Gas Can Rust removal

[Lucky Forward]

This may seem like a simply topic but I am looking for a good way to do it. I have several questions to anyone who has done it.
Gas Can (Jerry Can)
1. Rust: What is the best way to remove it?
2. How do you keep it clean from rust once it is gone?
Water Can (Jerry Can)
Most were coated with a white paint I assume to be lead base. This leads to a lot of questions.
If it is still painted, can it be removed and recoated with something so water to drink can be used?
If the paint is still good, can it be coated?
Denny

[armydriver]

Lucky
Here is what I have done in the past. I assume you are talking about inside the can. Put a hand full of dry wall screws in the can and shake very well. This will take off all of the surface rust. Get all the screws out of the can and then coat with an epoxy material. I have coated two fuel tanks and one jerry can with an expoxy coating I get from Caswell off of the net. This will totally seal the can and prevent rust from returning.

[Lucky Forward]

Army Driver,
Thanks, that sounds like it would work. I was considering using a chemical of some sort. Years ago I could buy sulfuric acid and it would take the rust down to the metal but it also allowed for rust to return and it was hard to reverse the acid and it kept on working. Also the rust would return as it seem to change the surface of the metal and the can would rust quicker after I used it. I have no idea if you can buy sulfuric acid anymore or any kind of acid for that matter. I have not even tried in many years.

I wonder if any have heard of a chemical that I can use?

[armydriver]

The epoxy coating I have gotten from Caswell completely coats the inside keeping rust from coming back. It will even seal pin holes in the can or fuel tank or leaking seams. I fixed a CCKW tank with the material and also an M38 jeep fuel tank along with a 43 Jerry can.