Faber LP80s vs AL80s

[Hollywoodivers]

GET THE STEEL you will love them...I promise.

 

[Puffer Fish]

I've never found myself staring at the surface with my steel HP 120's. I can simply stop moving and that's the position I'll remain in. Maybe it's due to a steel BP/W or some other unknown factor to me, but I'd not sweat a steel tank of any displacement on my back. I've dove with HP80's, AL80's,HP100's and HP120's and never had a problem with any of them.

The neatest tank was the HP80, it's like a baby tank but with a full fill is sweet. I wouldn't buy one however, but I have rented one on occasion when I needed a third tank.

I think I'd buy the tanks if I could get them cheaper than that because you're going to soon be faced with a VIS and Hydro, add those to the price and you're pushing new prices.

The upside down issue only happens if you have a minimal amount of weight, and it starts out on your back. The easy way to get around this is to over weight and carry that weight in front of you. You then have to inflate your Wing (BC) and then don't have the issue - except that means you just lost the advantage of have the negative tank in the first place.

I have a stainless back plate, and unless using a neutral tank or over weighted, is a serious issue. And I have seen lots of others with the same issue.

the HP-120 is 16 lbs negative when full - without air in the wing, there is no way you would not be turned over when relaxed.

 

[Hoosier]

Anything is better than AL80. Go with LP if you can get a good deal...

 

[jpcpat]

I have a Faber LP 85 and I can, in fact, shed a few pounds of lead. Getting fills to 2640 can be a bit of a pain though.

Most fill stations just assume the tank is 2400 (I wrote 2640psi in big black letters with an arrow pointing to the stamp) , which gives me less than 85 cu ft. If I ask, some will "mistake" it for an AL80and fill it to 3000. It's a bit of a crapshoot for me.

One other thing is that I do chip and ding the finish from time to time. Since it's steel, I need to fix the problems ASAP. In hindsight, I would prefer galvanized.

 

[jmps]

I believe the Faber tank is galvanized beneath the paint and polycoat. At least that is what I thought when I bought my LP85.

 

[Hoyden]

The upside down issue only happens if you have a minimal amount of weight, and it starts out on your back. The easy way to get around this is to over weight and carry that weight in front of you. You then have to inflate your Wing (BC) and then don't have the issue - except that means you just lost the advantage of have the negative tank in the first place.

I have a stainless back plate, and unless using a neutral tank or over weighted, is a serious issue. And I have seen lots of others with the same issue.

the HP-120 is 16 lbs negative when full - without air in the wing, there is no way you would not be turned over when relaxed.

I dive a stainless steel backplate and wing and like loosebits, I have never had any problem with tanks trying to flip me over. I have used single lp72s, lp85s, lp95s, lp 120s and double lp72s,mp72s, HP80s, LP85s, LP95s, HP 100s (both faber and PST) - none of them have tried to flip me over - I will say that on my first doubles dive with a set of AL80s, I felt a little tippy, but that passed. The most negative doubles that I have used were Faber 100s - 29.5lbs negative when full and 14.5lbs negative when empty - no such thing as an empty wing with those, but they sure did trim out nice.

Anyway, go for steel tanks - the lp80s are only two inches shorter than 85s or AL 80s so they should trim out okay unless you are really tall, but if you can get new LP85s for $200 without paying shipping they are probably a better purchase long term.

Jackie

 

[SparticleBrane]

LP tanks are only truly "full" at their "10% overfill". Make sure you always get it filled to 2640.

 

[rico68]

Thanks, everyone.

I'm pretty sure steel is the way to go.
I think I'll check into LP85's before I bite at these 80's.

 

[dannobee]

Most fill stations just assume the tank is 2400 (I wrote 2640psi in big black letters with an arrow pointing to the stamp) , which gives me less than 85 cu ft. If I ask, some will "mistake" it for an AL80and fill it to 3000. It's a bit of a crapshoot for me.

Find a shop that will fill them to 3000psi. When they cool down, they'll be just about perfect. I've had problems with the 2400psi mistake, too. And problems with the later hydro not having the "+" marking. Some shops will fill them to whatever you want

LP tanks get better fills than the continous short fills I get on my HP tanks.

One more thing. Around here the AL80's go for about $110 new when on sale. If you do end up with the AL80's, keep them for your more advanced diving. They're pretty neutral if you ever use them as a deco/stage bottle.