A tanks life

[ems_is_4_me]

How long dose scuba tanks last. I know the have to be hydro and other testing done. I have family that stopped diving 20-25 years ago and still has all his gear . I think the old scuba pro regs can be rebuilt but are the tanks to old to get retested and used. Like i said they are about 20-25 years old

 

[OldNSalty]

Wow!!! That's old. Al or Steel? Have they been sitting with air in them and at what pressue? They could still be good...or crap...only way to tell is to take them in for test. most LDS will give it an unofficial look over and tell you if they think it is worth going to hydro.

 

[ems_is_4_me]

I dont know if they are al or steel. I just no its all scubapro bc and regs. It will be a little bit before i can go and get it its a 16 hour one way trip to pick it all up. I will most likly go this winter some time.

 

[OldNSalty]

Oh wait-That's not that old. I keep thinking the 60's were 20 years ago-more or less. There could be problems but there are many tanks still around that are that old.

 

[ems_is_4_me]

Thanks

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

How long dose scuba tanks last. ... Like i said they are about 20-25 years old

Forever? Well, almost forever

If properly stored with clean dry air inside.... a VERY long time. I still use the steel tank I started diving with in 1976... let's see.... thats 33 years? And I have a 20 something year-old Aluminum tank I just dove this weekend....

As mentioned above, the tanks will need to be hydro-tested and inspected. This is not very expensive, so if you are getting the tanks for free, it is worth the effort.

Best wishes.

 

[tlt]

I would take that old scubapro stuff over most new stuff any day. If your lucky, maybe he'll even have the original owners cards. The tank(s) will need to be sent out for hydro first thing. You can probably take the equipment to a reputable scubapro dealer at a local dive shop, and they can give the tank a preliminary visual inspection, if there is rust, etc. then you will need a new tank, you can pick up a used tank online, even this forum relatively inexpensively. You will for sure want to have the equipment totally serviced and checked, including the o-ring on the tank, should it turn out to be in good shape.

 

[rstofer]

You can get pretty good information if you just find out what the headstamp markings say. For example, the tanks are steel if they have something like 3AA on them. They are aluminum if stamped 3AL. The are some special exemption tanks that won't have 3AA but they won't be aluminum either.

It is getting more difficult to get old aluminum tanks refilled. Tanks made prior to '90 are sometimes declined. Rather than ask about it, search for 6351 or Luxfer or aluminum tanks.

Richard

 

[GrandpaScuba]

Tanks that old may be the original steel 71.2's (71.2 cft) that we used to use. These had a working pressure of 2400psi (I think). If they pass inspection and testing, theres nothing wrong with them. They might be a little small, but not as small as you think. The ubiquitous AL80 is not really 80cft, it's only 77cft. Not that much bigger than the old fashioned steel 71's. Plus those old steel tanks were really small and light weight. I'd love to have a couple of them, now.

 

[Paladin]

The working pressure of the old 72s is 2250 psi. That give about 64 cubic feet of air. For the first five years, before the first hydro, they could be overfilled by 10% to 2475, which gave 71.2 cu. ft.

I have a Healthways 72 that I bought new in 1976 that is still going strong. I also have a 1991 Catalina AL80 that is still good as new. The age of a tank is not the issue. It's how well it has been taken care of. And whether or not it's an old Luxfer or Walter Kidde AL80 made before 1988. A Catalina AL80 of any age is okay if it passes hydro.