Knee dent tank

dburrows6735

dburrows6735

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Hey guys,

I’ve started my knee dent tank and want to fill you guys in on my progress. I started with an 81 special tank. I bought a ball pin hammer, plastic tear drop hammer, paint stripper, bondo, sand paper, wire brushes, and some Surly brews.

I have no body work experience so here goes.

You would be surprised how hard you have to hit the tank to get it to dent. It always seems to dent more easily when you are not trying to dent it on purpose.

I put a second coat of striper on it and have it ready for bondo and then paint.
However I was thinking about keeping it bare with the dents exposed. I know the tank would rust faster but I know bondo is hard and I don’t want it to look like a toddler did it. So if I leave it bare people would know that it was intentional, and not that I suck and this whole bike thing. :)

The tank is in great shape but there is a small amount of rust on the inside. Anyone have any tips on how to get that out? Vinegar, nails?

Ill keep you guys posted on the finished product.

Thanks

David
 

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Last edited:
Dang I posted this in the wrong section. OH well, I cant figure out how to change it and I dont want to be that guy that posts 3 times.
 
Keep on going its starting to look good. You might want to grind off the emblem mount before you fill it in though. The putty around the emblem mount is likely to crack from vibration eventually if you don't grind it off.

It takes a lot of balls to do that to a tank when you are not experienced and I give you credit for taking the risk.
 
You just bend out the little mounts and grind it off? I was going to do that but I was worried I was going to put a hole in the tank when bending it out.
 
As I recall, the mounting tabs are spot welded to the tank in 2 places. I used a 4 inch angle grinder to gently and carefully grind off the spot weld without grinding through the tank.
 
Here is is guys. I had it al bondo'ed and painted, then decided to strip it down and go with a rough look. I primed it painted it with matte black and then sanded the shit out of it. I think its a good meld between cafe and rat.

What do you guys think?

Thanks

David

Also, anyone have any input on how to keep an empty tank from rusting in the inside? My other tank is in perfect shape and I want to keep it that way incase I want to use it again.
 

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im digging the rough look, i am only seeing it from a mobile phone atm so its a bit small but i like the idea of a rough finish! (i can hardly c what im typing here so pleese excuse any grotutis typos) amd this stick for navigating the touch screen totallysux.
 
wtf is this a mobile phone or a nintemdo DS?!!...i give up i cant see f#*kin s#*t here...gonna check this thred later ona freakin laptop
 
neat idea...looks unique and cool.
Por-15 tank liner works pretty good for sealing the tank inside.
If you decide to finish/paint the knee dent tank...measure off each side and be sure to form your dents evenly...you can correct minor discrepancies with filler if needed.
 
dburrows6735 said:
Here is is guys. I had it al bondo'ed and painted, then decided to strip it down and go with a rough look. I primed it painted it with matte black and then sanded the shit out of it. I think its a good meld between cafe and rat.
What do you guys think?
Thanks
David
Click to expand...
Lovely David, seeing is believing. Very cool.
I see you have the makings of a hovercraft there in the background (or are you not ready to assume every winter will be like last?).
 
Lou Ranger said:
Lovely David, seeing is believing. Very cool.
I see you have the makings of a hovercraft there in the background (or are you not ready to assume every winter will be like last?).
Click to expand...

Yeah I wish every winter was like the last. Trust me if I had the ability to make a hovercraft I would!
 
Looks good, I am going to start a similar project this winter. Any tips for getting those edges of the teardrop indent so sharp? I'm afraid when I start whacking it, it's going to look less like its done on purpose.
 

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