Sartech3
Registered
Hey guys,
ok how would a 80 cu steel compare to an 80 cu aluminum tank?
ok how would a 80 cu steel compare to an 80 cu aluminum tank?
New tank, steel vs aluminum
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R
redacted
Guest
Scuba Cylinder Specification Chart from Huron Scuba, Ann Arbor Michigan
Usually steel is more expensive.
Usually steel is more expensive.
Steel tanks are lighter to carry if holding the same volume and pressure. Aluminium tanks float when empty, steel doesn't. Aluminium tanks seem to cope marginally better with poor washing/ingestion of water over steel. I have both aluminium and steel back tanks and aluminium sling tanks. Aluminium seem cheaper in price. Steel seem to hold their price better. If I were to start all over again I would go steel only with back gas but maybe aluminium with slings still. BUT each to their own I guess.
I see from your bio you are a northerrn diver. If you are diving in the cold, the steel is nice to offset the extra bulk of exposure protection. Price is significantly more, but worth it (though I'd likely choose a bigger tank).
Scared Silly
Contributor
Defacto std steel cylinder is HP100 at 3442psi whereas the std. AL80 at 3000psi. They have the similar profiles with the steel having better buoyancy characteristics.
Bob DBF
Contributor
Depends.
If you are looking for one tank to take on a boat dive where they refill on board, I have a LP95 that I take on those trips. Always get a good fill, and although it is a horse, it takes weight off my belt and I don't have to walk far with it.
For shore dives I origionally bought 2 AL80's so I could make two dive before tracking down a fill station. I have since procured steel tanks but keep the AL's for use at remote sites. The added weight is a PITA, but it is better than not diving.
Check through the old threads as there is quite a number of them on this subject, or give som more info on what type(s) of diving you are planning to do.
Bob
--------------------------------------
I may be old, but I’m not dead yet.
If you are looking for one tank to take on a boat dive where they refill on board, I have a LP95 that I take on those trips. Always get a good fill, and although it is a horse, it takes weight off my belt and I don't have to walk far with it.
For shore dives I origionally bought 2 AL80's so I could make two dive before tracking down a fill station. I have since procured steel tanks but keep the AL's for use at remote sites. The added weight is a PITA, but it is better than not diving.
Check through the old threads as there is quite a number of them on this subject, or give som more info on what type(s) of diving you are planning to do.
Bob
--------------------------------------
I may be old, but I’m not dead yet.
R
redacted
Guest
I agree and my HP 100 is my favorite tank when I just need a bit more gas for my planned dive, BUT my S80 with 4 lb of lead strapped to the sides has very similar buoyancy characteristics.
If you are going steel, consider the lp steels. any shop can fill a tank to 2640 psi. The only drawback is that some are 8 inch tanks and many boats cant rack and 8 inch tank. The lp85 without the + holds the same as an alum 80. They quite often get filled to 3k like the al's. to some tank fillers a tank is a tank is a 3000# tank. When that happens you have over 90 cu ft. The lp-85's are for the most part the lightest of the lp tanks. somewhere around 33# mt. They are 7 inch tanks like the al 80. Wonderfull tank you will be happy with for many years to come, untill of course you graduate to 8 inch tanks and get a lp 95 or 120.
GrumpyOldGuy
Contributor
Steel is almost always a better tank. The price difference is significant though.
The only real issue is steel rust fast when diving with wet fills from 2nd rate fill stations (boats or sometimes the tropics). AL oxidizes, but it seems more resistant. If you dive a lot and take care of them, they are a great investment and hold most of their value. Check out the prices for used AL tanks vs used steel.
The only real issue is steel rust fast when diving with wet fills from 2nd rate fill stations (boats or sometimes the tropics). AL oxidizes, but it seems more resistant. If you dive a lot and take care of them, they are a great investment and hold most of their value. Check out the prices for used AL tanks vs used steel.
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