How old is your oldest tank?

[David P]

I have a helium bottle with a stamp from 23(?) My dad had a welding bottle with a swastika on it...

 

[Nostromo]

I'm picky about tanks - at any given time I have 12 AL 80s, 6 steel 100s, and a variety of decos and ponies; I sell 1/3 of my tanks, on rotation, every third year (to dive shops, mainly) and buy new ones. I can get 80 cents on the dollar for a three year-old tank. I also replace the valves on every tank, every year.

I hate to say it, but that seems rather obsessive. Did you have a bad experience with a tank, a valve, or both?

e.a.e.

 

[Scubar]

My oldest tank is a steel 72 mfg in 1973. This was give to me by an uncle who used it twice in the 70's. Got a hydro done on it a couple months ago it passed with no problems. I was initally worried about corrosion since it sat in a basement for many years unused.

 

[captain]

My oldest tanks are mid 1950's. My newest are mid 1970's. Most have original valves, mostly J's.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I currently have 22 tanks (not counting deco bottles) the oldest is made in 1965, but more telling I think, the newest was made in 1979. Properly maintained, a steel tank will last a lot longer than most divers. And, once the initial shine wears off the galvanized finish, they never look any older.

 

[daniel f aleman]

I hate to say it, but that seems rather obsessive. Did you have a bad experience with a tank, a valve, or both?

e.a.e.

Each of my 12 AL80 tanks will have made about 150 dives (150 fills) over three years, (I'm a divemaster). They're so cheap realtively, a new AL 80K cost me 100 dollars and I can sell them for $75 each to a local shop; the steel 100s cost $250 new and I can sell those for $200. The reality is that I can always dive with new tanks for only a $300 investment each year. I aslo buy all new life-support equipment each year. Piece of mind...

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

Twice as old as I am? That would be a 118 year old tank.

My oldest is a steel 72 with the first hydro in 68.

 

[ddown]

Steel 1954 coyne just hydro'd no tumble needed 51yrs and counting

 

[Diveral]

Two AL 80's J valves one in 72 and the other in 75 and the new tank is a AL 80 K valve 1981.

 

[akscubainst]

Each of my 12 AL80 tanks will have made about 150 dives (150 fills) over three years, (I'm a divemaster). They're so cheap realtively, a new AL 80K cost me 100 dollars and I can sell them for $75 each to a local shop; the steel 100s cost $250 new and I can sell those for $200. The reality is that I can always dive with new tanks for only a $300 investment each year. I aslo buy all new life-support equipment each year. Piece of mind...

Aluminum tanks are designed to go through 100,000 fills and 10,000 Hydro cycles. 150 fills and your only at .15% not even 1% of the original life expectancy. Are you really doing 600 dives per year?

Dave