Luxfer claims "Nitrox ready." LDS says no way! Please Help!

[Benthos]

I was about to buy a luxfer tank. Luxfer says on their website that all their tanks are O2 clean and ready for use with Nitrox. However my LDS wants another $30 for cleaning and they say the tank is not ready for Nitrox service. They claim that because it lacks Viton O-rings it can not be used for Nitrox service. They also "think" that the lubes in the valve are not up to snuff either.

This is luxfers quote: "Nitrox-ready: New Luxfer scuba cylinders are specially prepared at the factory to be suitable for use with oxygen-enriched air mixtures."

So what's the deal?!

Thanks
Rich

 

[SDAnderson]

I was about to buy a luxfer tank. Luxfer says on their website that all their tanks are O2 clean and ready for use with Nitrox. However my LDS wants another $30 for cleaning and they say the tank is not ready for Nitrox service. They claim that because it lacks Viton O-rings it can not be used for Nitrox service. They also "think" that the lubes in the valve are not up to snuff either.

This is luxfers quote: "Nitrox-ready: New Luxfer scuba cylinders are specially prepared at the factory to be suitable for use with oxygen-enriched air mixtures."

So what's the deal?!

Thanks
Rich

Cylinders don't come with O-rings and lube - that's the valve. Your LDS is probably correct, if you're buying a Luxfer tank with a fairly standard bottom-of-the-line K valve installed, that valve is probably not O2 prepped. Rather than kick out for the cleaning and prep, install a valve that is also O2 ready - Thermo makes some good ones.

 

[Otter]

That would be my guess as well.....

 

[Laser]

I was about to buy a luxfer tank. Luxfer says on their website that all their tanks are O2 clean and ready for use with Nitrox. However my LDS wants another $30 for cleaning and they say the tank is not ready for Nitrox service. They claim that because it lacks Viton O-rings it can not be used for Nitrox service. They also "think" that the lubes in the valve are not up to snuff either.

This is luxfers quote: "Nitrox-ready: New Luxfer scuba cylinders are specially prepared at the factory to be suitable for use with oxygen-enriched air mixtures."

So what's the deal?!

Thanks
Rich

$30 to O2 clean a tank/valve is a good price compared to what I pay around here.

 

[SDAnderson]

$30 to O2 clean a tank/valve is a good price compared to what I pay around here.

Ain't that a fact! :bomb:

 

[BigJetDriver]

Cylinders don't come with O-rings and lube - that's the valve. Your LDS is probably correct, if you're buying a Luxfer tank with a fairly standard bottom-of-the-line K valve installed, that valve is probably not O2 prepped. Rather than kick out for the cleaning and prep, install a valve that is also O2 ready - Thermo makes some good ones.

As Reefraff pointed out, the valve is the problem, since Luxfer preps its cylinders. The LDS may prepare gas mixes via the partial pressure blending method which requires cleaning for oxygen service, since pure oxygen is decanted under pressure. Since o-rings and lubricants are the most likely flash points, they must be changed to viton and Christolube, or their equivalents.

Just remember, as Mr. Natural points out: "The slogan of this camp has always been---Clean Mind, Clean Body-----------
Take your pick!!!"

BJD :anakinpod

 

[Spectre]

FWIW... better safe then have a story that needs repeating monthly...

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?p=537065#post537065

 

[matt_unique]

What % of 02 do you plan to use? How does your shop fill the tanks?

If you are going to use 40% 02 or less, and your shop does premix fills (not partial pressure fills), you don't need to get the tank 02 cleaned. If they partial pressure fill (100% 02 mixed with air) then you need 02 cleaning.

--Matt

 

[iflyprops]

Very few shops do premix fills, none that I know of anyway, here in central FL

 

[matt_unique]

Very few shops do premix fills, none that I know of anyway, here in central FL

I use three dive shops in this area for different purposes (including fills). Two of the three do premix fills.

--Matt