Does (should) a new hydro stamp count as VIP?

[wmspdi]

I own steel tanks (1 air and 2 using banked NITROX) and recently had all 3 of them hydro tested. My LDS did a quick visual before taking the tanks to the hydro facility an hour's drive away.

After he picked them up he tumbled each tank to get any flash rust or gunk out. He then did another VIS, remounted the valves with new O rings, stickered and filled the tanks O2 compatible air (they sell banked Nitrox 32 - no PP fills). This was all included in the price of $40.00 per tank which I felt was fair.

NOTE: I did have to pay for 2 new NITROX tank bands to replace those removed for the hydro which I expected.

 

[Six2Life]

I own steel tanks (1 air and 2 using banked NITROX) and recently had all 3 of them hydro tested. My LDS did a quick visual before taking the tanks to the hydro facility an hour's drive away.

After he picked them up he tumbled each tank to get any flash rust or gunk out. He then did another VIS, remounted the valves with new O rings, stickered and filled the tanks O2 compatible air (they sell banked Nitrox 32 - no PP fills). This was all included in the price of $40.00 per tank which I felt was fair.

NOTE: I did have to pay for 2 new NITROX tank bands to replace those removed for the hydro which I expected.

If this was how all dive shops did business I would probably never darken the door of a hydrotester.

 

[Doc Harry]

Usually the visual comes before the hydro. Why would you hydro a rusted or pitted tank?

A visual comes before and after the hydro.

 

[superstar]

I bought a brand new tank from my local dive shop and they had to vip it before filling the tank even though there was a sticker on the tank from the manufacturer stating the tank was hydroed and vip'ed at the factory. The reason the lds had to vip the tank was that there was no proof the vip even happened. The same goes for the hydro but he was confident it probably was hydroed so he didn't have to send it out for a hydro.

 

[Peter_C]

I bought a brand new tank from my local dive shop and they had to vip it before filling the tank even though there was a sticker on the tank from the manufacturer stating the tank was hydroed and vip'ed at the factory. The reason the lds had to vip the tank was that there was no proof the vip even happened. The same goes for the hydro but he was confident it probably was hydroed so he didn't have to send it out for a hydro.

Please tell me they didn't charge you "extra" for the vip? Some LDS's are so full of it.

 

[superstar]

I am sure it was calculated in the total price. Another dive shop not so close to me sold me the same tank 2 years ago and that tank didn't need a vip because it was brand new and done at the factory. Go figure??? Imagine the liability of a cylinder manufacturer that didn't have a final inspection process in place.

Please tell me they didn't charge you "extra" for the vip? Some LDS's are so full of it.

 

[wmspdi]

The "proof" of the hydro was stamped into the neck of the tank (month, year and hydro inspector's mark). The proof of the VIS was the factory sticker. The mfg VIS sticker (or another dive shop's VIS sticker) is just as vaild as the LDS sticker. An annual visual inspection is a good idea, but it is NOT required by federal law, or DOT regulations. The VIS system is a SCUBA industry policy followed by most dive shops as a way to generate revenue. and weed out "suspect" tanks before they can do harm.

A new VIS with sticker (giving you 12 months before another VIS) should have been performed at no additional charge when selling the new tank. A standard air fill (21% O2) should also have been included as well (NITROX would be extra). Anything else would be a money grab by the LDS.

 

[Spg01]

I bought a brand new tank from my local dive shop and they had to vip it before filling the tank even though there was a sticker on the tank from the manufacturer stating the tank was hydroed and vip'ed at the factory. The reason the lds had to vip the tank was that there was no proof the vip even happened. The same goes for the hydro but he was confident it probably was hydroed so he didn't have to send it out for a hydro.

I am going through the same thing now with a local shop. I told them what I could get a set of doubles for and they said no way they could price match, so I asked for their best price. After days of no price I bought some from another shop and they put a vis sticker on and sent me on my way. After about 3 fills at the 1st shop the manager says he will not fill them because of the generic vis sticker until he talks to the inspector that did them. He knew the tanks were just purchased and the hydro stamp showed them to be born within a few months.

His excuse was it does not matter what it comes with from the factory because many people have touched it since then. That and he still did not like the vis sticker that was on it. I told him to refund my money for fills that I already paid for and I will leave. He ended up filling them and saying we needed to clear this up before the next time I want them filled.

As a side note, he also gets pissed because I want to check pressures before I leave the shop. So now I make sure to double check them now.

 

[drbill]

Shops that have done hydros on my tanks have always included a VIP... any cost is bundled into the hydro charge (these are shops that do their own hydros like Pacific Wilderness).

 

[redacted]

Shops that have done hydros on my tanks have always included a VIP... any cost is bundled into the hydro charge (these are shops that do their own hydros like Pacific Wilderness).

does your hydro shop provide a VIP sticker that is accepted by your local fill operations?