere and bring them a blasted and ready can, a couple 20s might get it coated for you. Some polyurethanes are pretty good, especially the thicker Rhino type coatings, surface preperation and proper temperatures and humidy during the cure are critical. I've been inside water tanks coated with urethanes that were impressive and have seen some coated with tars and they sometimes are terrible. Tar is seldom used anymore for tanks and for reason. The tar is either still gooey and gets on everything or often gets brittle over time and cracks with temperature extremes due to expansion and contraction. Water ingresses thru the cracks to the metal below and oxidizes it. Same problem often occurs in 15+- years when tar is used on basement walls to moisture proof it and eventually the basement may develop leaks. Just my experience inspecting water tanks off and on over 16 years. YMMV. Have fun. AT
I would be careful putting a heavy coating of polyurethane, too much and the can will not close correctly. I put several coats of paint on an ammo can and had problems closing it. My experience for what it is worth
Maybe fill and seal the can, then spray it with a few coats of rubberized undercoating from the auto parts store.
I've used ordinary spray paint but I can't help but wonder what it would cost to have it cerakoted. I've had a couple firearms & magazines cerakoted and that stuff wears like iron. Except it's much harder than iron and doesn't rust.
I use ghrits' method. Products such as Ospho and a cold zinc paint are available in smaller quantities at most hardware stores. The next ones will be finished after filling and sealing with a bed liner product, can be had at most hardware or automotive stores by the quart,around any place where metals meet.
i would suggest enrust {follow the directions} and then prime and paint ... or have it galvanized... The is also some new product out that they are using in the oilfield to stop corision .. i forget the name but H.I.S sells it in new iberia
Thanks' I passed that way the other day, I plan on doing several in different coatings to see what holds up well. I have one coated both inside and out with the rubberized undercoating as suggested above. I have a friend that does the cerakote thing, May pay him a visit soon.
i also thought about a rhino line .. Let me know how the rubber turns out cause i would be concerned about a little nick in it letting moisture get in and not knowing it . The it rust with out it being noticed... just wondering what you plan on doing with them ???
Oh, Not much really, Pull a Mark Twain on my kids and tell them I've buried Gold and Silver on a certain acre of land and let them loose to dig it up for my garden, I will have to salt the place a little to keep their interest up, A silver dollar here a silver dollar there....lol
yea i figured that was gonna be the kinda responce i got ..LOL Well let us know what works best for ya !!!
Ok, Don't tell anyone but I'm making corn feeders for deer out of these. I'm cutting a '''V'' out close to the bottom, Then welding in a plate on the upper cut that will only allow so much corn to fall out at a time. Like I said, Don't tell anyone, Could result in a bum rush on ammo cans!!!
interesting, the post is gone. but I remember how to build it. I will get you the details when I get home.
