Moogyboy
Contributor
hey all
Surfacing once again after a VERY long time...
I've just moved for the first time in 5 1/2 years (none of which was spent diving, unfortunately) and in the process I've naturally unearthed my cache of gear. One piece which I'd all but forgotten about is my old trusty cylinder, an AL90 if I remember correctly. It's an ex-rental tank I picked up from my dive shop back in Columbus early in my hobby, with a first hydro date stamp of 1989 and a last date of 2004 or so. But here's the kicker: for the last several years it had been been sitting out on my back balcony, after my (now deceased) p***k landlord got skittish and refused to let me store it in the basement with the rest of my gear, even after I assured him that the thing was empty and couldn't possibly explode or whatever. For whatever reason--any of them would be pretty stupid, I suspect--I never brought it in, and left it outside through several summers and winters. It hasn't been in the rain or snow or sunshine, but I wonder if all that exposure to the changing temperatures might have somehow compromised its integrity, and whether or not it will pass or fail its next hydro when I finally get around to it. Or maybe it's just too old? Other than the occasional none-too-good seal when clamping on my SE2 first stage (which I blame on the reg's yoke), my tank has always been just fine. Any educated opinions would be welcome. I'd love to get diving again and if I still have a good tank it would be great. Thanks everyone!
cheers
Billy S.
Surfacing once again after a VERY long time...
I've just moved for the first time in 5 1/2 years (none of which was spent diving, unfortunately) and in the process I've naturally unearthed my cache of gear. One piece which I'd all but forgotten about is my old trusty cylinder, an AL90 if I remember correctly. It's an ex-rental tank I picked up from my dive shop back in Columbus early in my hobby, with a first hydro date stamp of 1989 and a last date of 2004 or so. But here's the kicker: for the last several years it had been been sitting out on my back balcony, after my (now deceased) p***k landlord got skittish and refused to let me store it in the basement with the rest of my gear, even after I assured him that the thing was empty and couldn't possibly explode or whatever. For whatever reason--any of them would be pretty stupid, I suspect--I never brought it in, and left it outside through several summers and winters. It hasn't been in the rain or snow or sunshine, but I wonder if all that exposure to the changing temperatures might have somehow compromised its integrity, and whether or not it will pass or fail its next hydro when I finally get around to it. Or maybe it's just too old? Other than the occasional none-too-good seal when clamping on my SE2 first stage (which I blame on the reg's yoke), my tank has always been just fine. Any educated opinions would be welcome. I'd love to get diving again and if I still have a good tank it would be great. Thanks everyone!
cheers
Billy S.
