what tanks did i get at this garage sale?

[Rich Keller]

Agreed, I'm getting a little tired of seeing the rather obvious zombie-like response "just find another dive shop" which is unhelpful if local dive shops are scarce or are ALL being 'stupid', unfortunately, although I upgraded from a dial-up to high-speed WWW connection, I'm still unable to get a WWW-based gas fill.

Forget the LDS if they are telling you they will not fill tanks the DOT says are OK to use. The shop CAN NOT over rule the DOT on what is safe to use! If they do report that to the DOT.

PHMSA - Cylinders - Authorized DOT Cylinder Retesters: Domestic

 

[elan]

Its a private company who cares what DOT says in this case. They are not violating the rules there is no ground to report them. If they do not want to fill the tanks they will not. I doubt that DOT has a clause that those tanks must be filled no matter what. Good luck reporting them.

 

[driftwood]

Even if there is a problem, the bright side is that AL80 tanks are now fetching about $14 each for the aluminum.

This is what I would do. Take them to your LDS and ask them to do a quick and dirty VIP for $13 to see if there are any really glaring issues with the tanks. If none, send them off for hydro. Should there be a problem, all you are out is gas and time.

 

[Leadking]

Do your own quick and dirty VIP. Look for large dings, good threads and internal corrosion. Why pay a shop to do a VIP and then hydro? More than likely they are going to hit you up for a VIP when they come back from hydro.

 

[Rich Keller]

Its a private company who cares what DOT says in this case. They are not violating the rules there is no ground to report them. If they do not want to fill the tanks they will not. I doubt that DOT has a clause that those tanks must be filled no matter what. Good luck reporting them.

The diving industry is self regulated in every area but this one. The shop is authorized to do VIPs by the DOT.

 

[Rich Keller]

Even if there is a problem, the bright side is that AL80 tanks are now fetching about $14 each for the aluminum.

This is what I would do. Take them to your LDS and ask them to do a quick and dirty VIP for $13 to see if there are any really glaring issues with the tanks. If none, send them off for hydro. Should there be a problem, all you are out is gas and time.

Take it to a shop that can do an eddy test first and if it passes that it should pass hydro.

 

[matt_w]

This is absolutely, 100% False. DOT has no regulations at all regarding annual VIPs of scuba cylinders. This is a voluntary dive industry program. Even if they did, the shop would never be compelled by DOT or anyone else to fill a tank they felt was unsafe (no matter how wrong they might be).

Please point to a DOT regulation authorizing dive operators to do anything...

 

[halocline]

The diving industry is self regulated in every area but this one. The shop is authorized to do VIPs by the DOT.

Where did you hear this, a dive shop? It's a good one, even for dive shops.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

The diving industry is self regulated in every area but this one. The shop is authorized to do VIPs by the DOT.

BS. Dot is not connected with the industry self regulated VIP programs. Hydro is another story.

 

[scubaops]

they passed hydro, vip and are filled waiting for me to get a weekend off.