Getting Tanked...

[hbdad]

I have been looking at building a tank for my current cruiser but really don't know where to start. I commute on my cruiser quite a bit and thought about having a tank that could be used to store tools, spare tube, etc. Does anyone have anything like this on their bikes?

 

[B607]

Find some pics of the early Schwinns and Elgins. The 1920's bikes before the ballooners. They had a tank with a door so you could store tools. Those early tanks are real boxy looking and almost look homemade. I think with a little tin/sheet metal skills you could easily make one.
B607

 

[thatismytruck]

I took some flat aluminum sheet and "formed" this. It's not done yet in this photo. I'm still working on smoothing the rivets and polishing.

I suppose I could have incorporated a door of some sort.

 

[sensor]

yeah ive done a few(one for my dayton,my schwuffman for the kids build,and one on my elgin in the #3build off)im going to do another one for rosemary(2) guess i could take step by step pics of it and write a how too.....

probably wont be until next weekend though

 

[Ratfink1962]

Ive been toying with the idea of making one myself. My first thought was a large chunk of white styrofoam... sand and shape to fit, then fiberglass over it, then use a solvent to dissolve the styrofoam. Im not a real big fan of fiberglassing things and the fact that im an old sheetmetal guy that used to beat on cars... leads me to believe I can make one out of sheetmetal.

The plan... Build a form buck out of lumber then form the sheetmetal over the top. Forming a right and left half, and then joining the two together. All in all it shouldnt be too hard, I would probably have to do some cutting and welding of the corners to get it all worked out since im not setup to do shrinking.

 

[sensor]

if youve got a hammer and dolly youre set up to shrink(or you could do it the easy way and use a torch :wink: )

 

[user 135]

Please write up the how to on any tank. Valuable information any way that it is built.

 

[Ratfink1962]

if youve got a hammer and dolly youre set up to shrink(or you could do it the easy way and use a torch :wink: )

Here's the easiest way...

but on a sharp corner, thats way too much shrinking with just a hammer and dolly, torch would definetly make it easier.

 

[sensor]

okay you know someone with a power hammer?!?!?
ive never even seen one in person

 

[Ratfink1962]

Dont i wish!!!

That machine is on my dream list of tools Ill never have...

 

[C.S.]

Maybe a bit too much for sheet metal, but here is the one I know: