Tank opinion

[Ash0r]

Hello! I was wondering if anyone would please give their opinion on this tank: http://bellingham.craigslist.org/spo/435610483.html

It looks unfinished to me. Do they make unfinished steel tanks and wouldn't they rust?

Thanks!

[DivingsInMyBlood]

My 100 cf ss tank looks like that (finish) too. You have to hose them down after diving with them like you should with all your gear.

[Ash0r]

Do you think that would be a good price for it? It also looks like it has two knobs on it. Why would it have two?

[ScubaToys Larry]

That is probably an old J valve. Very few tanks have J valves now... they were replaced with that new invention.... the gauge!

In the good ole' days, you just dove around until it got hard to get any more air, then you'd pull the coat hanger that was attached to the other valve handle, and it would pull down, and flip a spring that would let you get just enough more air to get to the surface... if all went well, and the valve was in the right position (up) to start.

Might be an old 72. Have them send all the numbers, or a picture of the numbers at the tank neck - as if it's an old 2250 psi steel - pretty useless. If it is a steel, that would be a funny valve to have on it - but it's possible. Either way, since it was probably filled at paintball fields (I own one!) they do not spend anywhere near the money of filtering, and you may have some corrosion issues internally, which would mean tumbling the tank and a new vis - maybe in the $50 - $70 range....

And the unfinished ones are galvanized to slow the corrosion.


So I'd need a lot more info before I'd pull the trigger on that one!

[WaScubaDude]

dating myself...but that is most likely a steel 72 with J valve, worth maybe $35 with current hydro, vip, updated burst disc and fill. Just sold an updated alum 80 for $80. If you are not a very light breather (very low SAC rate) you will run out of air before your buddies with this tank. Best to look for something with more capacity IMHO

[Ash0r]

Lol, thanks guys. I will keep looking.

[ScubaToys Larry]

Keep in mind... a brand new aluminum 80, with a brand new valve, is $150 at our site. Then take your 10% discount for being a board member... tanks are pretty darn cheap to get a good new one. There are a lot of the bad aluminums floating around on craigs list and ebay when the folks get told the dive shop won't fill them. Just FYI.

[JugglingMonkeys]

Larry

without going steel, would you recommend your regular AL80 or the Neutrally Buoyant AL80?

[ScubaToys Larry]

Stick with the regular. Neutral 80's are only 80 if you get them filled to 3300, and most times, folks will just hook them up with the other 80's and you'll get 3000 and end up with a 70 - not an 80...

And if you really want 2 or 3 more pounds on the tank - just add a 3 lb weight to your bottom tank strap.

I'd say save the money.

[Charlotte Smith]

Originally Posted by ScubaToys Larry

Stick with the regular. Neutral 80's are only 80 if you get them filled to 3300, and most times, folks will just hook them up with the other 80's and you'll get 3000 and end up with a 70 - not an 80...

And if you really want 2 or 3 more pounds on the tank - just add a 3 lb weight to your bottom tank strap.

I'd say save the money.

What is the difference between a Super 80, AL80 and NB AL80? We have a couple of super 80's.....are they NB ones?