Buying used tanks

[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.

[comet24]

Not enough info. Who made them? Steel, Al, HP, LP?

If it passed hydro in '08 and has been cared for it should be fine. Is the vip good. Does it have gas in it.

[SkuaSeptember]

As long as they pass a visual and hydro, no problem.

[Vercingetorix]

I may be interested in buying one as well. Are they steel or aluminum? What size? Price? (remember, you can buy a brand new AL80 for $150 at ScuabToys in Carrollton).

[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...

[comet24]

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...

Any tanks or just Al tanks.

[PTAaron]

Not sure, they didn't tell ME the policy...
I showed up with 3 tanks I had rented at a a different shop (they were closer to home) to get an air fill - this is a shop I do a lot of business with, so they know me. The guy looked at the tanks (AL80s) and said he wouldn't fill them... then pointed to an old Hydro date on one and said it was out of date (it wasn't, there was a newer date right below the old date) and said the others were just too old. I had to leave - only had 5 minutes to drop the tanks off on the way to work, then planned to pick up after work.
When I called the shop that rented them to me the other shop had already called the owner and told them of their policy... which is how I found out the "full story".

[TRACI]

I bought a 1983 aluminum, had a current hydro and visual done, and several shops will not fill, including ST

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by comet24

Any tanks or just Al tanks.

I can't speak for his shop, but I would feel safe assuming that rule only applies to Aluminum tanks. Steel tanks are perfectly safe for 30+ years, no problem, as long as they pass hydro and vis.

[Jay]

Originally Posted by comet24

Not enough info. Who made them? Steel, Al, HP, LP?

If it passed hydro in '08 and has been cared for it should be fine. Is the vip good. Does it have gas in it.

Al 80's, I did not get the manf. but I can check before I buy it.