Info on PST Steel Tanks

[Still Kicking]

The exemption will be renewed even if it takes a month or two. I would not worry about it.

If they are clean inside $450 is a decent price, especially with refund for failed hydro (unlikely).

There are too many jokers asking $400 each for used steel tanks. I hope no one is buying at those prices but i wouldn't be surprised.

 

[ScubaBunga]

Pressed Steel made alot of cylinders. DOT tanks good forever (or until fail hydro). I have cylinders from the 50's that are still fine with a plus rating.

If you don’t mind, where are you at to get plus stamps? I got plus stamps last time but it took 3 months of talking to the hydro place and I don’t think they will stamp them again.

 

[Belzelbub]

Would you buy PST tanks now? Someone local is selling two PST HP100s, skinny ones neck 3500psi, $450 for the pair, refund if hydro doesn't pass... but with the cert being uncertain, it makes me a little nervous.

Absolutely. I would buy PST tanks today. Seems the current owner of PST and DOT have a desire to make sure the exemption stays in effect.

The price, however seems a bit high, but admittedly I haven’t checked prices in the past few months. The current state of new galvanized steels may be driving the prices higher. As a point of reference, I bought 4 PST HP100s in January for less than the price you are seeing for the pair. Now, to be fair, I wouldn’t count on what I paid. I got a pretty good deal on the first two, and a ridiculous deal on the other two. I wasn’t looking, but couldn’t pass up, and didn’t even bother haggling for those.

First set was $350 for the pair. Hydro had just expired. Dove them, then took them for hydro. No problems. The second set was at a moving sale on my street. Price was $25 each. I just told my neighbor these are mine and went back home for the cash. They were well out of hydro, but still full. I didn’t even bother to dive these, just dropped them off at my LDS for hydro and fill. No issues.

 

[Still Kicking]

The second set was at a moving sale on my street. Price was $25 each.

Yes deals come along every once in a blue moon.

Guy came in shop to offload a used 120 .... "What do you want for it?" "Would you give me $25?"

The money was in his hand so fast he didn't know what had happened. Lol

 

[twistypencil]

Any idea what the "skinny neck" 3500psi version of the PST HP100 is about? I can get two of them for $350, but I have to drive 2.5hrs each way, and they are out of hydro (although the seller will refund if they fail). Who typically pays for hydro in that situation?

Do the marks around the neck of these look problematic, or the valve saying "Nitrox only" ? There are some pics here, which include some numbers that I'm not sure what they mean:

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

So figure out when the permit expires and make sure they get rehydro'ed a month or two before that date. That's your new 5-year cycle.

Yes, but even if they are in hydro, but the 4 year permit expires, dive shops won’t fill them.
It happened to me. They get a bulletin and can lose their permit if they fill in violation.
I went from loving that PST 3442 100 to hating it just based on principle.
The DOT bulletin said I needed to drain the tank down to 200 psi and store it in a cool dry place for “safety” (which I ignored). As soon as the permit got renewed everything was fine again and tank was good to go. What a bunch of political BS!!!
My Worthington 3442 120 wasn’t affected.

 

[greeniguana]

Yes, but even if they are in hydro, but the 4 year permit expires, dive shops won’t fill them.
It happened to me. They get a bulletin and can lose their permit if they fill in violation.
I went from loving that PST 3442 100 to hating it just based on principle.
The DOT bulletin said I needed to drain the tank down to 200 psi and store it in a cool dry place for “safety” (which I ignored). As soon as the permit got renewed everything was fine again and tank was good to go. What a bunch of political BS!!!
My Worthington 3442 120 wasn’t affected.

For the "umpteenth" time. There was no "DOT bulletin". The "bulletin" was a ghost written article on the PSI-PCI infotainment website. While they may think so, they are not the DOT.

The PST permit will continue to be renewed well into the future.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

For the "umpteenth" time. There was no "DOT bulletin". The "bulletin" was a ghost written article on the PSI-PCI infotainment website. While they may think so, they are not the DOT.

The PST permit will continue to be renewed well into the future.

Sir, Yes Sir!!!

 

[Belzelbub]

Any idea what the "skinny neck" 3500psi version of the PST HP100 is about? I can get two of them for $350, but I have to drive 2.5hrs each way, and they are out of hydro (although the seller will refund if they fail). Who typically pays for hydro in that situation?

Most likely you would pay for the hydro. Unless that is worked into the deal, which would probably raise the price a bit.

It’s highly unlikely that the tanks will fail hydro. That’s actually pretty rare with tanks that aren’t abused. Those don’t seem to have been neglected.

Do the marks around the neck of these look problematic, or the valve saying "Nitrox only" ? There are some pics here, which include some numbers that I'm not sure what they mean:

You mean the sharpie around the neck? Easily removed. Nothing else I see around the neck is cause for concern. Tanks look to be in good shape. The markings mean a few different things.

DOT followed by the exemption means these are DOT approved as long as the exemption is renewed, which I see no reason why it wouldn’t be. 3500 is the service pressure. TP5250 is the test (hydro) pressure. Then there’s a serial number, and what appears to be the first hydro/born on date. Looks like March 2002.

The 9 18 is the last hydro date, with the numbers in between identifying who did the requalifying. Again, not really an issue.

What do you mean about the valve being marked Nitrox only? I didn’t see that in the pics, and none of my valves are identified like that. The O2, Nitrox, or air suitability is usually only marked on the VIP sticker. The VIP sticker should be marked appropriately and indicate whether the tank and valve are suitable for O2, Nitrox, or Air. Often by a punch. O2 cleaned is the most versatile. When you take the tanks in for hydro, the dive shop will also do a VIP, and use appropriate o-rings for the clean level needed.

 

[twistypencil]

What do you mean about the valve being marked Nitrox only? I didn’t see that in the pics, and none of my valves are identified like that. The O2, Nitrox, or air suitability is usually only marked on the VIP sticker. The VIP sticker should be marked appropriately and indicate whether the tank and valve are suitable for O2, Nitrox, or Air. Often by a punch. O2 cleaned is the most versatile. When you take the tanks in for hydro, the dive shop will also do a VIP, and use appropriate o-rings for the clean level needed.

Oh sorry, the board wouldn't let me upload all the images, so the one that said that about Nitrox only wasn't included, here it is: