I pointed in an earlier post in this thread to having received a brand new Alu tank, with hydro stamp, valve and shop VIP sticker that had a significant amount of aluminum chips in it. Many tiny, potentially dip tube orifice clocking, many tinier, some quite bigger. As a pretty technical guy I am certain that this cylinder never was cleaned after the valve thread was cut. Thread and cylinder were pristine except for the chips. There was no evidence of rework or such (or worse).Can anyone give 1 example in the last ~5-10 years that a tank was condemned within the 5 years after a hydro (which means the hydro must have been done in the last 5-10 years)? I'm just curious if the VIP that used to be from a safety standpoint has now turned into a "tax" from an LDS?
So, this cylinder was never cleaned after the thread was cut.
That is strike 1. Should not ever happen.
It also was never VISually inspected or not thoroughly enough.
That is strike 2.
Since it is highly unlikely that a new cylinder would be hydro tested prior to the thread being cut, it also appears difficult to understand how all the Alu thread cutting chips could have been remaining in the tank after hydro testing. Why? Well, one would think that a hydro tested tank would have been filled with water at least once ... and that water would have been poured out at least once. When I cleaned the tank the vast majority of the chips (after shaking out first) in the general tank volume came out with the first rinse. Maybe even all, but that is hard to tell as small bits in the thread still needed to be worked out with a toothbrush.
So, it would not be entirely unreasonable to entertain the thought that this tank possibly, despite the stamp indicating the opposite, might actually never have been hydroed. If so, that certainly would be a big fat strike 3.
I was not a certified inspector then. I worked it out with the shop. I thought about raising a stink with the manufacturer, but chose not to. (I do value my time somewhat and felt it would have been the shops place to raise that stink, but they likely never would have as the name was on the VIP sticker that probably should not have been there.
So, does that count as a valid example to your question?
Anyway, as previously mentioned in less words, that experience shattered my the as pretty new diver alreadysomewhat damaged trust in any level of integrity in the scuba world and convinced me that if I really want to trust something, I either really know the person (not the shop) wo inspected or adjusted something so well that I trust them indeed - or if I am not in that lucky position I need to go diy. Which I did. Hence I took the class and became an inspector. I only inspect my own tanks for my own purposes and as I would not hesitate to consult a shop if something looks worthy of a second look, I quite can trust my process here. There is that and there also is the not small fact that inside my tiny little scuba world that VIS class from @abnfrog most certainly is the highest quality hands on class I ever took.
For what it's worth, if I ever were to **** up an inspection, @abnfrog certainly would not be to blame. That's why my stickers proudly show my #.
But, as I inspect so few tanks so infrequently, I reread and recheck, look, double check etc... in my case I loose money doing it. But I know what I got and that I can trust it...