What's your favorite finish?

[Guba]

Well, we've talked about just about everything else on this board...I might as well toss this one into the mix.
My wife recently gave me a new Al 80 tank. After 30 years of marriage, she knows me pretty well and chose a bead-blasted finish instead of the bright cherry-red enameled one, or one of the neon colors.
Question: What is your favorite finish/color of tank?

I'll even head off the purists...No, it doesn't make that much difference to me what color it is. I liked the bead blasted because my tank bands seem to grip it very firmly with very little effort. I'd still like to hear other divers' choices, just for grins.

 

[SparticleBrane]

"Brushed no-coat" for Al80s, hot-dipped galvanized for steel.

I liked the brushed no-coat on the aluminums specifically because they're not painted in any way. Just aluminum--nothing more, nothing less. Don't have to worry about paint chipping off or being corroded underneath the paint and scratches aren't a big deal. I would have gone for the shot-blast finish but I just didn't quite like the look as much as the brushed finish.

Hot-dipped galvanized for steel tanks so I never have to worry about external rusting. There aren't too many color choices for steel tanks anyway--grey or white. I suppose there's the occasional black tank floating around but that's about it.

Al80s (kinda hard to see)

72s

119s

 

[rongoodman]

Galvanized steel.

 

[ClayJar]

I have a veritable rainbow of aluminum tank colors, and I like it that way. I've got brushed no-coat, black, blue, yellow, red, pink...

I don't mind the paint wearing out (although the painted ones take longer to inspect, of course). I just really like being able to know at a glance which cylinders are which. I often have more cylinders with me on a weekend than I'll use (although sometimes I need multiple sets of fills), and I appreciate being able to think, "I didn't use the black or pink cylinders last week, so I'll use those fills first this week."

Could I just keep track of the cylinders some other way (such as the serial numbers or tape or something)? Sure. Is it easier for me to think in color? Indeed. Do I enjoy having a set of non-color-coordinated tanks? Youbetcha.

 

[deepblueme]

Any color that is full of air.

Neon yellow when leading dives in low viz.

 

[paradicio]

Any color that is full of air.

I couldn't agree more.

Honestly, I have not yet purchased a tank. I'm leaning towards just renting for the duration of my time as a diver. For my needs it just seems to make more sense.

That said... Were I to purchase a tank, I think I'd opt for one that wasn't painted.

 

[MSilvia]

"Brushed no-coat" for Al80s, hot-dipped galvanized for steel.

Ditto. I don't dive so rarely that I'd be able to keep a painted tank looking good, and I think low maintainance is preferable.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I like to finish last ... therefore my favorite tanks are the big ones ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[piikki]

i think everyone's going to pick the same if you go for what holds on the best
... so i'll just pick what i think looks coolest even if it rots first
I like bright white.

 

[C Chris]

If I could justify replacing my cylinders, it would be "Brushed no-coat" for Al80s with the exception of Neon yellow when leading dives in low viz. - chris