Sidemount: HP Steel 117, 133, vs 149?

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I ended up buying some HP100s used at $100 per tank. Came full with 3500 psi of nitrox 32. 2018 hydro, but they're PST tanks which means I need to hydro them by the end of 9-30-2022 to be on the safe-side. I added some SOLAS tape for fun (last photo).

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Killer deal... I paid $175 / tank for my 1st set of Worthingon 3/4" with a fresh hydro.

As said above, hydro is every 5.... don't do it before then you're just wasting money.
 
Killer deal... I paid $175 / tank for my 1st set of Worthingon 3/4" with a fresh hydro.

I got a set for the cost of the hydros and new valves. :poke:

Also got a set of OMS LP51s for $225 for the pair. It pays to monitor FB and Craigslist.
 
Duuuuuuuude, I would have killed for those tanks! Hen's teeth ....

And at quite a bargain!! I have all PST HP3500 100s & 120s, but they have the 7/8 necks. You get all the benes, but with 3/4" necks!

Hydro is standard 5 year interval. Just be sure that your hydro-shop has the manufacturerer's specific "round-out" procedures for those tanks so they don't accidentally fail/condemn them.
Yeah, I was rather excited to come across the deal! Same price as I paid for some Aluminum 80s recently.

While I know a little bit about hydro, that's new info to me. I suppose I should look that up. I do have the "DOT-SP 9791" document, which allowed it to be hydo'd until 9-30-2022, but where do I find this "round out procedures" information?

I got a set for the cost of the hydros and new valves. :poke:

Also got a set of OMS LP51s for $225 for the pair. It pays to monitor FB and Craigslist.
Definitely. I monitor CL closely. I should do the same with FB, but I absolutely cannot stand FB. That said FB marketplace seems to have a lot of deals that don't show up on CL, and my friend seems able to sell stuff (like Anchors we find) on FB very quickly.
 
Yea, I forgot that the permit is up for renewal soon. It always has been renewed in the end, but it is marginally nervous-making to wonder if all of my tanks are going to be EOLed due to bureaucracy ...

Well, depending on when in 2018 yours were last hydroed, you might be losing a 4 - 16 months out of a 5-year cycle. Might be worth it for piece of mind if the renewal doesn't come through by the end of August.

The "round-out" procedure is actually for the HDG aspect

Relevant PST bulletin links:

Last SP renewal (2018) through 2022-09-30:

I've also attached .pdfs in case the links die.

@Akimbo tagging you to see if there is a sticky on this since the topic comes up over and over. It would be handy to be able to point quickly to a reference post, rather than rehashing it over and over, hunting down citations and years-old threads each time.


Editing to add ...

There appear to be further updated bulletins from PST dated 01/01/2003, but I can't find them in .pdf form any longer.
  • One reference was by @Luis H on the Vintage Scuba Community Forum (If you have the .pdf would you consider uploading it here?) here: Steel 72 Characterisitics | Vintage Scuba Diving Community Forum
  • The other is on a 2014 SB thread, posted by @spectrum and I am linking and requoting here for easier viewing: Talk to me about PST HP120s and Hydro - First hand accounts only please
  • It looks like the OP has gone in a direction. I did not see what I believe is the correct reply above so I will add to the thread for the sake of future browsers.

    Hot dipped galvanized cylinders such as PST or Worthington / Sea Pearls require that a rounding procedure be conducted prior to the actual hydro test. This amounts to pressurizing the cylinder and then relaxing it prior to the actual test cycle. I believe it has something to do with normalizing surface stresses so the hydro test can measure the true elasticity of the cylinder. Failure to do this step can result in a "stiff" cylinder that fails hydro.

    While REE is part of every hydro test the need for a "special procedure" usually applies to getting the + symbol on a non special permit cylinder. The OP's HP120 is a special permit cylinder.

    Here is the text conversion of the PST PDF file:

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Pressed Steel Tank Co., Inc.

    1445 South 66th St.
    Milwaukee WI 53214
    Ph: (414) 476-0500, Fax: (414) 476-9881
    www.pstscuba.com


    PST Technical Bulletin D100-E
    Procedure for Hydrostatic Retesting of Hot Dip Galvanized Scuba Cylinder Revised 1/01/03


    Steel scuba cylinders manufactured by PST must be re-inspected and retested at least every five years in accordance with the Code of Federal regulations
    Title 49 CFR 173.34 (US) or CSA B339 (Canada).

    This bulletin describes procedures that must be performed prior to retesting each cylinder. The cylinder must be prepared and test system checked in order
    to obtain accurate results in the hydrostatic expansion retest for galvanized steel cylinders. All PST scuba cylinders made starting in 1952 are protected
    from corrosion by a hot dip galvanized coating. This hot dip galvanized coating may affect the readings from the hydrostatic test, therefore failure to
    prepare the cylinder and perform the test system check in accordance with this procedure may result in rejection of a perfectly acceptable cylinder.

    Cylinder Preparation Procedure:

    1. Remove the plastic boot.
    2. Remove any crusty white corrosion deposits. Crusty deposits are most likely to form inside the removable plastic boot if the owner has not
    routinely rinsed saltwater residue from this area.
    3. Do not use aggressive acidic or caustic metal cleaners on the galvanized surface. The mottled gray-white appearance of used galvanized
    cylinders is normal.
    Test System Check Procedure :

    1. Visually inspect the cylinder , fill it with water and place in the water jacket, as in your normal practice for any testing.
    2. Zero the burette or expansion measuring system and pressurize the cylinder to 85% to 90% of the prescribed test pressure. Warning: DO NOT
    EXCEED 90% [49 CFR 173.34(e)(4)(v)] of test pressure.
    3. Hold the pressure and determine that the system is free of leaks.
    4. Release the pressure to zero.
    5. Zero the burette if necessary.
    6. Proceed to retest the cylinder at the required test pressure.
    7. Repeat this procedure with each hot dip galvanized cylinder to be tested.
    This test system check procedure is specifically authorized under the provisions of 49 CFR 173.34 (e)(4)(v) and CGA C-1, Methods for
    Hydrostatic Retesting, 1.4.

    This procedure is necessary to obtain accurate test results. The provision of the PST Warranty therefore requires that the cylinders are prepared for
    test and the system check is performed in accordance with these procedures. If these procedures are not followed in the retesting of hot dip
    galvanized cylinders, the owner should be given prior notice by the retester that the warranty may be invalidated by the retester.

    Related test bulletin PST Bulletin D101-E, Retesting DOT-E9791 or TC-SU 4349 Advanced Technology Cylinders. PST high-pressure (3442-psi)
    cylinders have a special test requirement based on their design and the DOT/TC requirements. This bulletin provides the necessary information.
    Following this procedure will assure an accurate retest for PST scuba cylinders. If you experience any difficulty in obtaining acceptable readings,
    please contact PST customer service at 414-476-0500.

    PST TECHNICAL BULLETIN D101-E
    Retesting DOT-E9791 or TC-SU4349-230 Advanced Technology Cylinders. Revised 01/01/03


    High-pressure steel scuba cylinders manufactured by PST must be re-inspected and retested at least every five years in accordance with the Code of
    Federal Regulations Title 49 CFR 173.34(US) or CSA B339 (Canada).

    PST high-pressure (3442 psi) cylinders must be retested in accordance with DOT E9791 or TC-SU4349-230 and have special test requirements based on
    their design and the DOT/TC requirements. This bulletin provides the necessary information.

    1. The retester must have a current copy either DOT-E9791 or TC-SU4349-230.
    2. The test pressure is 5250 psi.
    3. The wall calculations of CGA-C6 are not applicable to these high-strength steel cylinders. For the purpose of inspection criteria, the minimum
    wall for a new E7 cylinder is .179 inch, and E8 is .197.
    4. Almost all PST high-pressure scuba cylinders are hot dip galvanized for protection from corrosion. Specific procedures must be followed for cylinder preparation and retest checks to obtain accurate results in retesting hot-dip galvanized cylinders. These are described in PST Bulletin D100-E, Procedures for Hydrostatic Retesting for Hot Dip Galvanized Scuba Cylinders .

    Following these procedures will ensure an accurate retest for PST scuba cylinders. If you experience any difficulty in obtaining an acceptable reading,
    please contact PST customer service at 414-476-0500.

    These bulletins are provided free to all retesters approved by the US DOT or Transport Canada.


    (Source: VDH.com)
 

Attachments

  • PST Technical Bulletin D101.pdf
    13.6 KB · Views: 78
  • PST Tecnical bulletin D100.pdf
    17.4 KB · Views: 88
  • SP9791-Renewal_Thru20220930.pdf
    198.8 KB · Views: 71
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