Aluminum 100's

[JahJahwarrior]

I want to mention how much I love my 100's, and how much I hate them. I was going to provide a link to ST to show where you can buy them, but it looks like they don't carry these tanks. I bought mine used from a local shop.

They hold 20 cubic feet of air that an 80 can't, but at a tradeoff: both companies that make aluminum 100's only make one kind, and it's 100 cubic feet at 3300 psi. If you get a 3k fill, then it's only 91 cu. feet of air. Still, not too bad!

I don't know numbers for bouyancy, but I do know weight: I believe my tanks weigh a little over 40 pounds each. I didn't think it was bad until I had a little walk to the water at a local spring. These tanks are heavy! However, my back doesn't hurt as much now when I dive as it used to, in other words, if you use these tanks, your back eventually will get stronger. You do have to be careful that you carry them correctly or you will hurt yourself. They do weigh more than an 80!! Bouyancy wise, they don't float when full! I was showing off to a friend who the gear is weightless in the water, and I grabbed a buddies tank and threw it in the pool. It sank. Found out why later: it was a 100! (I later picked up two of the exact same tank from a local shop on sale, used.) When empty, these aren't quite as bouyant as an 80 if I remember correctly. I think you could take off two pounds if you moved to one of these, which doesn't help me much, when all of my weights are 5 pounders and I dive with three of them....

Finish: Mine are brushed aluminum, and I like it. My buddy has two non-matching painted ones, and they look like crap. Mine do show some signs of corrosion and wear, you can see slight colour differences where a previous user had bands on them to use them as stage bottles. Not quite rust, but a little different colour. Still looks better than chipped paint! I do not like shotblast tanks very much, but if buying new, I'd prefer shotblast over painted.

All said and done, I love my Luxfer aluminum 100's, and would reccomend them again. Good for the person who wants more bottom time, can haul the weight, and doesn't want to invest in steel tanks just yet. I'm sure Joe and Larry can get them for you if youw anted some. However, if you are female or you have a great SAC, I'd almost say stick with an 80, and if you have the money, I'd say go LP95 steels....

[Wolfie2012]

I think I'll stick with my steel 130's If only I could find a way to eat underwater, I might never come up!

[ScubaToys Joe]

I'm with you jahjahwarrior. And we normally stock the 100's. And can get them in if we don't have them in stock... but that 3300 psi thing makes it not work for a lot of folks. Our compressor is set up no problem, but a lot of fill stations - as you point out - just won't bother adjust for 1 guys tanks.


So if anyone is really looking for them - give a shout - but we are doing a lot more steel tanks for the guys who want more air.

[frankc420]

Manufacturer & Nominal Capacity: Luxfer
Service pressure psi: 3300
Actual air capacity, ft3: 99.3
Outer diameter, in: 8
Length without valve, in: 26.21
Empty weight, lbs (w/o valve): 40.86
Buoyancy Empty, lbs (w/valve): 3.11
Buoyancy Full, lbs (w/valve): -4.34

*Empty weights do not include valves, which would add 1.5 - 2.5 lbs, but buoyancy figures do.

[fireman mike]

Yes I have a love hate with mine 100's too. I am saving to buy steel 119 that way I have more air and can lose some weight. Ps

[medic001918]

Like many people, I'm partial to steel tanks. My fiance dives steel HP100's which works out well for her. The size is similar to an AL80, but she gets the added weight savings (from her belt) that she has to carry. And it will be far more beneficial when she gets her drysuit. Myself, I dive a LP95, or LP108's. Both pretty large, heavy steel tanks. But they allow me to dive my SS bp/w & a drysuit without having to carry any additional weight. Everyone has to look at where they dive in determining a tank. If you dive in warm water where thick wetsuits or drysuits aren't an issue an aluminum tank can be the best choice for you.
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<DIV>To the OP, I'm glad that you found a tank that you like and that works well for you. Stick with it.</DIV>
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Shane</DIV>

[JahJahwarrior]

Please let me reiterate that I do believe steel tanks are better almost all around. They let you shuck weight on your weight belt, are often smaller than Aluminum tanks, LP tanks can be filled anywhere that fills normal tanks, and can sometimes be safely overfilledjust a tad to give you more air, but that's really a tech/cave thing They last for forever if cared for, and have better bouyancy characteristics. But, they are also very expensive! So if you have the money, I would probably never advise that you buy aluminum tanks. I have found a tank that works for me, yes, but you know what? 80's would work. Steel hp80s too, or LP95, 98's, 105, 108's, all of those could work too. Infact, I'd rather be diving LP95's.

My only purpose in writing about these tanks was to "review" them in some way. I figured maybe someone out there wanted to know why they should or shouldn't by aluminum 100's. I also talked about finish, because that applies to all aluminum tanks.

And if I went with steel, I would go with low pressure tanks. For one, a high pressure tank has the same problems I'm running into: the shop doesn't even look half the time, and gives me a fill to 3k. Infact, one of my buddy's tanks is two months out of vip, and he keeps getting them filled, no shop has noticed yet. (no clue why he got them vipped at seperate times) A low pressure tank can also be overfilled, the safety of that is a can of worms that I don't want toopen, but it happens, and rarely does it result in catastrophe. I'm in Cave Country, which is why occasionally when the right guy is at the shop, I'll get a fill to 3600. (this gives me more like 110 cu. ft. I believe, maybe 115.) And, I can handle the weight, even if it means I might have to actually (gasp!) work out a little....

[mwhities]

I dive with Catalina AL100s. Only about 4 or 5 dives with them but, I trim out well and they help me last as long as my dive buddy with an al80.

Michael

[cummings66]

Originally Posted by JahJahwarrior

And if I went with steel, I would go with low pressure tanks. For one, a high pressure tank has the same problems I'm running into:

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<DIV>The largest advantage to a steel HP100 is the fact that its much lighter than your tank for example. If a person wants a lightweight tank that's steel then the HP is what you get, if you want full consistant fills then get the LP tank.</DIV>
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<DIV>Never buy any tank thinking you can get it overfilled, and you did open that can by making an inferance that in cave country it happens all the time. That doesn't mean it's safe to do it all the time, I know it's common however and I don't really agree with it.</DIV>
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<DIV>Compare empty weights of HP and LP tanks and you'll see why many like Hp tanks even though getting full fills are dodgy in many areas. I know of a small handful of shops that can even do it consistantly, most can not.</DIV>

[somewhereinla]

I have the same problem, what you need to do is insist on getting your fill to the 3442 (in my case) mark. Very often the problem is they don't let the tank cool long enough for the air to compress again. Ask them to take their time or bring your tank the day before.