I have the opportunity to purchased a ss Sherwood Genesis 120cf tank for $150. The seller says the tank is within date for hydro and VIS.
Is this considered a good deal? Is it worth the chance? I used to service fire extinguishers and can find external damage easily enough.
Phil
The simple answer is:
Don't do it.
It is not worth the hassle.
Buying a used tank can be a good deal, but you must know what you are doing. If you don't know what you are doing, you will almost always lose.
For instance, using a 100cf HP 3442 steel tank as an example:
Let's say you find a used 100cf HP 3442 steel tank for $275.00. That sound like a good deal, after all, it is still in hydro. But the question is how far "in" is it. If it has to be hydro'd in 2 years, then it not such a great deal - in fact I'd pass it up with hydro costing $35.00. And you are not getting a new tank, and you might get it opened up for it's vis and find rust - now it needs to be tumbled - cleaned out.
Or how about a tank for $200.00 that is out of hydro? Even if they guaranteed that it would pass, you may still have to put @ $50.00 into it, and now you have a used tank that cost you $250.00. Is it really worth it?
I'd probably pay (and have) $200 for a tank that is 3 years from hydro and had just passed a vis.
But keep in mind the following:
A new 100cf HP 3442 steel tank cost new about $350.00. Some places will give you a free fill card - 10 fills at $5 a fill is worth $50.00. Now you have a brand new tank w/warranty for $300.00.
Also, I'm using an example of a tank that I'm very familiar with because I own a number of them dive them weekly. Coming across an unfamiliar tank ? - well, it's just not worth it.