Tanks

[logansar]

I have two Dacor tanks. Purchased them new in late 80s most likely. I had them hydroed and VIPed lasted month and they passed.

My 18 year old son is working on his master diver cert and was at Clear Springs SCUBA Park in Terrell TX when he was told they would not fill AL alloy tanks tanks and had a list of the tanks describe. The second to the last was tanks made prior to 1990.

What's the deal? I'm a little pissed that they hydroed the tanks if they are not going to be accepted anywhere to be filled? Guess I'm going to make lamps out of them......

Thanks

Sarge


Sarge
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[redacted]

While DOT has not decided they are unsafe, many shops have made that decision. You will need to find an air source (shop) that has not.

The subject has been discussed at length on this board: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/search.php?searchid=5545045

 

[logansar]

Thanks AWAP.... Thank link kicks me to the ScubaBoard site, but nothing else. What is the search criteria and I will look for it.

Sarge


Sarge
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[elan]

They own the compressor so they can refuse filling the tank. You can vote with your wallet.

 

[logansar]

No I get it.... They get to make the rules. I just never would have spent the cash on hydrostatic checks it they were going to be treated as lepers !


Sarge
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[chrpai]

Don't turn them into lampshades yet. Some compressor owners will still fill them. I know for a fact that Scubaland Lake (Austin) still has tanks of this vintage in their rental fleet so I'm sure you can unload them somewhere. Or just find another place to fill them and know you can't get fills at that one location.

 

[redacted]

Thanks AWAP.... Thank link kicks me to the ScubaBoard site, but nothing else. What is the search criteria and I will look for it.

Sarge


Sarge
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I did the search on "6351" which is te problem aluminum alloy.

Another interesting site (anti - 6351): The Latest Victim of 6351-T6 Scuba Tanks

 

[scubadiver888]

logansar,

Aluminum tanks made from 6351 alloy may suffer from Sustained Load Cracking (SLC). Cracks form in the neck of the cylinder and it peels apart like a banana but with explosive force. If you are near it when it explodes you are probably dead. You can read the manufacturer's response to this problem at Sustained-load cracking - Luxfer: Setting The Standard Worldwide.

The cracks can go undetected by visual inspection so the manufacturer recommends an eddy current test on these cylinders. If your tanks say Visual Plus or Eddy Current tested then they are probably safe to fill and use.

The problem comes from two things. First, some shops don't know the full details and figure it is better to be safe than sorry.

Second, some shops don't trust the label. I talked to a DM who worked at another shop. The other shop didn't actually do a proper visual inspection. They'd look inside and if there wasn't REALLY obvious problems they'd close it up and slap a sticker on it. They didn't even have the equipment to do an eddy current test. When you hear stories like that you kind of wonder if that pre-1999 tank has been properly inspected. Some shops will fill the tank but only if they did the inspection or they know the shop who did the inspection.

If the tank originally cost $170 and you got 23 years of use out of it, it cost you $7.40/year. Keeping that tank in service for a few more years is saving you pennies (LITERALLY) but ever year increases the chance of failure. I'm worried someone could end up dying and you are worried about saving pennies. Keeping that tank in service for one more year might save you $0.10 a month. Statistically, I am not going to die filling an old aluminum cylinder. Recently, an experienced diver was carrying his tanks to the car. It suffered from SLC. It exploded. He is dead. That sits in the back of my mind every time I see a pre-1990 cylinder.

Elan is right. You can vote with your wallet. Personally, I don't see why someone I just met should trust me or the person who slapped the sticker on my pre-1990 aluminum tank.

If blind folded you, I placed a revolver in your hand and told you it was not loaded. I ask you to put the barrel in your mouth and pull the trigger or I'll take my business somewhere else. What would you do?

 

[akdeepdiver]

If you do scrap it, i just took 520lbs of condemed aluminum tanks to the scrap yard. Here locally, they are paying $.33 a pound for aluminum. Make sure you call around and get the best price.

 

[logansar]

Thanks guys

SD888 I think hit the nail on the head... I think I got my money out of them.....

Sarge


Sarge
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