|
Post by shackle on Jul 5, 2007 10:59:48 GMT -8
I have moved to a new city (Chattanooga, Tn.) and took two sets of twin 38's to be filled at one of the LDS here. One set is Healthways mfg. date 1965 with a recent hydro and visual and the other set is a U.S. Divers mfg. in 1975, also recently hydroed and current visual. After the guy looked over both sets for a rediculous amount of time he finally said he would fill the U.S. Diver set, but would not fill the Healthways. His explaination was that they were manufactured to withstand a certain number of fill cycles and since there was no way to document how many times the tanks had been filled and he did not want to take the chance of filling tanks that were that old. Has any one ever heard of this? I called the company that performed the hydro and they said that there was no such thig as a limit on how many times a cylinder could be filled. Has anyone heard of this?
|
|
|
Post by luis on Jul 5, 2007 11:56:59 GMT -8
Yes, I have heard such an ignorant comment. It comes from pure ignorance. The easiest thing may be to find another dive shop, but if you are looking for a project, you can first inform yourself and then (only then) try to educate the LDS. On a few occasions, I have been successful, not always. There is a reason we have codes and regulations (you can down load them from the web). A LDS owner can refuse to do business with you for whatever reason, bu it is sad when there reason is based on ignorance. You can also start by calling or emailing PSI and they can help locate some of the information. Was the guy younger than the tanks? Some young guys often think that nothing older than themselves could still be functional.
|
|
|
Post by shackle on Jul 5, 2007 12:04:03 GMT -8
Thanks Luis. I took the offending set of tanks to the other dive shop here and they filled them without batting an eye. I have too many projects going on to take on educating dive store owners.
|
|
|
Post by luis on Jul 5, 2007 12:10:16 GMT -8
Thanks Luis. I took the offending set of tanks to the other dive shop here and they filled them without batting an eye. I have too many projects going on to take on educating dive store owners. Well, if it is convenient, I would politely make it a point to let the offending dive shop know that you are planning on taking most of your business to the other dive shop, until they educate themselves. Obviously, don't burn your bridges, you may need someday to get air from them.
|
|
|
Post by duckbill on Jul 5, 2007 18:50:40 GMT -8
Shackle, I know the last thing you want to deal with after a move is an ignorant dive shop. When you have a chance, please do inform the shop with the facts. The more shops we can help lift from ignorance can only help the vintage diving community as a whole. If fill cycles had anything to do with anything, then why even get hydros?! Does the guy think we need to start a fill log?! Maybe you should make a bogus fill log and show it to the guy. Ask him how many is "too many". I've heard a lot of stupid comments from dive shops, but this one is a first for me. How can these guys stay in business? I guess they just figure the public is more stupid than they. How better to keep selling new stuff? Since you do have an option in local shops, Luis is right to say you should politely let them know why you will be giving the other shop preference. Don't be surprised if they start spouting horror stories about "that other shop". Happens all the time amongst competing dive shops. Wet or bad fills, bad visuals, bad service, poor rentals, blah, blah, blah.
|
|
|
Post by scubadiverbob on Jul 6, 2007 22:25:23 GMT -8
All I've heard of is dive stores that don't like filling aluminium tanks, which is understandable. When they first started mass producing them, it was thought the brass in the valve would react with the aluminium of the tank in salt water. I told the dive store owner that I only use my alum. tank to operate air tools (which I do) and showed him my conshelf six first stage with a lp hose made to work with air tools. Pretty nice little setup. I can very easily adjust the first stage I'm using to 90psi for air tools or turn the pressure up for other stuff. Made a setup for a friend of mine, who does flooring (carpet and hardwood), and he uses it to operate pnuematic tools when there is no power for his air compressor.
As far as your LDS goes, maybe the guy is new to diving. I know of one dive store that hires sales personnel that aren't even cert. divers; just really good sales people. I've went to one dive store and asked for a burst disk and plug for a tank valve, and got a reply "what's that?". I was rebuilding a valve that had the old style plug. Makes you wonder ...
|
|
|
Post by Broxton Carol on Jul 7, 2007 8:01:54 GMT -8
Make it easy on yourself, and your friends who dive with you. Buy a compressor. Get your tanks hydro'd by a compressed gas dealer. It will be a ton less than a dive shop who likely takes it there anyway, then marks it up plenty for you..... When you get that stamp on there you know it has been internally, externally, and pressure tested and found servicable for the next 5 years. No more phoney visual stickers, or arguements with dive shops. Let the pros do the work for you, then sit back, and have a cool one while your compressor is filling your trank. Also think of all the gas you waste diving from shop to shop that wont fill your tanks.
|
|
|
Post by scubadiverbob on Jul 7, 2007 11:45:06 GMT -8
Here in Chico, the company that hydros tanks for the fire department also hydros scuba tanks and the tech is a Divemaster. They don't fill scuba tanks, though. Check your area and see if someone hydros and services fire equipment.
|
|
|
Post by mytwocents on Oct 30, 2016 9:53:03 GMT -8
Here's hoping someone will read this even if it's 9 years late. Baskground: I started out as a Navy diver then as a civilian became a VERY qualified welder in various processes - stick and machine, nuclear and pressure vessels as well as structural. I became educated in metallurgy so I could understand the welding process. Attended DIT and graduated first in my class. Went to work for Oceaneering International and became a commercial diver - deep air and mixed gas. Gulf of Mexico, South East Asia, Indian Ocean, Red Sea and Mediterranean. Oil field related, salvage, SAR, explosives, you name it. If it could be done underwater. . . So, I come back to the US after 10 years and want to do a SCUBA inspection dive. Mind you, I'm using virtually new tanks purchased just before I left the states and only used a few times getting lobster and clams and this bozo wants to see my 'air card'. "What the hell is that"? I asked and he explained. I showed him the card I got from DIT and he grudging filled the tank not noticing the out of date hydro. Next job comes up and he refuses to fill my tanks so I purchased a compressor - Sweet deal, military surplus 20 (twenty) SCFM @ 3000 PSI way bigger than his and it only has 6 hours on it. I sent an air sample and it came back 100% for compressed breathable air. I understand fill cycles, work hardening thru fill and discharge, I hnow what the term 'non-shat is and why it's stamped on a tank. In fact I probly know more about SCUBA tanks than most dive shops. As far as a VI, you can DIY with an inspection mirror and an LED on a string tho I don't know what you expect to find if you are using dry air in your tank. I'm reasonably certain every dive shop is required to have an air certification annually (I used to know) and it should be visually displayed or at the very least produced on request. It will tell you every thing you want to know about the air you will be breathing - it's something you should look at whenever you buy air and make sure it's current. Rant over, never been back to that dive shop.
|
|
|
Post by cnotthoff on Oct 30, 2016 12:40:50 GMT -8
I told the dive store owner that I only use my alum. tank to operate air tools (which I do) and showed him my conshelf six first stage with a lp hose made to work with air tools. Pretty nice little setup. I can very easily adjust the first stage I'm using to 90psi for air tools or turn the pressure up for other stuff. Made a setup for a friend of mine, who does flooring (carpet and hardwood), and he uses it to operate pnuematic tools when there is no power for his air compressor. . Bob, You may already have done this. If you are using a scuba first stage without a downstream second stage, you need to install an overpressure valve in one of the low pressure ports. www.xsscuba.com/regulators/standard-opv-over-pressure-valveI use scuba tanks for nail guns, air tools, and many other pneumatic tasks. I tell people it's because the only compressor I have fills to 4500 psi. All other posts here on the topic of fill cycles are right on. As long as a cylinder passes current visual and hydro tests, it is safe to fill. Good Dives, Charlie
|
|
|
Post by nikeajax on Dec 17, 2016 11:28:48 GMT -8
Hmmmmm? This reminds me of a Jimmy Stewart film "No Highway in the Sky": www.imdb.com/title/tt0043859/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_54This film deals with metal fatigue and what it can do to aircraft frames: but the DOT tests these things for us now and many more and I'm glad it's not my job to think about them JB
|
|