Where to find NEW negatively buoyant LP85 steel tanks?

[Reku]

EDIT: I dive sidemount so backmounted doubles weighting is not a concern. I need each tank+valve+hog d1 1st stage to be neutral or negative when empty.

I am looking for steel tanks that are negatively buoyant. XS scuba tanks are discontinued and so are every single other brand I have commonly seen. I'm not looking to buy used. I don't care about the cost. Faber tanks are not negatively buoyant at the end of the dive so those are out of the question. I don't really want HP tanks - I can get cave fills in both states I dive in regularly.

Any recommendations?

Any brand (as long as it won't kill me) is fine as long as the tanks are negative the entire dive.

Thanks! I'll keep looking on google for brands/tanks and if I find any I'll post back here.

 

[divad]

Faber tanks are not negatively buoyant at the end of the dive so those are out of the question.
Any recommendations?

Well, they're not positive either.

 

[kelemvor]

Well, they're not positive either.

According to this they're +2.32

Does anyone else currently manufacture LP85's?

 

[divad]

According to Indian Valley Scuba's chart, they're not.

 

[halocline]

If you're using the faber LP85s as manifolded doubles they will certainly be negative at the end of a dive. I suspect the +2 figure is without any valve. Two valves, manifold, and bands provide quite a bit of ballast.

The faber LP85s are reputed to be near ideal doubles for many divers. I never heard of anyone not liking them.

 

[kelemvor]

Indian Valley is wrong. Here's the data, right from the blue steel website. Blue Steel Scuba - Cylinder Specs

 

[divad]

Indian Valley is wrong. Here's the data, right from the blue steel website. Blue Steel Scuba - Cylinder Specs

Note at the bottom says "Buoyancy listed is in salt water, tank only." (no valve)



The IVS chart is not wrong/they included the valve in the buoyancy.
I guess that would explain why they feel butt-light when near empty. They are positive, but the valve is holding them down.

 

[sea_ledford]

Indian Valley is wrong. Here's the data, right from the blue steel website. Blue Steel Scuba - Cylinder Specs

Take all the listed buoyancy values from the manufacturers with a BIG grain of salt. I've calculated air weight from various charts at anywhere from 0.02 - 0.08 lbs/cuft.

-Chris

 

[Scared Silly]

If you're using the faber LP85s as manifolded doubles they will certainly be negative at the end of a dive. I suspect the +2 figure is without any valve. Two valves, manifold, and bands provide quite a bit of ballast.

The faber LP85s are reputed to be near ideal doubles for many divers. I never heard of anyone not liking them.

That is what I dive and they are exactly as you describe. Same buoyancy as the XS Scuba but 3 lbs lighter on dry land.


For the OP as folks have discovered the Fabers buoyancy is sans valve whereas the XS Scuba is with a valve. Both measurements are in sea water. Figure a valve being a couple of pounds negatively buoyant and one will find the XS Scuba is positively buoyant when empty as well (or if you like the the Faber is negative).

 

[divad]

The Worthington/XS LP 85 is listed as only 1 lb less buoyant when empty than the Faber but, as said above, is three pounds heavier. A Faber with a 1 lb weight, say, glued on the bottom, would have the same buoyancy as the Worthington/XS and still be 2 lbs lighter, hence, a better deal in terms of overall weight.