Help please, re Faber LP 85 buoyancy specs

[divad]

I keep getting conflicing numbers from various sites, from -7 to 0, to, -3.8 to +2.3. Are some of them just not including the valve? While I'm here, any opinions on these tanks would be appreciated. Tanks.

 

[Gombessa]

Typical LP80/LP85 tanks are in the -7/0 range. I believe Faber does make a line of thin-walled LP steel tanks which are positively buoyant when empty (I think some people use these for deco/stages). I have no idea how you'd tell those from the regular LPs.

 

[divad]

Typical LP80/LP85 tanks are in the -7/0 range. I believe Faber does make a line of thin-walled LP steel tanks which are positively buoyant when empty (I think some people use these for deco/stages). I have no idea how you'd tell those from the regular LPs.

Thanks. That gives me something to pursue. The tanks I'm looking at are "Blue Steel" what ever the **** that means. Ben Stiller anniversary edition?

 

[Gombessa]

Thanks. That gives me something to pursue. The tanks I'm looking at are "Blue Steel" what ever the **** that means.

I think Blue Steel is Faber's US distributor/brand, and I do believe some of these "buoyant steels" are/were sold as Blue Steel.

Looking at BS's website (Cylinder Specifications), it looks like the poorly-named FX100LPDVB 80 cubic foot tank is the one I'm talking about (2lb positive full, 8lb positive empty), not your LP85s.

There is really quite a bit of variation in specs depending on who tested, where, how, differences in individual tanks, etc. I think the working assumption for LP85s is that they're neutral or just negative when empty. Short of bleeding a tank to 500psi and dunking it in the water to test it, it's probably best just to use the buoyancy chart as a ballpark figure and do a proper weight test in your full gear.

BTW, the LP85s are great tanks, they trim out very well and a lot of folks around here use them for doubles.

 

[WD8CDH]

Faber has made several versions of the LP85 with different buoyancy. When was it made.

 

[divad]

Faber has made several versions of the LP85 with different buoyancy. When was it made.

They're new. I haven't seen them so I don't know when they were made.

 

[divad]

BTW, the LP85s are great tanks, they trim out very well and a lot of folks around here use them for doubles.

That's what I wanted to hear, but I wonder which tank spec that is applicable to. Thanks for your help.

 

[pickens_46929]

Tech Diving Limited has a great chart...

Scuba Cylinder Specifications from Tech Diving Limited - 928-855-9400

 

[Gombessa]

Tech Diving Limited has a great chart...

Scuba Cylinder Specifications from Tech Diving Limited - 928-855-9400

The OP is asking why the TDL/Huron charts differ from Faber's own buoyancy specs (which really do seem atypical to me).

 

[WD8CDH]

The OP is asking why the TDL/Huron charts differ from Faber's own buoyancy specs (which really do seem atypical to me).

Probably because Faber has made at least 9 different LP tanks with about 85CF capacity just with DOT certifications. They have made even more with euro specs. They have made LP85s for the US in 7.01", 7.24" and 8.02" diameters.