visual inspection on tanks

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Davidstealey3

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Scuba Instructor
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after a long debated discusion in another thread i thought i would put it here to get everyone's opinion

do you think untrained people should be taking the valves off their tanks to do routine maintaince and inspections on tanks?
 
I think people should be able do anything they want to do to THEIR tanks as long as the action is not illegal.
 
If the tank is not under pressure, whats the problem?


Also, how can someone who is untrained really do an inspection? Where are they going to get the VIP sticker?

Please expand on "routine maintaince". Do you mean O2 clean the cylinder? Rebuild the valve? Tumble the cylinder? What is there besides a vis and a hydro?
 
The shops around here will not fill your tanks if they come in with no positive pressure. If they do then they insist on preforming a new VIS or they will not fill your tanks.

Nothing is stopping you from preforming your own cleaning and VIS.. given you have your own compressor. Most shops will not touch your tanks unless they where done by a certified tech.
 
wow i never knew i needed a masters degree to inspect my own tanks so lets see 3 bucks to unscrew the valve 2 bucks to look inside with a light bar 3 bucks to put the valve back on and 2 bucks for a sticker ...........
 
by routine maintaince i mean

removing valve to look for rust and aluminum oxide
removing the rust and aluminum oxide
02 cleaning of tank and valve
determining the tank as fit for service or not
reinstaling valve untill the VIP sticker or hydro is due
 
My view is the same as in the other thread - visually inspecting a tank is not rocket science and anyone ought to be allowed to do it.

I also think annually is overkill for VIPs. I think the British model of every 30 months is more realistic.

Both the annual requirement and the artificial requirement of a "trained technician" is just a slightly underhand way for hard working LDSs to try and balance their books.

Next thing we will hear you need to be a licensed automotive mechanic to change a tyre.
 
How many agencies certify people to do visual cylinder inspections?
Does your LDS that you get your VCI at have a certified guy? Probably not, but they put a sticker on your tank anyway.

Just sayin
 
i hope the shop you take your tank to has a certified tech on hand. when they do the inspection and fill out the report they have to put an agency and a tech number on it. if they dont give you a inspection report, thats just wrong, who knows if they did it. and if they put down a number and dont have a cert i sure that is violating some laws
 
I don't think untrained people should work on any diving equipment. Self trained is another story. See these two sites for good information on inspecting scuba cylinders:

Catalina has a good site: Catalina Cylinders http://www.catalinacylinders.com/ then click on Tech Support and have a good look around, they have info neck inspection, folds, cracks, etc.

Also see this document:
http://www.luxfercylinders.com/downl...scubaguide.pdf <http://www.luxfercylinders.com/downloads/docs/scubaguide.pdf>

Also, do a search re: O2 cleaning valves and tanks.

c
 
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