3Al tanks???? - Spearboard.com - The World's Largest Spearfishing Diving Boating Social Media Forum

mustdive2 · 03-16-2008, 04:15 PM

After reading about 3Al tanks I'm getting nervous about my tanks.I have 2Tanks.1 is marked ctc/dot-3al3200-s92 us5028 LUXFER9a87 and the other ctc/dot-3al3200-s92 us3952luxfer2a87. are these tanks junk? both passed hydro and vip. Thanks for the help!

BigMako · 03-18-2008, 11:21 AM

I'm sorry to tell you that those tanks are Luxfer made in 1987. You can sell them for about 20.00 a piece as scrap. Based on the latest DOT wording, I don't think anyone will fill those tanks. The alloy they were made from has shown a tendency towards neck cracks. It's hard to spot without an E-Vis. They're junk. Anything 90 and below and any tank made by Walter Kidde. These are easy to spot because of the strange neck. The only aluminum cylinders that are exempt were made by Catalina.

WonderBoy · 03-18-2008, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigMako

I'm sorry to tell you that those tanks are Luxfer made in 1987. You can sell them for about 20.00 a piece as scrap. Based on the latest DOT wording, I don't think anyone will fill those tanks. The alloy they were made from has shown a tendency towards neck cracks. It's hard to spot without an E-Vis. They're junk. Anything 90 and below and any tank made by Walter Kidde. These are easy to spot because of the strange neck. The only aluminum cylinders that are exempt were made by Catalina.

For the most part, that is true, but it certainly depends on the shop that you use. I still filled them when I worked in a dive shop. They weren't condemned like Walter Kiddes were. They were just shown to be prone to neck cracks. I don't remember DOT every saying "STOP FILLING THESE" or anything like that. It was more of a notice, probably more to cover their own liability if anything should happen.
Personally, as long as they pass hydro and visual inspection, I think they should be filled. That's my opinion.

but I probably wouldn't stand next to it while it was being filled...

BigMako · 03-18-2008, 02:02 PM

WonderBoy,
They still haven't said "Don't fill these", however, in their latest release the wording is very strong that if you choose to fill them, you could be found liable if anything happens. Most shops I know won't fill them. We did up until last month and now we don't fill them either. Most shops in Northwest Florida won't fill them either. We even still had some in rental and they were sent to scrap last week. At any rate, it would behoove everyone to be aware of this and not to purchase pre1990 Luxfer cylinders. Even if it seems like "the deal of the century." It isn't. The VIP and Hydro cost more than the cylinder is worth.

Capt.Gene · 03-18-2008, 04:23 PM

The magic date is 9/88. All newer are the safer alloy.
All older are a fill at your own risk venture. But don't worry, should you become injured badly you will recieve a settlement when you sign the confidenciality papers.
Having had one split while filling it, and condemming about 100 others, I ask the question of all you dive shop guys standing beside these potential death devices, filling them for $5,
WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING?

BigMako · 03-19-2008, 10:23 AM

Capt. Gene,
Roger that! I don't need 5.00 that bad.

Ballistic · 03-21-2008, 05:28 AM

My 86 luxfer is hanging by my Tiki bar cut in half with a 5#weight in it. You ring it like a bell when you need another drink. Anyways, what I am wondering is what really happens when one of these tanks fails? Are we talking explosion or what? Is the concern that it goes off like a bomb on your back or the fact that it fails while you are down. Or both. I have heard all kinds of STORIES but it sounds like you guys might really know. Thanks!

padiwagon · 03-21-2008, 05:47 AM

www.massdiving.com/tank_explosion_6351.htm
This is what CAN happen!!!!!

Ballistic · 03-22-2008, 04:56 AM

Thanks for the link. Very interesting. I have heard in the past that the dive shops started the hysteria to get divers to buy new tanks. The pics kinda back up the hysteria.

Capt.Gene · 03-22-2008, 07:33 AM

I'm a shop owner and I don't care much if I ever sell another new aluminum tank.
We make about as much money selling booties or a mask.
Talk about a flawed business plan.

BigMako · 03-22-2008, 09:54 AM

I'm in the business as well and I can tell you this...
We make less than 30.00 on every aluminum tank sale.


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03-16-2008, 04:15 PM	#1
mustdive2 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 22	3Al tanks???? After reading about 3Al tanks I'm getting nervous about my tanks.I have 2Tanks.1 is marked ctc/dot-3al3200-s92 us5028 LUXFER9a87 and the other ctc/dot-3al3200-s92 us3952luxfer2a87. are these tanks junk? both passed hydro and vip. Thanks for the help!

03-18-2008, 11:21 AM	#2
BigMako Keith Simmons Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mobile, Al Age: 54 Posts: 977	Re: 3Al tanks???? I'm sorry to tell you that those tanks are Luxfer made in 1987. You can sell them for about 20.00 a piece as scrap. Based on the latest DOT wording, I don't think anyone will fill those tanks. The alloy they were made from has shown a tendency towards neck cracks. It's hard to spot without an E-Vis. They're junk. Anything 90 and below and any tank made by Walter Kidde. These are easy to spot because of the strange neck. The only aluminum cylinders that are exempt were made by Catalina. __________________ De inimico non loquaris sed cogite Knowing nothing is much better than "Knowing it all"

03-18-2008, 02:02 PM	#4
BigMako Keith Simmons Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mobile, Al Age: 54 Posts: 977	Re: 3Al tanks???? WonderBoy, They still haven't said "Don't fill these", however, in their latest release the wording is very strong that if you choose to fill them, you could be found liable if anything happens. Most shops I know won't fill them. We did up until last month and now we don't fill them either. Most shops in Northwest Florida won't fill them either. We even still had some in rental and they were sent to scrap last week. At any rate, it would behoove everyone to be aware of this and not to purchase pre1990 Luxfer cylinders. Even if it seems like "the deal of the century." It isn't. The VIP and Hydro cost more than the cylinder is worth. __________________ De inimico non loquaris sed cogite Knowing nothing is much better than "Knowing it all"

03-18-2008, 04:23 PM	#5
Capt.Gene Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Zephyrhills, Florida Age: 64 Posts: 2,126	Re: 3Al tanks???? The magic date is 9/88. All newer are the safer alloy. All older are a fill at your own risk venture. But don't worry, should you become injured badly you will recieve a settlement when you sign the confidenciality papers. Having had one split while filling it, and condemming about 100 others, I ask the question of all you dive shop guys standing beside these potential death devices, filling them for $5, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING? __________________ www.zeagleexpress.com

03-19-2008, 10:23 AM	#6
BigMako Keith Simmons Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mobile, Al Age: 54 Posts: 977	Re: 3Al tanks???? Capt. Gene, Roger that! I don't need 5.00 that bad. __________________ De inimico non loquaris sed cogite Knowing nothing is much better than "Knowing it all"

03-21-2008, 05:28 AM	#7
Ballistic Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tarpon Springs, FL Age: 43 Posts: 72	Re: 3Al tanks???? My 86 luxfer is hanging by my Tiki bar cut in half with a 5#weight in it. You ring it like a bell when you need another drink. Anyways, what I am wondering is what really happens when one of these tanks fails? Are we talking explosion or what? Is the concern that it goes off like a bomb on your back or the fact that it fails while you are down. Or both. I have heard all kinds of STORIES but it sounds like you guys might really know. Thanks!

03-21-2008, 05:47 AM	#8
padiwagon Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: st.augustine Age: 48 Posts: 297	Re: 3Al tanks???? www.massdiving.com/tank_explosion_6351.htm This is what CAN happen!!!!! __________________ "when in doubt use a long shaft and stay for the duration"

03-22-2008, 04:56 AM	#9
Ballistic Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tarpon Springs, FL Age: 43 Posts: 72	Re: 3Al tanks???? Thanks for the link. Very interesting. I have heard in the past that the dive shops started the hysteria to get divers to buy new tanks. The pics kinda back up the hysteria.

03-22-2008, 07:33 AM	#10
Capt.Gene Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Zephyrhills, Florida Age: 64 Posts: 2,126	Re: 3Al tanks???? I'm a shop owner and I don't care much if I ever sell another new aluminum tank. We make about as much money selling booties or a mask. Talk about a flawed business plan. __________________ www.zeagleexpress.com

03-22-2008, 09:54 AM	#11
BigMako Keith Simmons Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mobile, Al Age: 54 Posts: 977	Re: 3Al tanks???? I'm in the business as well and I can tell you this... We make less than 30.00 on every aluminum tank sale. __________________ De inimico non loquaris sed cogite Knowing nothing is much better than "Knowing it all"

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