Buying used tanks

[Jay]

Originally Posted by PTAaron

A shop near me will not fill tanks made before 1990 (I think that is the year) regardless of hydro and vis dates. It is their store policy...

I was told by my LDS operator that anything made before 1990 will not be filled as well. He told me that was an industry standard now.

[Jay]

Thank you all for your input. I knew of the 1990 issue PT was talking about, but I was just not sure if there was something I needed to know about later year tank. Thanks again!

[PTAaron]

Originally Posted by Jay

I was told by my LDS operator that anything made before 1990 will not be filled as well. He told me that was an industry standard now.

The shop that rented me the tanks confirmed it with Luxfer because he was wondering if standards had changed - it is NOT the industry standard, it is just a shop making their own rules.

[Jay]

Originally Posted by PTAaron

The shop that rented me the tanks confirmed it with Luxfer because he was wondering if standards had changed - it is NOT the industry standard, it is just a shop making their own rules.

Thanks for the input.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by PTAaron

The shop that rented me the tanks confirmed it with Luxfer because he was wondering if standards had changed - it is NOT the industry standard, it is just a shop making their own rules.

True. But more and more shops are going with this same policy, just to keep things simple for their fill monkeys. (if not their customers...)

Regardless, should only apply to aluminum, not steel.

[cummings66]

A good shop will pay attention to them and refuse to fill only the older bad alloy cylinders, but many have no training at all when it comes to filling and inspections and they tend to go by whichever way the wind blows that day.

[navyhmc]

Originally Posted by Jay

I was wanting to know what is the oldest tank most of you would buy. I have a friend who is selling some tanks as he has decided to quit diving due to health reasons. He has several (about 5) tanks that I am might be interested in (I might want to buy one) that were manufactored in 1996. Is that to old or what is to old? The one in particular I would buy was last hydroed in '08. Any information you could pass on would be great.

These are good to go, Aluminum or steel. The '08 hydro is your best choice if only buying one. If the price is right and the others and '96 or newer, I would maybe get one other-pick the one with the most recent hydro's.

As others have written, pre'87 are bad and you don't want those. Anything '88 or newer is okay.

Good luck and good diving.

[jupitertreasures]

Oh the controversy over pre 1989 Luxfer AL80's.
I have a dive shop here in WPB that fills my tanks and they include 2 pre 1989 Luxfer AL80's and a 1980 USD AL80 and all recently passed hydro and vis.

[mm2002]

Originally Posted by jupitertreasures

Oh the controversy over pre 1989 Luxfer AL80's.
I have a dive shop here in WPB that fills my tanks and they include 2 pre 1989 Luxfer AL80's and a 1980 USD AL80 and all recently passed hydro and vis.

You can call it "controversy" or whatever, but there have been enough documented failures that I wouldn't take the chance anyway. AL tanks are cheap. $150 isn't worth the risk IMHO.

So, if you don't mind saying, what shop fills those for you? I know it's not JDC...

[jupitertreasures]

[quote=PTAaron;331280]

Originally Posted by Jay

I was told by my LDS operator that anything made before 1990 will not be filled as well. He told me that was an industry standard now.

The shop that rented me the tanks confirmed it with Luxfer because he was wondering if standards had changed - it is NOT the industry standard, it is just a shop making their own rules.[/quote]

Ain't that the truth.
I have a shop in WPB that'll fill any tank, as long as it's passed and has current hydro, vis and.... if it's made from 6351 alloy it must pass visual eddy.
That nonsense about industry standard in mumbo jumbo concocted by shops looking to sell you new tanks.
I met a guy the other day at BHB that is new to diving.
He told me he bought a tank from craigslist that was made in 1994.
Took it to the shop to send out for hydro and vis, they told him not to waste his money as they won't fill any tank made before 1998.
Ain't that some sh_t!!!!!!
Now it's pre 1998 tanks..... and just when we were getting used to pre 1988 tanks being blackballed.