Krylon Fusion, 100% Silicone, and lots of painter's tape...
2-13-2011, Krylon Fusion, 100% Silicone, and lots of painter's tape...
So this weekend was it. I finally got around to re-sealing my 20L which was already drilled and had one coat of Krylon Fusion glossy black on the back wall (on the outside).
I had never silicone'd anything before... so I did some reading and decided that re-sealing my tank's 4 vertical corners would be safer than crossing my fingers and hoping the old seals hold. Mind you, the old seals have been agitated over the years with razors, so they were wearing quite thin. I hope this doesn't end up being one of those "it it ain't broke, don't fix it" projects. That would be disheartening.
Anywho.
So, I began by gathering my equipment:
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._7820857_a.jpg
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._1266034_a.jpg
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._7092346_a.jpg
Then I scraped my tank's 4 vertical corners clean of silicone, and degreased them with rubbing alcohol. I was cautious to remove every bit of silicone possible, as I've read that silicone doesn't adhere very well to old silicone.
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._8190744_a.jpg
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._5022743_a.jpg
Again, I had an audience:
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._7369537_a.jpg
I used WIDE blue painter's tape (Scotch) to tape my corners for nice clean lines. I made sure to get the wide version so I could be extra messy...
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._7485821_a.jpg
Heck yes those will be clean(ish) lines! Taping was an awesome idea- not my own might I add- I read about it somewhere. I guess masking tape would work equally as well as painter's tape.
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._3533169_a.jpg
Then I got messy...
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._8159673_a.jpg
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._1787119_a.jpg
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._8329075_a.jpg
I didn't know that in addition to the tip of the silicone tube needing to be cut off, a hole also needed to be punched. So before I knew it, I cut too much off and ended up using my hands to apply the silicone. Thanks gawd for wide tape and vinyl gloves!
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._4169549_a.jpg
The finished product wasn't as bad as I was expecting!
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...3_518325_a.jpg
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._3250920_a.jpg
I also put a layer of silicone on the underside of the top rim, with hopes of preventing salt creep up and under the rim. Only time will tell how it works out. I'm waiting a few days for the silicone to cure, then I'll be filling her up! Wish me luck!
Thanks for reading.
Christy