Steel Tanks

[mulefeathers]

Why would you want to dive with steel tanks? I know someone who sold off all of there AL tanks to go with steel. Myself I like to keep thing simple. I rented a steel tanks once because that is all they had. But just didn't see a big advantage. Please tell what the draw is to steel tanks over AL. Thanks

[jeraldjcook]

You can take weight off your belt. At the end of a dive, an AL80 is buoyant, while a steel will usually be a couple of pounds negative.

[mwhities]

Exactly.

Michael

[cgvmer]

I also rented them and loved them. They had more air in them, 100's they were negativly bouyant, removing weight from belt.

Others with more experience can give you more info.

[Charlotte Smith]

I go from having 12 lbs of weight added to my BC to none thus freeing up my pockets for other stuff but thats just me. I don't always use steel cause my hubby isn't always there to lug it for me but its nice to dive with steel, it holds more air for me...

[Griff]

I asked someone in my LDS this same question the other day.

With being able to take weight off and having more air/pressure, I asked why would anyone go with AL. He basically stated that Steel is more expensive and many people are too lazy to swap or don't have a First State that can handle the increased pressure.

[jeraldjcook]

Originally Posted by Griff

I asked someone in my LDS this same question the other day.

With being able to take weight off and having more air/pressure, I asked why would anyone go with AL. He basically stated that Steel is more expensive and many people are too lazy to swap or don't have a First State that can handle the increased pressure.

An additional factor that influenced my to buy AL tanks is rust. I'd be paranoid like crazy that I'd get a wet fill. I know AL can oxidize, but at least the tank is cheaper.

[mike_s]

Here ya go.

1.) Steel tanks are more negative bouyant. That means that you can take lead off your weight belt. With my steels, I can take off about 6 pounds compared to an AL80.

2.) Steel is stronger than Aluminum is, thus allowing thinner tank walls, which allows more tank volume for the same physical size AL80. For example, a steel HP100 is about the same physical size as an AL80 is, but holds about 23 cubic feet more air. The end result is that you can stay down a lot longer with a tank that is about the same physical exterior size.

3.) If you diving a drysuit, you need extra negative weight to help "sink" you with the drysuit, air in it, and undergarments. Drysuit divers require more weight on their weightbelts. The fact that steels tanks are more negative is a bonus to a drysuit diver as he doesn't have to wear as much lead.

4.) You "can" overfill the LP steel tanks. Is this reccomended? No. But is it done? Yes. It's a fairly common accepted practice. What this buys you is more breathing gas, which of course is directly porportional to your bottom time. A LP108 normall fill is 2400. It's 'Plus' rated to 108cf at 2640psi. At 3000psi, you'd have 122cf and at 3500psi overfill you'd have 143cf. A set of double LP108's filled to 3500 would get you 286cf of air. this is pretty popular for deco or cave divers. You can't do that with an Aluminum tank.



So why do people still buy AL tanks? because that's what they were trained with and they are cheaper.

[Jaymeany]

Do you lose air in the neutrally buoyant Al? It claims to be the same physical size with thicker walls. Can you use a yoke on a Steel?

[jeraldjcook]

Originally Posted by Jaymeany

Do you lose air in the neutrally buoyant Al? It claims to be the same physical size with thicker walls. Can you use a yoke on a Steel?

I think they are 3300psi, usually with a yoke.

Yes, you can use a yoke on LP steel and MP (3442psi) steel but not HP steel.