(Yes, I'm a lurker/newbie...)

So I have a piece of 2x4x3/16 that's 5' wide that's the backbone of my new bumper, and it occured to me that I could use it as an airtank for my (rather lowly) QuickAir2 compressor. I'm okay with installing the pipe fitting, but I have a question--what should I do about moisture? What have other people done? Put a drain on the bottom w/ some sort of gasketed bolt, or what?

Thanks in advance.

For a drain I usually weld a pipe nipple in the top or back that sticks inside to the bottom of the tube and put a petcock on it with the nipple being at the bottom it won't remove all of the water but it will remove most of it especially if you park on a side hill and open the valve with air pressure on the tank.

I'm cheap, just tap threads for 1/4 inch nipple and screw it in, add a ring to protect it and wheel....every couple of months park at an angle and drain under pressure...a tank works better but they do work...just make sure that you take-off point is high and drain is low....

just out of curiousity.... do you plan on doing anything to prevent it from rusting out? all I know is water (or humid air) + steel = rust. just a thought

Originally posted by Drunk tank
just out of curiousity.... do you plan on doing anything to prevent it from rusting out? all I know is water (or humid air) + steel = rust. just a thought

I give a couple squirts of WD-40 to the inside of my air tank bumper whenever I think about it. Don´t know if it really helps, but it doesn´t hurt anything either...

Concerning the water drain, a pipe plug welded to the bottom works for me...

3/8's nut welded to the bottom over a hole with a 3/8's bolt as a plug. All the way at the end so it will drain.

Use this:

"JP Weigle's frame saver"

Available at any DECENT bike shop. It is the bomb. When you pay 3700 for a steel bike frame, and race it in all kinds of weather, you don't want it corroding. You'll want to go to a "Roadie" bike shop.

Way cheap insurance.

I have the same tube for my sliders and rear bumper. I am doing the same conversion.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Have any of you who have done this had problems with rust? How often do you drain the system? I don't actually plan on keeping it at pressure except when I'm on the trail.

Originally posted by gothamist
Thanks for all the suggestions. Have any of you who have done this had problems with rust? How often do you drain the system? I don't actually plan on keeping it at pressure except when I'm on the trail.

I also only charge mine up when on the trail. I bleed off the air pressure thru the drain plug. Therefore, you could say that the tank is drained after each and every use....