Figuring cubic feet

[Caseyd1971]

I just got a couple of steel 72s and I was wondering if you get 72 cubic feet at 2250psi or at the plus fill of 2475

 

[tursiops]

The rating is at the plus fill.....but the "72" is just a nominal number. What it REALLY is depends on the mfg.

 

[simonbeans]

If you do a search on this forum for measuring volume of cylinders, you will find a nice explanation by Luis. However, the 71.2s were and still are great tanks for most diving. If you are a deep diver or an air hog, they may not be the best for you. I love them for their versatility, buoyancy characteristics, durability, comfort and, of course, the historical (vintage) and "cool factor".

From a noted vintage style diver, (paraphrasing), "Swim down, swim around, air gets low (via gauge or J-valve), swim up". GOOD DIVE.

 

[JamesBon92007]

If you do a search on this forum for measuring volume of cylinders, you will find a nice explanation by Luis. However, the 71.2s were and still are great tanks for most diving. If you are a deep diver or an air hog, they may not be the best for you. I love them for their versatility, buoyancy characteristics, durability, comfort and, of course, the historical (vintage) and "cool factor".

From a noted vintage style diver, (paraphrasing), "Swim down, swim around, air gets low (via gauge or J-valve), swim up". GOOD DIVE.

I also like them for beach diving because they weigh a few pounds less than an aluminum 80 and you need about four pounds less weight on your belt so that's about 6-8 pounds altogether that you don't have to haul up and down the bluffs and across the sand.

And, of course, they are cool

 

[halocline]

They're my favorite tanks for local diving that's not too deep. 27 lbs empty on land and neutral when empty. It's tough to beat those numbers. You can often get a slight overfill to about 2700 and then they're basically the same capacity as an AL80 but much more enjoyable to carry and dive with.

 

[JamesBon92007]

I forgot to mention that they are also better for diving without a BCD--another thing I don't have to carry (or maintain).