Help me identify these tanks

[Flatliner]

Hi all, I don't decipher tank markings really well. Could one of you experts id these tanks for me and tell me if they are ok to use? I found them used and am considering purchasing them for my son. They look like AL 63s to me which is what my son dives.


Oldest tank is stamped
TC-3ALM207BAR CATALINA 2 A9 07 01
DOT-3AL3000EJO3061M4002-02 A 96-S63

Newest tank
D0T-3AL3000 BJ0021464 M4002 05C03 CATALINA S63 TC-3ALM207[/font]

Thanks in advance.

[Rainer]

What do you want to know?

They're Catalina AL63s, relatively new. No problem with the alloy.

[Largo]

I'm not an expert, but according to my little book here, those are Aluminum 63s, and they were manufactured after 1982.

If you call Catalina, and give them the serial numbers, they could probably give you the manufacture date and tell you whether they had been recalled.

[CompuDude]

Catalina never made tanks with the "bad" alloy, only Luxfer, and only for a few years, quite a long while ago.

[Rainer]

Yup, alloy is good.

Best bet, is to take a look at them (inside and out), then consider price.

[awap]

Originally Posted by Flatliner

Hi all, I don't decipher tank markings really well. Could one of you experts id these tanks for me and tell me if they are ok to use? I found them used and am considering purchasing them for my son. They look like AL 63s to me which is what my son dives.


Oldest tank is stamped
TC-3ALM207BAR CATALINA 2 A9 07 01
DOT-3AL3000EJO3061M4002-02 A 96-S63

Newest tank
D0T-3AL3000 BJ0021464 M4002 05C03 CATALINA S63 TC-3ALM207[/font]

Thanks in advance.

Looks like the older tank was made in Feb 06 and rehydroed in Jul 01. The newer tank was mad in May 03. So both are due for hydro before they can be filled. Figure $40 to $50 each for needed hydro, inspection, and fill. I'd probably inspect and pull the valves and take a peek inside and then pay no more than $50 each (and that is probably high). For $25 each, I'd snap them up.

[Rainer]

Originally Posted by awap

Looks like the older tank was made in Feb 06 and rehydroed in Jul 01. The newer tank was mad in May 03. So both are due for hydro before they can be filled. Figure $40 to $50 each for needed hydro, inspection, and fill. I'd probably inspect and pull the valves and take a peek inside and then pay no more than $50 each (and that is probably high). For $25 each, I'd snap them up.

96, but otherwise all looks right. Do check for any more recent hydro stamps, otherwise, yeah, that'd cost a few dollars (though I've never paid near $50/cylinder).

What do you plan to use them for? Doubles/singles/stages? Fine for the first two, but many people prefer Luxfers for stage/deco use.

[mike_s]

Originally Posted by Largo

I'm not an expert, but according to my little book here, those are Aluminum 63s, and they were manufactured after 1982.

If you call Catalina, and give them the serial numbers, they could probably give you the manufacture date and tell you whether they had been recalled.

Largo.... the manufacturer date (month/year) is part of the information they stamp on the tank at time of manufacturer... no need to call Catalina.




here's a couple tank charts to tell how to tread the stamped information for the original poster (and others)






and this one for steel only, for reference for other tanks...

[Flatliner]

Thanks guys. I plan to use them as single tanks for my son (and later this summer my daughter). I would also like to use them as deco bottles as I venture into tech. Trying to kill two birds with one stone.

[Rainer]

Again, a fair number of people dislike the Catalinas as stages (the don't float up as nicely). I used one for a dive, and didn't find it overly annoying, but supposedly it's more noticeable the more you add.