Buying used AL80 cylinder?

[mrtechbench]

So, my advice would be to call your local shop and ask them if they have any policy against filling tanks of that age and make. Some places do have stupid policies about not tanks over a certain age (imo a cash grab to sell more new tanks), so it pays to check. Also check with your local hydro test place, if you know who/where they are

I guess it could be worth a call to the dive shops you plan on using to get fills in case they have policies against it. I haven't had trouble at the (only) 2 hydro facilities I've used but wouldn't call them personally.

 

[SouthernSharktoothDiver]

i will just throw this out there.....did you consider renting instead of owning? you will need to be diving quite a bit to make it worth owning your own tanks, storing them, maintaining them etc

Maybe this varies by area, but at my LDS, rental and fill on an 80 would cost you almost $20. Versus the guy that does fills but doesn't do rental charges $5 a fill. So that's a saving of $13 a dive. Local hydro place is $32/ 5 years for $6.40/year. Local fill guy does not require a visual, so it comes out to net saving in a single dive on per annum maintainence. From there, if you paid $100 for the tank (very achievable price point on a used AL 80), you're breaking even and in the black after less than ten dives (plus one per year to balance out the maintainence costs). I dive local, so I could easily get ten dives per tank in the spring/summer (two tanks/dives per outing).

Now, a more reasonably priced dive shop where I used to live charged $10/day for rental and fill, which shifts the curve a bit, but in the end you will still break even, and IMO it's worth it not to be beholden to the dive shop's rental schedule, and honestly? You've already spent $1000 (or 2000 or 4000 or 10000) on gear, what's an extra $200 for a pair of tanks?

 

[SouthernSharktoothDiver]

@mrtechbench My policy is, any used gear that requires servicing (or is expensive/complex/important enough that it might not work/I would care greatly if it didn't), I call the LDS that services that type gear and ask about it. Saved my bacon once on an Sherwood Oasis that turned out to be from the older run line that is not serviceable anymore (the seller wasn't trying to rip me off, we just had a bit of failure to communicate.)

 

[Skip Y]

I have steel tanks from the 1950's that still pass HYDRO and vis. Steel tanks tend to have better buoyancy characteristics. Usually you can use less lead with steel also. Buy steel once and treat them right they'll last your lifetime

 

[Dave545]

Those aren’t old enough to have the faulty aluminum

 

[tursiops]

Hey all, I am a fairly new diver ( and am new to the website) and I am still learning about everything about diving and the gear. I’m looking to buy two used AL80 tanks. I found a guy on FB marketplace selling tanks. Both tanks are under the current hyrdo VIP and O2 clean for nitrox. They looks from the outside good, but they were manufactured in 2005. Should I be worried about the age? I will also be using the tanks for Nitrox. Thank you!

2005 is no problem. If some idiot dive shop gives you a problem about the age, find a new dive shop.