OT gas can flakes

[Robert Zack]

i have a 1 gallon galvanized gas can that i bought new around 1969. it has been stored for a looonnng time. no rust inside but when i shine a light in it it has some white dust & flakes in it . it looks to be galvanized on the inside as well. what would clean out this residue. i had an old outboard gas tank that had some rust on the bottom. i put 2 tubes of daisy bb's in it & let it ride in my truck bed for a month. cleaned it right up but that won't work in this case. here's what i shook out of the can.
photo is of a similar can.

 

[Tall T]

i have a 1 gallon galvanized gas can that i bought new around 1969. it has been stored for a looonnng time. no rust inside but when i shine a light in it it has some white dust & flakes in it . it looks to be galvanized on the inside as well. what would clean out this residue. i had an old outboard gas tank that had some rust on the bottom. i put 2 tubes of daisy bb's in it & let it ride in my truck bed for a month. cleaned it right up but that won't work in this case. here's what i shook out of the can.
photo is of a similar can.

View attachment 160181
View attachment 160182

What I do for similar situations is to put a cone shaped auto paint filter into a funnel held in by clothespins or whatever
and whatever you fill from that can, run it through that strainer.

 

[Ray,IN]

I really like Tall T's suggestion of a paint strainer. Too late for me though.
Oh man_. I've been there done that. I didn't check the inside of the galvanized can. I just filled at a gas station, came home and filled my ZTR mower. The gas was completely clear until the last quart, which was milky white. The strainer in my funnel caught a lot of flakes, but the fine stuff passed through the screen.
That was last summer, and I'm still having carb problems after replacing 7 in-line filters last summer. I replaced the filter again last week because the engine would not start, the filter was plugged but appeared clear.
BTW, these old galvanized cans are selling for $30-$40 ea.

 

[Duner Wi]

I would rinse can out with gas several times and then use it but monitor for flakes using a strainer till confident , problem solved.

 

[HarryVanderpool]

If I'm worried about it, I strain through a coffee filter.
I have used a paper towel as a filter many times as well.
You can buy a large galv funnel with a brass screen. Just lay the material on the bottom of the funnel and pour away.

 

[Robert Zack]

i have a conical wire frame that holds grease filters. i use it to strain melted bees wax. that should work. it's a nice old can. i'd like to save it.

 

[HarryVanderpool]

i have a conical wire frame that holds grease filters. i use it to strain melted bees wax. that should work. it's a nice old can. i'd like to save it.

Always like to see a fellow beekeeper here!

 

[Robert Zack]

old age has taken it'd toll & i retired from beekeeping last year. my oldest daughter took over so i still keep a hand in. i'm also on a lot of swarm capturing lists so i capture swarms & give them to her. 15 years ago i was running 60 or so hives. at this point i'm helping her to manage 18.
i run all my capping wax thru a solar melter 2-3 times. then i melted that wax & run it thru the grease filter where it falls into a bucket of water. sometimes i repeat that part. i have a glass blower & a blacksmith who buy all the wax i produce. and i keep 2-3 pounds stashed for my woodworking projects. the grease filter gets the wax really clean.

 

[HarryVanderpool]

So that we don't stray too off-topic, I want to invite you to visit on Beesource.
We probably won't talk tractors there.

 

[Old Ford Mechanic]

i have a 1 gallon galvanized gas can that i bought new around 1969. it has been stored for a looonnng time. no rust inside but when i shine a light in it it has some white dust & flakes in it . it looks to be galvanized on the inside as well. what would clean out this residue. i had an old outboard gas tank that had some rust on the bottom. i put 2 tubes of daisy bb's in it & let it ride in my truck bed for a month. cleaned it right up but that won't work in this case. here's what i shook out of the can.
photo is of a similar can.

View attachment 160181
View attachment 160182

 

[Old Ford Mechanic]

The white specks look to be the remains of ethanol gas left in the can. If it were mine i would clean the outside of the can and put it on the shelf never to be used again. Then go get myself a new plastic can. Problem solved.

 

[HarryVanderpool]

"Just say no" to plastic cans!
Ethanol has nothing to do with it.
It's "white rust".
Rinse it out and get it back in use.