New guy bought a used AL tank: A story

[tnrussell50]

Hey all, just thought I would give everyone a story to comment on... I will try not to drag on.

In the Dallas area, a dive master was selling a "short-fat" AL 80 Luxfer 3/88. It had been hydro'd and Vip'd in the 90's.

I checked it out, it's the good aluminum, bought it , went my merry way. Turned it in to ScubaToys for all the above, month later, no tank. Found out the hydro-place didn't have all of the DOT info to say it was good. They just failed it outright, sent it back. Tom at ST, tried to get it done for me, no avail. Nobody called me about it, I griped online, my tank appeared, go figure.

I picked up the tank, took it back to the hydro-place, they now had the DOT sheets, it got a passing grade.

Took it back to ST, got it VIP'd, (still no phone calls).. picked it up. ( no fill , they don't fill pre-90 AL tanks, that's cool, and hey if you think I have hard feelings towards ST, I purchased nearly ALL of my gear there, PLUS a short fat AL80 and a X8-119 steel).

Ok, fine, I had two scuba parks tell me they would fill it (the used tank). Great. Took it by Crazy Scuba on my way home.... he won't fill it cuz somebody painted it a metallic color that was not original and he was afraid it had been baked on.

As my 6yr old nephew said the other day, "holy jeeze!" ( I use this in place of actual words used).


In this journey, I have heard truth and myth alike and all I can say is.... it isn't worth the trouble.

 

[paulwall]

Stranger?

I have a pair of '69 STEEL USD tanks (Faber, I guess). One dive shop won't fill them because they're pre-90. Another shop will VIP and fill them.

 

[The Chairman]

I have a Walter Kidde tank that I GUARANTEE can be filled over the internet!

 

[daniel f aleman]

That's a twenty year-old tank there - who knows what has happened to it. You can buy a new AL 80 with a k-valve for $150, and no headaches.

 

[tnrussell50]

I have a Wlater Kidde tank that I GUARANTEE can be filled over the internet!

Ooooh, that just wasn't nice at all, haha.


That's a twenty year-old tank there - who knows what has happened to it.

Yeah, lesson learned for sure.

 

[Gilldiver]

2 years ago I went to the dump and saw an old tank in the scrap pile. Stoped the truck, pulled it out carcked the valve and it had some air left, I figured I could use the valve as a spare and sell the tank for scrap anyway.

Got home, put a gauge on it found it had 700 psi, blow it down, spin the valve off, drop a light into it, and find it is clean. Checked the stamps and it is a aluminum 72 from 1972.

Took it to the hydro shop, passed fine, put a rebuilt valve on it and took it to the dive shop, do a eddy current check, no problems. Have them slap a sticker on.

Been using it since as a knock around tank.

It will all come down to your dive shop and if they know what the real tank situation is.

But sometimes I have to point out the proper fill pressure if there is a new tank monkey.

 

[JBRES1]

Question for you-
What did you pay for the tank in the first place.
Was the cost savings worth all of the time and trouble and gas money this tank has cost you ?
Sometimes a good deal isn't such a good deal.
Jim Breslin

 

[spectrum]

I have a Walter Kidde tank that I GUARANTEE can be filled over the internet!

Is that with a ISA or PCI air card? I hear a new USB air station is due with the next release of MS Windows. You can do nitrox on Linux!

Pete

 

[Cap335]

I think its Dive Rite Express that offers the online fill

Randy

 

[WD8CDH]

I think its Dive Rite Express that offers the online fill

Randy

Yeh, but they have to drain it back down to below 41psi before they ship it back.