White Spots on Inside of AL 80

[jacked_72]

I picked up a $20 1997 Luxfer tank at a garage sale this weekend, and I'm starting to wonder if I got a deal or not. The tank was out of hydro, and I thought no problem as I had bought a couple of tanks like this with no issue. After I checked for pressure (none, but no problem) I unscrewed the valve and saw there was no oring. Oops. Then, when I removed the valve, I immediately saw moisture on the valve. Problem. I ran my finger around the inside neck and got a whitish substance on my finger. It was big and chunky like partly dried laundry detergent. I figured the guy had tried to clean the tank for some reason and probably couldn't rinse it out well and so he gave up. I rinsed it out with hot water and dried the inside.

The inside generally looks good; shiny and like the inside of an aluminum water bottle. There are, however, half dozen spots on the inside that are white and a dark splotch on the bottom. This dark splotch really looks like part of the tank.

I'm assuming the white spots are aluminum oxide. Will a tank pass a VIP with these spots or will it need to be tumbled? I don't have a tumbler and I don't think its going to be cost effective to make one and buy the media, so I'm probably going to have to pay for one. What does this generally cost? Is there a DIY to get rid of the white spots that does not involve the full tumbling process?

Thanks.

 

[WB2GLP]

White junk around the threads could be old caked up (proper or improper not being the question) thread lube.

Take it to a shop and have them service it. If you've never looked inside a tank, better to have trained eyes do it. A vis and a fill should not set you back much. Neither should a light tumble if needed.

 

[drbill]

Don't know about Texas, but here you'd need to have it hydro'ed and VIPed. Hydros here in California are $35-50 (usually includes the VIP).

 

[Scared Silly]

Both of the above posts are leading you down the right path. The material around the neck could be either old caked up lube or aluminum oxide from previous moisture that has now dried. I am guessing the former from someone putting too much lube on the threads. The spots inside, are they scattered? If so probably got a wet fill from a little moisture in the valve. Sounds very very minor.

As for the good deal, you are probably fine. Take the cylinder to a local hydro shop and have it tested. When you get it back head over to Scuba Toys or your other local dive shop and have them do a visual inspection. The cylinder may need nothing more than a quick whipping to remove the spots on the inside. Hopefully, the hydro and visual with a fill will not set you back more than $40-$50. So over all you did fine.

 

[Teller]

You prob just need to whip it. You can get a whip pretty cheap online. With a few tools you can usualy not go wrong with AL cylinders as far as investment.