How reasonable is it to expect a "good" fill in New England?

[pgdive]

Hey Matt

A little humor never hurt anyhting, didn't think it was deragatory. All gone now.

Paul

 

[lakewinni]

Regardless of whether the 104s are the same as the 130s or not it's a known fact that cave divers down in Florida have been aggressively overfilling thier regular low pressure tanks for years and years with out and problems as far as I know. Furthermore being an engineer I can tell you what matters is the stress vs number or cycles or s-n curve as its called. If you increase the stress on the tank (overfilling) then its going to reduce the lifetime of the tank (number of cycles). Most likely in that it will fail hydro much sooner.

 

[oceancurrent]

I can tell you what matters is the stress vs number or cycles or s-n curve as its called. If you increase the stress on the tank (overfilling) then its going to reduce the lifetime of the tank (number of cycles). Most likely in that it will fail hydro much sooner.

Makes sense. That's why I don't support overfilling (even mildly) LP or any tank at all. I still believe that minor overfils in order to settle the tank around the service pressure when it cools would have little long term effect. Aggresive overfills are a different story at all...

As for Paul - chill out, man. Nobody is pointing any fingers at you. It's a general discussion on fill practices with a local twist. And indeed, the world will be a better place when custormers start standing their ground on underfills and divestores (not PG Dive in particular) start putting more value on good fills.

And no, I don't bring my tanks late on Sun. I bring them in before 3pm. I don't intend to answer this properly right now, but I might, if you'd like. Better though, let's keep the forum flame-free and finger-free

 

[pgdive]

Hey Nik, it’s all good, I’m just busting on you. I know nobody is talking about us specifically, and I also know that we are pretty good with fills if someone is willing to wait or leave their tanks. I just think it's funny that you are an active local dive instructor who has professional ties that include buying equipment at wholesale and other perks from these stores that you are talking about getting fills from. Also that you certainly have more control over who fills your tanks, how long they take to fill and what pressure they’re at when you walk out the door, than any regular customers. You're masquerading as the innocent diver off the street who has been wronged by the LDS’s just to stir the pot.

Also if I know that you get a lot of your tanks filled at our shop and you post the following.

If you somehow decide to protest the under fills by asking politely for a "good" fill, you will likely get back one of these:
• A lecture on tank fills safety and how one should always err on the conservative side.
• A lecture that a few hundred PSI no difference make.
• A lame excuse about the fill station gauges being off
• A suggestion that you should improve your breathing rate, practice buoyancy, and enroll in a buoyancy course
• A suggestion that you bring your tanks back later (at your own time expense) to get them topped off.
• A denial of your tanks being undefilled (after all, you are probably not carrying a tank gauge with you).
... and for extra bonus - you will get labeled as the "pain in the butt customer" amongst store employees

Then I have to throw the BS flag, because you are making up all of the above, just to see what sort of reaction you can get or maybe so that you can feel like you belong. Maybe you read this stuff on another thread?

If your point was just to generate discussion on tank fills then you shouldn’t have tried to be so specific in the name of drama and conspiracy theory.

Just my 2 cents

Now I'm really out

Paul

 

[King Kong Matt]

Also if I know that you get a lot of your tanks filled at our shop and you post the following.

If you somehow decide to protest the under fills by asking politely for a "good" fill, you will likely get back one of these:
• A lecture on tank fills safety and how one should always err on the conservative side.
• A lecture that a few hundred PSI no difference make.
• A lame excuse about the fill station gauges being off
• A suggestion that you should improve your breathing rate, practice buoyancy, and enroll in a buoyancy course
• A suggestion that you bring your tanks back later (at your own time expense) to get them topped off.
• A denial of your tanks being undefilled (after all, you are probably not carrying a tank gauge with you).
... and for extra bonus - you will get labeled as the "pain in the butt customer" amongst store employees

Than I have to through the BS flag, because you are making up all of the above, just to see what sort of reaction you can get or maybe so that you can feel like you belong.

I don't understand. Why do you think these are "made up" reasons? I have, in the past, routinely received some of these as reasons for underfills after politely pointing out the fact that my tanks were being underfilled. They don't seem like made-up reasons at all...

 

[pgdive]

Oh boy, I'm just digging myself deeper. I probably shouldn't have gotten into this thread, but a lot of my opions come from personal observation (reality) about the poster and really don't have a lot of benefit to everyone else. Sorry, couldn't help myself. Probably should have just PM'ed him, although that is not nearly as fun a geting him worked up. Anyway they might not be made up reasons. Although I have never used them. My point is that Nik has never heard them from us and we do most of his fills and before that he worked for another local store and filled his own tanks and I supsect he didn't hear them there either. I just couldn't sit on the sidelines while such broad sweeping generalizations were being made.

Paul

 

[King Kong Matt]

Probably should have just PM'ed him, although that is not nearly as fun a geting him worked up. Anyway they might not be made up reasons.

Man, I don't know you, but in this thread you have demonstrated a very weird sense of humor.

 

[pgdive]

Explain ?

 

[countryboy]

A very simple solution....

Ask to see a guage to check the pressure before you leave the shop. I have never been refused.. by any shop..

One time when I did get a really short fill (1800) it was clearly pointed out to me. I am responsible for my tank, and should validate the contents prior to leaving...

If I know I am going to do pool work, and don't really need a "good" fill, I tell them that also.. Just fill to 2200 - 2500, will be good enough.. call 'em "pool fills". Saves the shop time, and a little less wear and tear on the compressor..

If you give some consideration to them, they are usually more than happy to help you out also..

 

[pgdive]

You have to realize I know the original poster very well in person, not just online. I have worked with him on various scuba projects numerous times over the last few years. We are friends, sorry if this wasn't clear. Not sure where the weird sense of humor comes in, but feel free to PM me and explain.