Canada wont certify Cylinders

[Gudu]

Hi there.
I am a nebie, have not even finnishet my OW course so please be patient.

When I bought my Boat it came with a complete including 2 Cylinders which both had over 3000 in them but where not used for at least 2 years. Now I am getting into Scuba and want to use some of this Gear and brought both Cylinders down to a local Dive Shop for recertification and filling.

They did a visual inspection both Cylinders passed but apparently the Guys which do the Hydrostatic test wont do it becouse the Cylinders have a USA DOT Stamp on it but nothing Canadian and the Lady said becouse they are from 1983 I should buy new ones.

Yes I know I cant get Cylinders filled untill I have my card----------this is not the issue here.


Can somebody tell me what the regulations are in CANADA and which outhorized Agency is responsible, thank you-----------Gudu

 

[grf88]

Pre 1993 scuba tanks with DOT stamps are granfathered and do not require a TC stamp. That said if they are aluminum and of the old alloy, which if the are Luxfer or Walter Kiddie. they would be, then you are going to have a problem getting them filled in many locations even if they pass an eddy test. If they are Catalina tanks then you are good to go but you will still find many shops refusing to fill cylinders of that age, no valid reason but their compressor their rules. Look at the neck of the tank and post the information here.

 

[scubadiver888]

See if you can find a company which does hydrostatic testing of pressurized cylinder. These would include SCUBA and SCBA (not underwater, e.g. Firefighter tanks).

Some dive shops don't know everything there is to know about cylinder. At least get a second opinion.

That said, some cylinder require special testing (Luxfer aluminum cylinder manufactured before June 1988). In my area no one does this testing. So shops won't fill the cylinders. The cylinder could be perfectly fine but without testing no one will fill. If no one will fill you might as well scrap it and use the money to buy a new cylinder.

 

[captain]

Needs to be moved to tanks section. This is not a vintage diving issue.

 

[DaleC]

Report sent to Mod's

 

[Xaryo]

If the cylinders are from 1983, empty them and sell them for the weight.
Even if they are not made with the bad alloy, they are old enough and not many LDS will fill them if the visual and eddy was not done by them.

A pair of alu cylinders is not that expensive.

And old bad alloy cylinders are prone to develop crack in the neck, which will cause explosion. I don't think your life and the one around you and the one at the LDs are worth less than a pair of cylinder.

 

[Wolfie]

Gudu never said they were Aluminum!

 

[Gudu]

Thank you all for your replies. As SCUBADIVER888 sugested, I will try to find a place doing hydrostatic testing of pressurized Cylinders just to be sure. If that fails I have use for them in a non Scuba application.

Thank you all again and safe Diving-----------Gudu

 

[bleeb]

If you post the markings on the shoulder of the tank (the stamped text), people here might be able to help you interpret them, and possibly answer some of the questions and elaborate on which issues that have been mentioned apply.

 

[elan]

Thank you all for your replies. As SCUBADIVER888 sugested, I will try to find a place doing hydrostatic testing of pressurized Cylinders just to be sure. If that fails I have use for them in a non COMPRESSED GAS application.

Thank you all again and safe Diving-----------Gudu

Fixed it for you

I would not fill them if they are not tested, not worth the risk.

But if you post the pic of the neck we could give more info.

---------- Post added May 7th, 2012 at 06:52 PM ----------

Pre 1993 scuba tanks with DOT stamps are granfathered and do not require a TC stamp. That said if they are aluminum and of the old alloy, which if the are Luxfer or Walter Kiddie. they would be, then you are going to have a problem getting them filled in many locations even if they pass an eddy test. If they are Catalina tanks then you are good to go but you will still find many shops refusing to fill cylinders of that age, no valid reason but their compressor their rules. Look at the neck of the tank and post the information here.

IIRC they should had been also in use in Canada before that time. Hydro stamps I guess can prove that...

If it's an AL tank did not Catalina start making AL tanks only in 86 ?