ScubaBunga
Contributor
This was a fast growing thread and I have to join in. I think all of you with older steel tanks should immediately buy some new tanks and send these old dangerous tanks to me!
I think the my newest tanks (outside a couple pony bottles, which are my only aluminum tanks) are from 1998. And there are two of them out of the 10, the others are early 70's down to 1960 with an 1/2in i-valve. Due to the mindset of the first mentioned shop as well as other issues with some LDSs (being both denied and having some tanks wrongfully condemned), I ended up getting VCI certified as well doing deep questioning of all the local dive shops. I found ONE that knows what they are doing, has solid answers, and seems to care about knowing what they are doing and saying. If you can't get informed information from an LDS, keep looking there are good ones out there. Now my LDS (hydro guy) still won't + my tanks without manufacturer docs on the specific serial number (which don't exist by the way) - but most places end up with a decent fill anyway. I love my steel 72's and plan to dive them for a long time.
I think the my newest tanks (outside a couple pony bottles, which are my only aluminum tanks) are from 1998. And there are two of them out of the 10, the others are early 70's down to 1960 with an 1/2in i-valve. Due to the mindset of the first mentioned shop as well as other issues with some LDSs (being both denied and having some tanks wrongfully condemned), I ended up getting VCI certified as well doing deep questioning of all the local dive shops. I found ONE that knows what they are doing, has solid answers, and seems to care about knowing what they are doing and saying. If you can't get informed information from an LDS, keep looking there are good ones out there. Now my LDS (hydro guy) still won't + my tanks without manufacturer docs on the specific serial number (which don't exist by the way) - but most places end up with a decent fill anyway. I love my steel 72's and plan to dive them for a long time.