old LP80 steel vs new AL80

[halocline]

Most people overfill lp steels which will kill your tank.

Do you have any sort of evidence for this statement?

 

[eelnoraa]

What's the price difference between the two tanks?
How many more years on the current hydro for the LP80?

Price differenc:

LP80 is about $150, last hydro was 04/09, so 4 yrs left. But I just realized it is out of VIP too, so need VIP.

AL80 Catalina, $50, last hydro was 04/07, so 2 yrs left. Also need VIP. Seller will also give away 22lb of weight + some misc item.

I kind of know LP80 will be have better performance in water, I am just not sure if the additiional $$ make sense at all. BTW, I think Fabor LP80 is only 78cf of air at 2640psi (10%), so it looks like the capacity between the two is the same too. So besides buoyancy characteristic, is there anything else?

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Price differenc:

LP80 is about $150, last hydro was 04/09, so 4 yrs left. But I just realized it is out of VIP too, so need VIP.

AL80 Catalina, $50, last hydro was 04/07, so 2 yrs left. Also need VIP. Seller will also give away 22lb of weight + some misc item.

I kind of know LP80 will be have better performance in water, I am just not sure if the additiional $$ make sense at all. BTW, I think Fabor LP80 is only 78cf of air at 2640psi (10%), so it looks like the capacity between the two is the same too. So besides buoyancy characteristic, is there anything else?

Paying $150 for a used LP80 out of vis is too much IMO. I've purchased a PST100 for $75 and a PST120 for $50 (both out of hydro/vis, which costs $15/tank around here) on Craigslist. If you're patient, you can get a good deal.

I'd be more inclined to take the "evil" AL80 if it's in good shape. What makes it a very good deal is the extra 22 lbs. of weight. Lead can be expensive. If you don't need the extra weight, then you might not think it's a big deal, though.

Are the tank valves in good shape? What types of valves are they? I'd consider that in my buying decision as well. If the AL80 has a ThermoPro DIN/K convertible valve on it, that would be another reason to go with that one.

 

[spectrum]

Most people overfill lp steels which will kill your tank.

First of all most shops will not appreciably over fill anything. You're lucky to get most to recognize Charles Law. There are some geographic regions and of course home fillers that will do what's often called a cave fill that is way above and beyond the rated pressure. Overfills are for real but for most divers it's in their dreams.

As for killing the cylinder it needs to be really pervasive before the cylinder will fail hydro. Sure some are lost but were talking about a minority% of a minority%.

I'd think twice before importing a cylinder from Florida.

Pete

 

[spectrum]

Price differenc:

LP80 is about $150, last hydro was 04/09, so 4 yrs left. But I just realized it is out of VIP too, so need VIP.

AL80 Catalina, $50, last hydro was 04/07, so 2 yrs left. Also need VIP. Seller will also give away 22lb of weight + some misc item.

I kind of know LP80 will be have better performance in water, I am just not sure if the additiional $$ make sense at all. BTW, I think Fabor LP80 is only 78cf of air at 2640psi (10%), so it looks like the capacity between the two is the same too. So besides buoyancy characteristic, is there anything else?

I agree that the $150 for the LP80 is on the high side. You might make an offer less the going VIP rate and make the sale contingent on a clean bill of health. In other words assume no risk for the premium price.

As for the AL80 that's not a bad buy if it's decent lead you may have a need for. It may not be the ultimate cylinder but if it get's air in your dive locker, ready to go that's what matters most. You can always make it a second tier cylinder latter or flip it for $$. You won't be married to it.

Pete

 

[Gombessa]

Price differenc:

LP80 is about $150, last hydro was 04/09, so 4 yrs left. But I just realized it is out of VIP too, so need VIP.

AL80 Catalina, $50, last hydro was 04/07, so 2 yrs left. Also need VIP. Seller will also give away 22lb of weight + some misc item.

I kind of know LP80 will be have better performance in water, I am just not sure if the additiional $$ make sense at all. BTW, I think Fabor LP80 is only 78cf of air at 2640psi (10%), so it looks like the capacity between the two is the same too. So besides buoyancy characteristic, is there anything else?

I have purchased 8 used LP80s over the last 2 years, and I have to say I don't agree with Bubbletrubble on this one--$150 for an LP80 isn't a bad price, especially one with 4 years left on hydro. IME, finding steel 120s for $50 is a ridiculous steal, and one I wouldn't count on as "market price."

If you can wait for a better price, that's great. But if I was in the market for an in-hydro LP80 (3/4" 14-NPSM, preferably with a pro valve), that's the ballpark I'd be looking in.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

I have purchased 8 used LP80s over the last 2 years, and I have to say I don't agree with Bubbletrubble on this one--$150 for an LP80 isn't a bad price, especially one with 4 years left on hydro. IME, finding steel 120s for $50 is a ridiculous steal, and one I wouldn't count on as "market price."

If you can wait for a better price, that's great. But if I was in the market for an in-hydro LP80 (3/4" 14-NPSM, preferably with a pro valve), that's the ballpark I'd be looking in.

@Gombessa: I must admit that I'm ignorant of the current "market price" for LP80s, and I don't any. For $150, I'd be looking to get a HP100. That's a very popular tank here in SoCal. I suspect that NorCal folks like that tank, too. The added capacity is nice to have.

 

[Gombessa]

@Gombessa: I must admit that I'm ignorant of the current "market price" for LP80s, and I don't any. For $150, I'd be looking to get a HP100. That's a very popular tank here in SoCal. I suspect that NorCal folks like that tank, too. The added capacity is nice to have.

For some of us, they're effectively the same tank

I'd jump on an HP100 for $150, too.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

For some of us, they're effectively the same tank

If I were doing DIY partial pressure blending in my garage, then I'd probably gravitate to the LP steel tanks more.

Around here, I think it would be difficult to find a shop that would overfill a LP80 to 3000 psi. Perhaps this isn't an issue up north.

 

[halocline]

$150 is not bad but not super great IMO for a LP80. Around here, a $150 HP100 would be gone in a day. $50 for a catalina AL80 is a good price.

My advice would be to buy both. Believe me you'll use them. There, that's settled!