Hydro / VIS a clearcoated tank

[chrpai]

@cbrich- You guessed right. Well, it is second hand from my coworker. But he's a former Marine so I really doubt my brother is not telling the truth.

He has indicated that he wants to get his other tank ready for diving so we could take it to the LDS again and see if we get the same story or not. Or we could go straight to the hydro joint like I did with the first tank. ( and saved $12 doing so )

BTW, before you assume the LDS's are so solid, I know for a fact that I was handed a 34 year old 6351 US Divers AL80 rental tank with 3300 psi in at at room temp not 115F. I was greatful for the great fill (not likely to explode after filling ) but really wondered why they would do this with that particular tank.

I know the tank had a visual eddy test at the last hydro 1 1/2 years ago but somehow I doubt it has had one since.

 

[Scared Silly]

I know the tank had a visual eddy test at the last hydro 1 1/2 years ago but somehow I doubt it has had one since.

Does the cylinder have "VE" stamped next to the hydro date?

 

[chrpai]

Um, yes. That's how I "know" it was done. It was also engraved with 3AL per DOT regs ( not part of the original crown markings ).

 

[Scared Silly]

Good ... cause some hydro shops have not marked the VE correctly. So at least you know your hydro shop is doing their job .

 

[cbrich]

@cbrich- You guessed right. Well, it is second hand from my coworker. But he's a former Marine so I really doubt my brother is not telling the truth.

He has indicated that he wants to get his other tank ready for diving so we could take it to the LDS again and see if we get the same story or not. Or we could go straight to the hydro joint like I did with the first tank. ( and saved $12 doing so )

BTW, before you assume the LDS's are so solid, I know for a fact that I was handed a 34 year old 6351 US Divers AL80 rental tank with 3300 psi in at at room temp not 115F. I was greatful for the great fill (not likely to explode after filling ) but really wondered why they would do this with that particular tank.

I know the tank had a visual eddy test at the last hydro 1 1/2 years ago but somehow I doubt it has had one since.

Since you are talking about the LDS that I am affiliated with, and I know for a fact they are solid, and most of the folks that are in Austin knows they are solid too. When I talked to the shop employees, they remember you and those cylinder, but they don't remember anyone bringing blue cylinders in for hydro. You brought them in after hydro for VIP, which they did not care, and they did it on the spot. The only minor issue that came about was the newest employee did not know you, and wanted to see your C-card which you did not like, but another employee vouched for you. Their policy is to VIP and fill scuba cylinders for certified divers, so if the employee does not know you, then it's your responsibility to show your c-card.

They do have a couple of 6351 tanks, and they take extra precautions with these cylinders; VE every year, (which each store can do) and 2 separate techs (the techs are kept up to date on their certifications) do the VIP. If their is any question placed on these cylinder, they will VE these cylinders before the VIP is expired. If there is still a concern about the cylinder, they will notify the customer about getting it re-hydro. They have not taken the stance about no cylinders older than 20 years old, yet. Actually there is a lot of these cylinders in Austin, check Craigslist, you will see them for sell.

Any physical stamping on the tank is only done by the shop that does the hydro. The dive shop does not have an in-house hydro shop, so they send them out for hydro.

If you don't like the dive shop, you do have a choice of dive shops in the area.

 

[chrpai]

That's not quite accurate. The person asked for my credit card and I asked if he'd like to see my c-card also. No one vouched for me, the guy said "oh, ya, that's right" and I showed my card. In fact I dropped a tank off on Thursday when it was starting to rain and I realized that I didn't have my logbook/c-card on me. I didn't make a fuss or try to get them to remember me or anything. I just said I'd come back for it and ended up picking it up on Saturday when I was in the area and had my card. So please don't go around suggesting that I was some prima-dona that made a scene.

FWIW, they didn't see the blue tank for hydro cause I took it straight to the hydro place myself. If you'll read my text that you quoted you'll see that I said as much and that I said the report was second hand from a friend. I don't know how long ago he tried to hydro it hence why it's unlikely to recall seeing a blue tank.

You seem to be offended by reporting of my factual observations. FWIW, I never mentioned them by name until you self outed. FWIW, I don't "dislike" then, in fact Mark out at the Lake store seems nice. But they do seem to be the stereotypical LDS to me.

 

[James R]

Something doesn't add up here, then. That shop, I know 100% for sure, sends painted AL80 tanks to hydro. There are many painted tanks in the rental inventory, both Catalina and Luxfer, with multiple hydro dates stamped on them. Just the other day I saw three tanks, all painted, just back from hydro and ready for VIP & fill. They also will send out Faber steel tanks which are not bare metal to hydro...I have two in my garage which have been sent to hydro by that LDS. The tanks in the classroom didn't fail hydro or VIP (or become junk...whatever the "story" is) because of paint, and to even post that nonsense is pretty questionable and puts even more questions to the credibility of this whole thread.

It's my opinion that 2nd or 3rd hand stories like this are often filled with inconsistency, and spreading those stories around doesn't do anything positive for the LDS or the local dive community.

Did you even take time to ask the LDS employee that did the VIP if the shop refused to send that tank out for hydro? I would think if I were to post a thread like this, which essentially calls them out, I would try my best to make sure to have the information correct.

 

[chrpai]

So I spoke to my friend at work today and asked him to clarify the story he told me. He said he was specifically told "no hydro" (not VIS ) for "any" painted tanks. That they all add to be stripped to bare metal to be hyrod.

That's what I was told... I trust this person and believe he has no reason to lie. He was telling me one day that he had some tanks that were out of hydro and that he couldn't get them hydro'd and he was irritated about it. I couldn't believe it so I took them to get hydro'd myself. I didn't take it to the LDS in question because my goal wasn't to confirm what he was telling me was true, my goal was to get a tank operational so I could dive it.

 

[James R]

So what was the goal of this thread? Seems like it was to call out a LDS and make them look bad without having any verified facts. Maybe it was to stir up some drama and hating on the LDS (which you have definitely succeeded in doing), but I could be wrong.

I have seen other posts you have made on this forum which paint a pretty clear picture of your feeling about the shops around here including one where you call the reg tech a "shop monkey."

I am not on the "LDS is great and you should only shop there" or whatever bandwagon. I couldn't care less where you shop or spend your money, as it has no bearing on me in any way. I do, however, think that stirring up negativity towards them (or any other person or business for that matter) without the facts in hand is poor form.

 

[chrpai]

The goal was clearly stated in the first post. I'd been away from diving for awhile and I was looking for a "sniff test" to make sure there wasn't anything I was missing that would justify what my friend had been told. In saying I don't have the "facts" you are saying my friend is a liar and to me that is in poor form.

My goal wasn't to slam this shop ( in fact, I never confirmed their name until cbrich put it together ).