Fixing CF Tank Gel Coat Cracking

[Toestr]

There's a tank that I'm looking to pick up that has some cracking in the gel coat and I'm wondering if there are any products out there to repair it? Epoxy for fibreglass boats? I don't care if it doesn't come out looking perfect, just not horrible.

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[punkncat]

If it is a Ninja, which was famous for it. It causes no safety issue and at least for a time, and possibly still ongoing, you could send it to them for cosmetic repair.

I have a green Ninja that has done this since I first got it. I have come to find through wear that underneath is just the normal grey CF look.

[Cunha]

Ninja tanks only did it for one batch they will take care of you if your tank was in that batch unless something has changed.

[Toestr]

It's an Empire tank (same manufacturer from my understanding). There were some limitations to Ninja's repair policy (had to be within the first hydro cycle iirc).

I'm not particularly concerned about it being unsafe, I'd just like to get it looking a bit better and help prevent any safety issues in the future.

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[punkncat]

The single safest thing I can suggest is to put a tank cover on it if the manufacturer won't do anything. Adding another layer of epoxy may or may not be the proper application for this use case, may or may not react with what is on there, and may or may not explode in your face when filled. I wouldn't chance it.

[DocsMachine]

The big point here is that you don't do anything to fix or repair a pressure tank. You're not even supposed to paint them or put stickers on them. Anything that can hide potential damage to the wrapping or coating is technically not allowed, and any attempt to 'patch' tears or cracks in the wrapping is right out.

The cracked gel-coat is a factory issue, and they should take care of it. That's cosmetic, and doesn't affect the safety of the tank, but you're still not supposed to try and "fix" it.

Doc.

[BrickHaus]

What Doc said. Leave it alone.

And i tried to get ninja to repair a tank I just had hydrod, but they said they werent doing that anynore,and suggested I can have the oem do it, but it wasnt worth the proposed cost.

So thats just it, tank cover and go.

[Toestr]

Message received. How concerned should I be about protecting the exposed carbon fiber? Is it very delicate?

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[BrickHaus]

Its glass mat essentially. Pretty tough, but ANY fraying in that and the tanks toast, so just get a fabric zip up tank cover and let er buck.

[Euphie]

Last I hear ninja had upped the price for out of warranty gel coat replacement from $50 to $75 so it might not be all that worth it assuming they would do it with an empire tank (which they might since it isn’t ninja that actually do the repair). I have a terribly cracked gel-coat too got the tank for only $50 even but it was just hydro tested so I believe ninja that it is merely cosmetic but the real person who has to be convinced is the 14 year old at the field filling tanks.

[Euphie]

Nope only the speedball people fill their own tanks everyone else hands their tanks through a window to an employee in a trailer who fills them. To me this seems really normal as this was how they did it back when I was playing years ago too.

What happens if someone has a co2 tank? Do players like zero the scale and all that stuff? Seems a bit much for a ten year old rental player.

[Chappy]

Lol no one fills their own co2 tank but self fill whips for hpa are very common these days.

[MrBarraclough]

My local field just opens a window so players can walk up to the building and access the fill whips. Usually there's someone inside at least making sure that no one mistaken grabs the 4500 hose for a 3000 tank. Often one of the refs will plant himself at the window and handle filling all the 3000 tanks, which are mostly renters, and let the regulars help ourselves to the 4500 fill whip. CO2 refills require handing the tank to whoever is behind the counter inside.

[Toestr]

This is the tank in question. Any thoughts?

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[Euphie]

That one looks great compared to my one that just got hyrdroed a few months ago. Mine has cracks on top of cracks.