TECH: Build A Fuel Tank

My favorite part of this is that even an experienced welder does some test runs on scraps before he jumps into the real deal, and he learns some things along the way that not only change his approach, change the design or, maybe, create the design. I know I don't take enough time thinking through and testing which means I end up too ofter having to start over.

Once you realize shit takes time and you step back, it really helps. I have started working in like 1 hour increments and I think I do better work because I spend a lot more time thinking before I actually do anything.

My pops and I used to do "10 minute jobs" that ended up taking us 2 hours. I love him, but I think we thought on our feet too much. Of course I'll never know half of the shit he forgot.

Thanks for another great how - to. Keep em coming!

~Rev Mike

thats a really neat trick, thanx!

Originally Posted by pangeaspeed

dude that tank looks so incredibly rad!!!!! i love the center stripe of brass!!!! here is a little tip a dude tought me so that you dont have to do those huge welds on the tunnel, and you dont even have to use heat or a bar to bend it.

i did a little illustration to show what i am talking about.

1. take some 16 or 18 g sheet which ever you prefur. cut it to a rectangle that is a few inches larger then your total tank dimensions.

2. figure out the amount of material that your tunnel is going to use. ie use pie r squared to detremin the circumfrance then divide that by how much of the tube you want.... or just grab a tube and measeure the amount of material to be used.

3. draw a centerline on the rectangle and plot the width of the tunnel down the center of the sheet using the number you just developed.

4. use a break or some 2x4's in a vice to bend 90's on your lines. now you have a u shape, or two 90's facing eachother.

5. the process of bending hardens the material that was bent. (at this point all the metal on the sheet will bend before the 90 degree bends will.) grab the tallest part on the sheet and force them back to the table. (almost like trying to flatten the sheet back to how it came)

6. by doing this the 90s keep a nice clean bend line and the tunnel is formed.



i hope this makes sence. its kinda hard to explaine in words, but if you have ever bent a 90 in sheet metal and then tryed to flatten the sheet back out you will understand.

Thanks for your input pangeaspeed. I've done tanks this way as well, and with out a break, bending the 16g is a damn chore! I saw a tutorial on lowbrow I believe that did the belly that way and it came out very clean.

I've got a sporty tank to narrow, maybe i'll give the one piece belly another shot.

yeah i cant ever get a nice clean bend with the bend it over a round bar trick. i usualy do everything in 18g or 20g so i think that helps with this trick.

That is the nicest tank I have ever seen. Tank of the year.

Look great. Nice work. Any pics or info on how you laid in the the spigots for the gas guage???.

Originally Posted by ARBY

Look great. Nice work. Any pics or info on how you laid in the the spigots for the gas guage???.

http://kilbydeuce.com/09/parts.php?sgauge=1

Thanks a ton for the write up, great info.

a little off topic, but i noticed a 2005 QBP catalog in the background of one of the shots. you didn't happen to work there (QBP) during that time, did you? only asking cuz i used to work in the bulk dept. there and my picture is in that catalog somewhere...creepy

Originally Posted by rider728

a little off topic, but i noticed a 2005 QBP catalog in the background of one of the shots. you didn't happen to work there (QBP) during that time, did you? only asking cuz i used to work in the bulk dept. there and my picture is in that catalog somewhere...creepy

No, didn't work there. But they do have some neat fittings and things for frame work. Like cable stops and guides. You can do some cool stuff with the isometric bottom bracket shells

Damn. The first 40 or so pics turned into red "X's."

Originally Posted by ARBY

Damn. The first 40 or so pics turned into red "X's."

Thanks for the heads up. Something is up with the web provider, should be right in a few if you wanted to check it again.

Nope. Still not working.

Originally Posted by ARBY

Nope. Still not working.

Fixed.

Pics are gone again!!! I have a tank on the bench that I am studying, but its been more than 30 minutes.... I hope you get the pics back.
Later,
Kenny

cool!

Amazing work, That finished tank is a masterpiece. The entire motorcycle is for that matter!

Thanks for getting the pics back up!!!
And for the how to, I did learn something!
Later,
Kenny

Nice job, looks great.

That thing turned out looking WAY better then i thought it would when i started reading this. amazing work!