Why won't my LDS even inspect these tanks?

[BIG_KAHUNA]

Hey all, new to the site. Looks like there's all the information you could ask for on here!

So my Dad gave me four AL tanks that were just sitting in storage, with air in them. So I went to the LDS a while back to get them inspected, hydro, etc. They wouldn't even touch them. What do you guys think?

Top line: # CTC/DOT-3AL3000-S80
Mid Line: 04
7 24 92
Bot Line: P304850LUXFER4A87

Let me know what you think!

-Scott

---------- Post added May 24th, 2013 at 09:24 AM ----------

on that mid line the 04 is over the 24 like a fraction without the line and in between the 7 and 92. If that makes any sense

 

[redacted]

Hey all, new to the site. Looks like there's all the information you could ask for on here!

So my Dad gave me four AL tanks that were just sitting in storage, with air in them. So I went to the LDS a while back to get them inspected, hydro, etc. They wouldn't even touch them. What do you guys think?

Top line: # CTC/DOT-3AL3000-S80
Mid Line: 04
7 24 92
Bot Line: P304850LUXFER4A87

Let me know what you think!

-Scott

---------- Post added May 24th, 2013 at 09:24 AM ----------

on that mid line the 04 is over the 24 like a fraction without the line and in between the 7 and 92. If that makes any sense

they are made of a type of aluminum that is known to suffer from sustained load cracking. Many shops will refuse to fill them.

REAL facts about 6351 cylinders [Archive] - ScubaBoard - Scuba Diving Forum - Diving Social Network

 

[diversteve]

Maybe they're just paranoid since yours would appear to have been manufactured later than the Sustained Load Cracking recall era. I suppose hearing stories of people dying while filling old tanks might be of concern to them. Or maybe they don't realize it only applies to pre-1988 Luxfer tanks.

More than you probably want to know about it here: http://www.hawaii.edu/ehso/diving/Cracking and Ruptures of SCBA and SCUBA Aluminum Cylinders.pdf

Of course, if they're right - do you really want to dive with them? Esp. since they were a "gift".

I've heard they make decent windchimes if you cut the bottom off.

 

[BIG_KAHUNA]

So these tanks simply are not safe?

---------- Post added May 24th, 2013 at 09:43 AM ----------

And are they worth anything?

---------- Post added May 24th, 2013 at 09:44 AM ----------

The valves should be good right?

 

[Wookie]

Cause they are just not worth messing with. If you want to use them, get your own compressor. Otherwise, they require special handling, but they look just like the one's that don't. I don't mess with them either.

---------- Post added May 24th, 2013 at 10:46 AM ----------

So these tanks simply are not safe?

---------- Post added May 24th, 2013 at 09:43 AM ----------

And are they worth anything?

---------- Post added May 24th, 2013 at 09:44 AM ----------

The valves should be good right?

They are safe, they just require special handling. Scuba tanks are cheap enough to go out and buy new.

Bout 5 bucks as scrap.

The valves are fine. Why do you want to own your own cylinders anyway?

 

[mathauck0814]

So these tanks simply are not safe?

Maybe.

And are they worth anything?

No.

The valves should be good right?

Probably.

 

[Scared Silly]

Read this sticky thread which is at the top of this (the tank) forum:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ta...66-my-cylinder-made-bad-alloy-aka-al6351.html

 

[TSandM]

Why do you want to own your own cylinders anyway?

Since we own over 30 of them, I suppose I ought to be able to answer this . . . there is a great deal of convenience in having your own cylinders. You can have the size you want and the material you want. They are readily at hand, full, when you want to go diving, and you don't have to run back to the dive shop that evening or the next morning to return them. There is a small advantage in costs, especially if you dive regularly, because the yearly VIP and five year hydro get amortized over a great many dives, and may still be cheaper than paying to rent a tank AND fill it.

 

[chrpai]

Maybe they're just paranoid since yours would appear to have been manufactured later than the Sustained Load Cracking recall era. I suppose hearing stories of people dying while filling old tanks might be of concern to them. Or maybe they don't realize it only applies to pre-1988 Luxfer tanks.

His tank has an original hydro of 4/87. That is not later then the cutoff date.

FWIW, You can still get them hydrod and vis'd in Austin.

 

[diversteve]

Ahh I missed that...LUXFER4A87 - even after awap highlighted it...