Custom Fuel Tank fabrication - Gloucester

[S6PNJ]

Can anyone recommend anywhere near Gloucester that can fabricate a fuel tank for me? It's a basic rectangular box that I need to feed a piece of garden machinery. I'm not fussed what the material is (plastic/ali/steel) as long as it holds fuel/petrol (safely of course!)

I simply need a box 60cm long by 14cm wide by 23cm tall (27cm to top of fuel cap) with an outlet for a 1/4" (?) fuel pipe to feed a Honda GX620 engine.

i know about the powers of Google but personal recommendations are always better than emailing a dozen random businesses that may or may not do this for me.

[GreenV8S]

I'm sure there will be plenty of fabricators near you who will knock that sort of thing out in their sleep. If you can't find any, AH Fabrications have done that sort of work for me and they'll simply post it to you.

[S6PNJ]

GreenV8S said:

I'm sure there will be plenty of fabricators near you who will knock that sort of thing out in their sleep.

I'm sure there are, but without recommendations, you get the farcical situation that I have just experienced!

Google for fabricators, find one whose name is reminiscent of a car but they have in fact nothing to do with motoring. Navigate to their webpage that mentions fabrication and find the following info as well as an email address:

St***os Fabrication are able to offer Aluminium and Steel welding services as well as sheet metal bending, folding and punching, giving greater scope to the range of products now available.


Email said address saying its a petrol tank for a Honda GX620 engine and find it bounces due to a DNS issue, I assume I've typed the address incorrectly and try again - it bounces again. Find another email on their webpage (different domain name) and email that. Get a response saying:

It sounds like you are looking for someone who can do sheetmetal, bending and possibly welding which is not something we offer on site at St***os unless you wish for this box to be manufactured from Plastic ?

Reply back saying yup plastic is fine as long as it is petrol safe.

Get another reply back saying:

Unfortunately we will have to decline to quote this job even in plastic. We do not feel comfortable manufacturing a part which is for a fuel box on a car as we would be liable should anything happen.


Who mentioned a car? Its for a Honda GX620! which was in my original email to them. So, rather than randomly email website, personal recommendations are always preferred.

I found 2 names of other fabricators from an earlier PH thread, one has replied declining the job, other has replied with a quote, which, if it is a 'market rate' means that I'm going to need to fix, rather than replace, my existing tank as the cost is too high to be able to justify it.

1/10 for a rant - no swearing!

[Mignon]

I would have thought you could buy a steel jerrycan cheaply enough and fit an outlet pipe to it.

[tapkaJohnD]

I think you may be discovering for the first time, in an age when you can order something from Amazon and have it in your hand in a day, the problems of getting something made for you.

You've only tried one supplier! Yes, get recommendations, but look again locally. I suppose you really want it made in aluminium, and a simple Google search for "aluminium fabrication gloucester" found six or more companies after "Stratos" that may help you. If you can, go and see them - their workshop can tell you a lot about their work!

John

[S6PNJ]

tapkaJohnD said:

You've only tried one supplier!

Err, nope, I've tried 2 from an old PH thread (both of whom have answered - see the power of recommendations?) and this local one who seemed to be the best bet from a quick search but has proved to be not very helpful at all.

Mignon said:

I would have thought you could buy a steel jerrycan cheaply enough and fit an outlet pipe to it.

Ref using a jerry can, it's not suitable due to the space it needs to fit in, but yes I had already considered this.

As above, from the one reply I have had, it looks like its going to be 'out with the Plastic Padding Fuel Tank Fix' kit and see what happens.
https://www.halfords.com/motoring/engine-oils-flui...

[Auntieroll]

Try Lite Welding and Fabrication in Nailsworth.
He is always busy and does work for some leading classic racing restorers.
Superb welder !

[S6PNJ]

Thanks!