Walter Kidde tanks and the DOT

[bigredbill]

Just the straight scoop from someone who KNOWS the real situation with the older "suspect" aluminum tanks - especially those manufactured by Walter Kidde, or at least stamped as coming from Walter Kidde.

I am not looking for speculation or advice....thanks but I get lots of that from my wife everyday.....

I know the older Luxors can be used if properly tested, but i have been told that the Walter Kidde tanks made of the same stuff cannot be hydroed at all - in fact it would be illegal to hydro them - due to permitting issues with the DOT. Another shop says no problem......

Someone on the board must work professionally in this area who really knows what the situation is = please enlighten me.

 

[Wookie]

at Professional Scuba Inspectors (www.psicylinders.com) in Woodinville, WA. They are the authority on aluminum cylinders.

 

[bigredbill]

at Professional Scuba Inspectors (www.psicylinders.com) in Woodinville, WA. They are the authority on aluminum cylinders.

PSI is not a regulating agency - they are a group attempting to make PSI a required certification for scuba tank inspection - what PADI or NAUI are for training they wish PSI to be for tank inspection.

I would like an unbiased word from someone who knows the DOT regs, not someone who thinks they should be setting them.

 

[H2Andy]

so why not contact the DOT?

 

[bigredbill]

so why not contact the DOT?

Why not contact the FAA to find out who flies into NYC?

 

[dannobee]

Here's what I found from the DOT website.

http://hazmat.dot.gov/pubs/reports/cylinder/3al_advisory.pdf

Look around the site, there's quite a lot of info on 3AL tanks that might be relevant.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Walter Kidde tanks were made from the same 6351 T-6 alloy as Luxfers of the same period, although Kidde continued using the alloy about 1 1/2 to 2 years longer than Luxfer.

They are legal to hydro and put back in service as long as they have a proper inspection for sustained load cracks in the neck. In general, they are a little heavier than a Luxfer tank and demonstrate less expansion during a hydro test.

They are good tanks and I'd be more comfortable with a Kidde of that era than a Luxfer, and I have no problem with using Luxfers from that era provided they are properly inspected.

 

[DennisW]

What DA Aquamaster said. I have a Walter Kidde and it is a good tank.

 

[H2Andy]

Why not contact the FAA to find out who flies into NYC?

bad metaphor dude; should be obvious why

:14:

 

[Leadking]

If they are stamped 3AL get them hyro'd , they are still good. If the are an earlier version made under special permit (SP stamed) some qualify to be overstamed 3AL and put into service, your hydro company can provide details