Question about filling older Alum tanks

[dmmike]

Was up in Glouster, MA diving this past week . To my surprise when I went to get my tanks filled I was told that the shop was not filling any tanks manufactured before 1987 :no. Something to do with "questionable" material . When I told him that I had not heard of this, and my LDS has been filling the tank, he told me that it was something that the local shops in MASS . had agreed upon doing :11:. They were looking to get older tanks out of service because they are concerned about the tanks "bursting".
He said that I could use one of thier tanks for the rest of my stay, and that if I purchased a new tank he would "knock" $50.00 off the price of a new tank.

Has anyone else encountered this while diving in MASS, is there any truth to the tanks "bursting". I seem to remeber something with Luxfer tanks, but my LDS said mine was not effected.

Sure, the purchase of new tanks would set me back, but.... I would feel really bad if something happened when the tanks were being filled.

So is this something I need to worry about, or was somebody just trying to sell me a new tank????

By the way, I've also had the tank filled in PA, all summer long without a problem, And these guys give you a hard time if the hydro. is hard to read.

Thanks for the help

 

[Nemrod]

This is old news, mostly malarky but fact nonetheless.
N

 

[Damselfish]

I believe your Luxfer AL80 from 1987 would be made of the bad AL6351 alloy. Some places will fill them with the proper additional testing, but more and more just won't. There's a million threads on this. A tank blew a up in Rhode Island a few months back and pretty much spooked the shops in NE - pics here.

 

[Garrobo]

Buy a new or used Catalina and your worries are over.

 

[archman]

Buy a new or used Catalina and your worries are over.

Not necessarily, if the tank's 1980's era and earlier. There are shops now only discriminating by age, not on alloy.

 

[spectrum]

I've seen one shop cut all aluminums off at 1990. Most of it is based on ignorance or devious marketing.

Actually they did not cut them off.... you could get a VIP for $120.

Pete

 

[SteveC]

I believe that over all there are few shops that will not fill the 6351 alloy, but the number will be growing. Fortunately that alloy as not been used since about 1988. While it’s true that the 6351 alloy has had some problems, the failure rate is extremely low. Dive shops will always have the right to refuse to fill a tank, so we will just have to go along. Here in Missouri, we haven’t had any problems getting them filled.

 

[uspap]

Here in San Jose California I ran into the same thing. The shop would not fill tanks over 20 years old. I couldn't believe I'd had them for so long. I bought them brand new. I guess I'm old too.

 

[fppf]

Our shop wont fill the 6351 tanks.
But they will give you a good deal on a new tank.
I still can't beleive people wine about killing a 20 year old tank. If you buy a tank today and it lasts 20 years it around $7 a year.

They had one blow in RI a few months ago. Also you will be hard pressed to get it filled in FL.

 

[ScubaSarus]

Do you have Luxefur or Catalina. The article states Catalinas are still good to fill prior to 1987.

"Note: All Catalina tanks are good. They used aluminum 6061 not 6351."

PS
That fill station looks a mess. Were did that big piece of branch come from. Did the explosion cause such a mess when just a chunk of the tank blew off. By the looks of that station you'de thing the tank exploded like a granade into smitherines. Looks to me they could use a new fill station.

Tank Explosion 6351