Can I clean an air tank to make it oxygen compatible? How?

[ginti]

Hi all, I have an AL80 that has always been used with air. Now I want to use it for deco, but it isn't oxy compatible right now.

Is there any way to make it oxygen compatible? Easy enough to do it at home possibly.

IMPORTANT: tank and valve as well

Thanks!

 

[rjack321]

Before you go any further, will your dive shop accept your home cleaning and actually fill it? Or will they insist on their own staff cleaning it?

 

[abnfrog]

take a course so you are trained and certified

 

[ginti]

Thanks to both of you!

Before you go any further, will your dive shop accept your home cleaning and actually fill it? Or will they insist on their own staff cleaning it?

that's a good point. Actually where I live now there is no shop capable to fill it with oxygen or nx50 (indeed I'll most likely use nx50), so I will have to fill it with some friends equipment, and that is ok.

But since I often dive far from home, and I may need to fill it at different locations... I guess there is a huge variation about the acceptance of DIY tanks by diving centres, depending also on local regulations, am I right?

take a course so you are trained and certified

That's a good point. I look online and I found:
1) TDI Nitrox Blender+VPI+O2service
2) IANTD EANx Blender+Life Support Systems Service Technician, but this is available only to technicians with a proof of Technician status through manufacturers or through Institute of American Scuba Technicians

I have two questions about that:
1 - Is there anything else available?
2 - is it possible for an individual to get a technician status through a manufacturers? How much does it cost in terms of money and time?

Also, do diving centres recognise these courses - or does it depend on local regulations?

 

[jale]

Hi
Yes you can clean the tank ... and the valve
Now as you are in France, some tanks are aready marked as group 1 (oxy) or group 2 (air) (don't really remember but you can check) and that may be important for you if you need to refill in a shop.
I also found that if you need to refill out of your normal place, it is good to leave oxy inside; don't empty the tank as it "might" reassure the shop that the tank is "safe".
After it is often back to personal relationship with the people you are dealing with...

 

[ginti]

Hi
Yes you can clean the tank ... and the valve
Now as you are in France, some tanks are aready marked as group 1 (oxy) or group 2 (air) (don't really remember but you can check) and that may be important for you if you need to refill in a shop.
I also found that if you need to refill out of your normal place, it is good to leave oxy inside; don't empty the tank as it "might" reassure the shop that the tank is "safe".
After it is often back to personal relationship with the people you are dealing with...

Good to know; tomorrow I'll go filling my doubles, I'll ask for some more info.

P.S. It seems you know a bit about France rules... Do you live here?

 

[jale]

Used to. But still dive there a few times each summer mainly caves in the Lot.
Regarding tanks, if I remember alu tanks are not categorised (no group 1, 2) and as it looks you are talking about deco cylinders, I think you have alu tanks

 

[ginti]

Used to. But still dive there a few times each summer mainly caves in the Lot.
Regarding tanks, if I remember alu tanks are not categorised (no group 1, 2) and as it looks you are talking about deco cylinders, I think you have alu tanks

yes it's an alu

 

[jale]

Remove the valve, take it in your shover-bathtub, remove the shover head, put washing liquid in the tank, fill with warm water, shake, use an old toothbrush to clean the threads, shake, rince, redo it if you think it is needed, rince, dry it.
Then put a new oxy clean valve (50 euros) or clean the old valve and reset with lube and you are done.
But first check the hydro date

 

[abnfrog]

yes you can get a tech cert ..........either HOG or deep 6