Are these tanks worth it? 1986 & 1988 vintage aluminum Luxfers

[Scared Silly]

First, lets look at the price of used 6061 cylinder, that is in hydro and approximately 10 years old, with a std Sherwood 5000 Yoke valve. I would say around $75-$100 is the going price. So the seller is over priced to start with.

Given they are 6351 cylinders the seller probably does not know about this:

http://hazmat.dot.gov/pubs/reports/cylinder/3al_advisory.pdf

or this:

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-14255.pdf

Which as folks have said lowers the price even more. In some places they are worth scrap, others it is getting to be crap shoot. Personally I own a LP CO2 from 6351 it is not subject to SLC but I still have it tested for it at requal. Me I would let the seller know that you are passing on the deal and let them know why.

 

[douglasvb]

Me I would let the seller know that you are passing on the deal and let them know why.

Thanks, Scared Silly, that's exactly what i did.

 

[Scared Silly]

No problem. Where you doing your grad work? I did my undergrad at Oregon State and used to dive out of Newport in the early 80s.

 

[douglasvb]

I'm doing my grad work at Oregon State, actually (same place I got my undergrad). Newport is probably pretty much the same dive site as you'd remember from the 80's. I was just over there last week doing some research diving for a rockfish study out in the bay.

What department were you in? I'm doing my masters in mechanical engineering. For my PhD, I'm contemplating a switch to a different department or discipline that will have me dive as part of my research.

 

[douglasvb]

And for anyone interested, this is the response that the seller gave me when I told him I wasn't interested due to a lot of places no longer wanting to fill them, etc.

Yup, Am well aware of the misinformation that some shops have ascribed to.
It gets frustrating when they make up their own rules regardless of industry standard.
The general rule that many are going to with aluminum is 15years, But that's just an arbitrary figure for the most part.
The standard has been, as you know, as long as the hydro and vis+ are current you're good. But in an effort to sell new cylinders we have the new "rules", which are way over and above DOT standards.
Sorry for the rant, I'm an SSI Dive Control Specialist, divemaster/assistant instructor, and deal with this all the time when we have a new diver go north with a cylinder that we have certified only to have another shop tell them that there's something wrong with it. The permutations of the story seem to be endless but the bottom line usually ends up being the shop trying to up-sell or get one over on an unsuspecting new diver. There are shops around Puget Sound that we no longer do business with for student fills or other things while we're there do to improper dealings, shoddy fills, or other behavior that isn't appropriate.
Have a safe season,
*seller's name*

I have to say, I agree with him on the shoddy shops bit. Especially in the northwest where it can be a very long way between shops, we seem to have to live with what we get.

Thanks again for everyone's help!

 

[UnderSeaBumbleBee]

I think this thread is about to get pretty good. I have the out.


Regarding this "instructor" selling these great tanks, if he is diving all the time with students, why sell such "wonderful" tanks? Methinks he is the one trying to con new divers!

 

[douglasvb]

Hmmm perhaps I should remove that craigslist link before this gets too exciting.

 

[UnderSeaBumbleBee]

A little excitement is good for the soul.

 

[piikki]

I guess I have to refresh the part from my post that went to the black hole, and repeat that however wrong or right those 'signs' on scuba shops doors are I DO NOT care to be the one fighting the misinformation when I need the fill NOW - so I would def not buy pre-1990 Al tanks.
Most shops I have seen with the signs have different cut-off dates. Most don't even specify the alloy or Luxfer. They don't care, and I don't care to get aggravated.
Some shops also offer GREAT DEALS if you bring your 'old' Al tank (whether or not it's the wrong type). You know, by keeping your old valve they give you a new Al tank for a whopping $179.99 instead of $199.99. And they'll get rid of your old tank for you too! Woohoo!

 

[douglasvb]

Does any LDS even exist that sells tanks for a reasonable price?