ScubaInChicago
Contributor
On the other hand I just filled 15 tanks mixing in a stick and ran my O2 tank to empty without a booster or very much danger of an O2 mishap. Mixing nitrox is not rocket surgery and does not cost that much. Three of us dive a few dive trips a year and I mix nitrox. It adds about $2.00/tank for the O2.
Yes, it's a cheaper way to mix nitrox than a membrane system and is used by many shops around the world. Word of advice, analyze each tank for CO with the risk of adiabatic heating and compressing o2 enriched air. There was recently a very well known fill station blending nitrox whose system was compromised from a flash fire in the filter. CO analyzers are cheap, they're portable, and could save your life or someone you care about lives. Hopefully not too O.T., but it should be an additional practice everyone takes when doing gas analysis before EVERY dive when switching to a new tank or topping off an existing.
Forgive the cross linking, but here's a link of the incident in mentioned above. I know quite a few people who were effected by this incident and others:
CO Incident