O2 clean for steel tank. What go on in the process?

[oly5050user]

Well, they haven't even look at my tank. I simple call and ask how much to O2 clean a X7-100. The guys says about $100. when I look up their website, it is actually showing $125. Let me call this LSD1

Another LDS's (let me call LDS2) website show O2 upgrade for single tank & valve is $35. Not sure if that includes VIP or not. However, LDS1 does NOT honor O2 clean stick from LDS2. So this lead to my next question. Is "O2 clean" needs to be shop specific? Or it is an industry standard?

Stay away from LDS1..if they feel that they need to charge what they do,then thats their business model, and is what they feel is proper rate to charge. But to not honor another o2 cleaning from another LDS is wrong. I can see if the sticker stating o2 clean is a generic one without the facilities name on it being turned away , but a legit LDS performing the work should be recognized by any other LDS.

 

[Scared Silly]

Without more information we can not say anything about the not honoring another shops VIP. Who knows what has transpired between the shops. Could be bad blood or bad cleaning. Given the reputation the dive industry has when it comes to VIPs I could understand a shop having mistrust over another.

DiveRiteExpress will fill 6351 cylinders BUT only if they have done the inspection. They will not accept any inspections. Is that any different? If a shop is doing PP fills they may feel the same. Of course what happens afterwards to a cylinder that was O2 cleaned is another story.

However, $100 for O2 cleaning is IMHO way out of line. IRCC Dawn is listed as an acceptable detergent for O2 cleaning by NOAA. A little Dawn, some super hot water, maybe a tiny bit of media, 10-15 minute tumble, a rinse with super hot water, blow dry with hot air and you are done.

Me I would find a third shop for the cleaning that the shop you have the fill card at will accept. If they ask you why you went there be honest - their prices were too high.

 

[elan]

However, $100 for O2 cleaning is IMHO way out of line. IRCC Dawn is listed as an acceptable detergent for O2 cleaning by NOAA. A little Dawn, some super hot water, maybe a tiny bit of media, 10-15 minute tumble, a rinse with super hot water, blow dry with hot air and you are done.

It's better to have a UV light as well to verify it is clean at the end otherwise they can feed you crap saying it is still not clean and we need to clean it But with the cleaning prices like that you can pay the light back very quickly

 

[Scared Silly]

Elan, good point. I meant to note that. Especially, as one can always pop the valve and check oneself. Of course then one has an empty cylinder which might cause a problem when filling at a dive shop. Which is why I have a transfill whip.

 

[fdog]

Hmmm.

I put a clock on it, and it took me about 2 hours from start (cylinder with ~700 psi) to finish (cylinder full with XX%) to O2 clean a cylinder & valve. And about $20 in "parts", stuff like the valve rebuild kit, Blue Gold, Tribolube, hyperfilter & compressor time, yada yada yada.

I sure wish we had the heavy equipment that our hydro facility has - in 2 minutes total, they can wash & rinse with boiling water under pressure injection, and blow-dry the tank with hyperfiltered 200 degree air...amazing. That's nothing for man-hours, and a big equipment investment, I'm sure.

So it all depends what your time and/or equipment investment is worth.


All the best, James

 

[eelnoraa]

Some update about LDS1. i have a lengthy conversation with the owner today. Basically, they do honor O2 clean sticker from trusty shops. They gave me a list of shops nearby that they approve. They however do NOT honor O2 sticker from shops that had problems before,, such a shop include shops that do NOT pump O2 compatible air, and shops that has done poor job on O2 cleaning before. So I think this make sense.

They still want $125 for O2 clean a used tank tho. But that is their choice, I don't have to go there.

 

[Scared Silly]

Not supplying Grade E air is more than just an O2 issue as it violates the minimum standards for breathable gas.

Air == Grade E
Hyperfiltered Air == Grade E air compatible with 100% O2.

 

[eelnoraa]

I got the words wrong. Corrected

 

[j2s]

Grossly over priced !!!!!

 

[Doc Harry]

Just curious what the process is.

The process (in short):

1. Remove the valve
2. Disassemble the valve
3. Grossly clean the valve parts with a brush
4. Clean valve parts in an ultrasonic cleaner
5. Dry valve parts with oxygen-clean air
6. Reassemble valve with new O2-compatible o-rings
7. Clean cylinder valve threads with a brush
8. Pour warm distilled water and soap (like Joy dishwashing soap) into cylinder
9. Rotate and shake cylinder
10. Drain cylinder
11. Rinse cylinder
12. Repeat 10 and 11 over an over
13. If cylinider is steel, consider adding an agent to prevent flash rust in the last rinse
14. Dry cylinder with oxygen-clean air
15. Inspect cylinder with white light
16. Inspect cylinder with UV light
17. Apply oxygen-compatible lubricant to valve threads
18. Re-install valve and torque to specs

I agree with fdog, it can take a couple of hours. It is a real pain-in-the-ass (especially if you have a dozen or more cylinders, like me). If you don't have jigs and stands to help you with rinsing and draining and drying the cylinders, then it is even more of a pain.

$100 is very expensive, but that's what I would charge to do someone else's cylinder BECAUSE I HATE DOING IT!