OLD/USED Tanks too old or still good????

[LakeCountyDiver]

How old is too old when buying a used tank??? I am looking at used tanks on craigslist (I live in florida) and one guy is offering 2 steel 100s 88' w/current hydro-VIP. for $200 each.

What is the mark down on used tanks?
When is a tank just too old?
Is it wise to purchase old/used tanks?

I am in the market for 2 100s and just want to know is it wise to buy new or is well kept used ok? My dive shop is 2 blocks away and I always get free tank rentals I am now finally ready to just buy my own.

THANK YOU ALL

 

[drdaddy]

How old is too old when buying a used tank??? I am looking at used tanks on craigslist (I live in florida) and one guy is offering 2 steel 100s 88' w/current hydro-VIP. for $200 each.

What is the mark down on used tanks?
When is a tank just too old?
Is it wise to purchase old/used tanks?

I am in the market for 2 100s and just want to know is it wise to buy new or is well kept used ok? My dive shop is 2 blocks away and I always get free tank rentals I am now finally ready to just buy my own.

THANK YOU ALL

For the most part, stick with buying new unless it is a fantastic deal. Are these 1988 tanks high pressure/3442? Probably not. Ask your shop how much for new Steel HP/3442 100s. These are my favorite tanks - own 5 of them (and 4 Steel HP/3442 80s). Here's what I have written in the past.​

The simple answer is:

Don't do it.

It is not worth the hassle.

Buying a used tank can be a good deal, but you must know what you are doing. If you don't know what you are doing, you will almost always lose.

For instance, using a 100cf HP 3442 steel tank as an example:

Let's say you find a used 100cf HP 3442 steel tank for $275.00. That sound like a good deal, after all, it is still in hydro. But the question is how far "in" is it. If it has to be hydro'd in 2 years, then it not such a great deal - in fact I'd pass it up with hydro costing $35.00. And you are not getting a new tank, and you might get it opened up for it's vis and find rust - now it needs to be tumbled - cleaned out.

Or how about a tank for $200.00 that is out of hydro? Even if they guaranteed that it would pass, you may still have to put @ $50.00 into it, and now you have a used tank that cost you $250.00. Is it really worth it?

I'd probably pay (and have) $200 for a tank that is 3 years from hydro and had just passed a vis.

But keep in mind the following:

A new 100cf HP 3442 steel tank cost new about $350.00. Some places will give you a free fill card - 10 fills at $5 a fill is worth $50.00. Now you have a brand new tank w/warranty for $300.00.

Also, I'm using an example of a tank that I'm very familiar with because I own a number of them dive them weekly. Coming across an unfamiliar tank ? - well, it's just not worth it.

 

[Dr Wu]

I cannot imagine the circumstances I would buy a new steel tank.

Tanks last for decades and other than cosmetic the difference between new and used is marginal.

The cost however can vary a great deal.

 

[elmer fudd]

Compare the price of new tanks and the tanks characteristics and condition and then make up your mind. If those are galvanized HP tanks, in good condition, with 3/4" valves and they're not the really heavy Fabers, then that's a decent price.

I've got some tanks that date back to the 50's and a set of Sportsways doubles from 1961 that just passed hydro. If they're in good shape and they pass hydro, the age doesn't really matter much, (for steel tanks anyway). There are the little idiosyncrasies that go along with old tanks though. They might have oddball valves: 1/2" taper, 1/2" straight, 7/8", J-valves, etc... They might be stamped ICC instead of DOT and they might be rated to lower pressures than we are accustomed to nowadays. I've got tanks rated at 1800, 2000, 2250, 3000 and 3442.

 

[knowone]

Winter is good.
Bought two tanks two months ago, six years old, five years out of hydro, we have yearly hydro's, $120 and $150 ebay, sight unseen, hydro's $72, gas $20, gas for car $10 like new.


Retail $800 - 1000.


And the size of our second hand market is like a pigeon roosting on a pyramid.

 

[akdeepdiver]

A tank is still legal to use, according to the gov as long as it keeps passing hydro. A good example is the Welding Oxygen tank I just bought. It was manufactuered in 1920 in germany and has passed all of its hydros and is still good.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

If you want to get into buying and using used steel tanks you need to learn about them.
I pull valves off and look inside with a light on a string. I have tools to scrub and clean steel tanks so they are spotless inside.
I have one tank that was made in 1959 and it was absolutely spotless inside. It passed hydro with flying colors. Best part is that it was free. People think old tanks are junk and are quick to discard them. Give them to me, if they don't pass hydro then there is no charge. I can't go wrong.

Aluminum tanks suck.

 

[tbone1004]

I have 4 tanks from 1990-1992 that I bought sight unseen. PST HP cylinders *not the 100's your looking at, but the 80's and 120's on either side of them* after being out of hydro for almost a decade, they still looked better on the inside than a lot of new Worthington cylinders I've seen. Quick trip in the tumbler and they look brand new on the inside.

I would never buy a new steel tank, the markup is just not worth it. I'd try to offer the guy $300 for the pair see if he mights or negotiates down. I paid $500 for the 2 80's and 2 120's. Spend $100 getting them hydro'd and was good to go. They passed with flying colors and have been O2 cleaned since.

 

[Scared Silly]

If steel 100s from the late 80s they are more than likely true HP cylinders made by either PST or ASHI. Meaning 3500 PSI with 7/8" valves which will then be the 300 bar DIN connection. If so you will have no choice in the valve and reg. You will need to have DIN regs.

Most now op for the 3442 PSI cylinder which take 3/4" Pro Valve which can be yoke of 200 Bar DIN.

 

[drdaddy]

If steel 100s from the late 80s they are more than likely true HP cylinders made by either PST or ASHI. Meaning 3500 PSI with 7/8" valves which will then be the 300 bar DIN connection. If so you will have no choice in the valve and reg. You will need to have DIN regs.

Most now op for the 3442 PSI cylinder which take 3/4" Pro Valve which can be yoke of 200 Bar DIN.

This is a very important point. Thank you for bringing it up. Especially since this new diver is probably using yoke.