How to prepare a Aluminium tank(6L) for pure O2 fill

[Centrals]

What is the standard/recommended procedure to prepare a brand new aluminium tank for pure O2 fill?
Much appreciated.

 

[bl6394]

Some cylinders are sold O2 clean already... If not, the cylinder and valve needs to be cleaned for oxygen service, inspected for hydrocarbons with a bright white and UV light, and then properly reassembled with O2 compatible components and lubricants.

You might read the oxygen hackers guide for more information. I'd also strongly recommend taking a PSI class on cylinder inspection, O2 cleaning, and Valve repair.

Vance Harlow's OXYGEN HACKER'S COMPANION From AIrspeed Press
PSI-PCI - Home

Be safe,

Bjorn

 

[gekodivebali]

Yes, becoming a certified technician is the safer path...

 

[Colliam7]

What is the standard/recommended procedure to prepare a brand new aluminium tank for pure O2 fill?

When I clean for oxygen service, I clean the cylinder with dilute Simple Green, while tumbling with glass beads, then rinse with water and warm air dry. I clean the valve (disassembled) with Simple Green in a hot ultrasonic bath, followed by TSP also in the hot ultrasonic bath, then rinse in distilled water.

At times, if there is considerable valve corrosion, I use the GMC hydrosonic solvent (room temperature, not heated) instead of the Simple Green.

You can download some useful information on oxygen cleaning from the GMC wbsite (http://www.gmcscuba.com/pdf/CONVERTING DIVE TANKS FOR OXYGEN SERVICE.pdf). Possibly a bit more information than you were thinking about, but good nonetheless.

 

[Centrals]

Thank you very much for all the informations.
I have no intention to become a scuba technician so the easier way is to buy O2 cleaned tank and valve.
BTW, what is "Simple Green"? I don't think it is available in this part of the world.

 

[cbrich]

TDI offers oxygen cleaning, and gas blending, same goes for PSI, PADI and NAUI. I would highly recommend you take one of these classes before attempting to clean any scuba tank for oxygen. I have a close friend that was involved in an oxygen tank explosion about 18 months ago, and he is still recovering from his injuries. Please seek out better advice than Scubaboard.

 

[Centrals]

TDI offers oxygen cleaning, and gas blending, same goes for PSI, PADI and NAUI. I would highly recommend you take one of these classes before attempting to clean any scuba tank for oxygen. I have a close friend that was involved in an oxygen tank explosion about 18 months ago, and he is still recovering from his injuries. Please seek out better advice than Scubaboard.

Thank you for the warning.
I will leave the "preparation" to the experienced and buy the O2 cleaned tank and valve from a reputable dealer.

 

[bl6394]

Centrals - I think you've made a good decision to leave the O2 cleaning to the technicians for the moment. It's quite a bit of work (and requires quite a bit of equipment / material) to O2 clean cylinders, valves, and regulators: tank tumblers, media, ultrasonic cleaner, etc.

"Simple Green" is a cleaning solvent / degreaser widely available in the US and frequently used as a solvent for O2 cleaning.

Simple Green

Regards,

Bjorn

 

[Wookie]

When I clean for oxygen service, I clean the cylinder with dilute Simple Green, while tumbling with glass beads, then rinse with water and warm air dry. I clean the valve (disassembled) with Simple Green in a hot ultrasonic bath, followed by TSP also in the hot ultrasonic bath, then rinse in distilled water.

Out of curiosity, why would you tumble an aluminum cylinder? Personally, if I had one that was contaminated, I would never again take the chance of breaking the glaze inside the cylinder by tumbling it with any sort of media. I have ruined 30 or so by tumbling or whipping them (one of my crew used great gobs of DC111 one year, and contaminated a slew of cylinders. I got the DC111 out, but at the eventual cost of the cylinders). When a cylinder is contaminated, I scrap them. They aren't so expensive that they are worth screwing up using tumbling media. Steel cylinders are a whole other story.

 

[elan]

I'm curious how you screw a cylinder this way especially with glass beads?
Its a common practice here. I put it on a tumbler for 15-20 mins if I find some traces of contaminants. I mostly have to do it after hydro otherwise my LDS has pretty good system and Im yet to see any contaminants from them.

Out of curiosity, why would you tumble an aluminum cylinder? Personally, if I had one that was contaminated, I would never again take the chance of breaking the glaze inside the cylinder by tumbling it with any sort of media. I have ruined 30 or so by tumbling or whipping them (one of my crew used great gobs of DC111 one year, and contaminated a slew of cylinders. I got the DC111 out, but at the eventual cost of the cylinders). When a cylinder is contaminated, I scrap them. They aren't so expensive that they are worth screwing up using tumbling media. Steel cylinders are a whole other story.