100 % O2 Cleaning for AL80

[davehicks]

When we were buying "02 cleaned" valves and paying a $50 premium for the cleaning service, I found out on a factory visit that they were just taking them apart, cleaning with alcohol, re-lubricating what needed it with 02 safe silicon grease and reassembling. It's not rocket science so we started doing the same process in-house. These were for industrial machines, not breathing. No idea if that makes a difference.

The whole idea is to get rid of any grease and oils that might be reactive to 02. In reality, our customers DIY'd their own 02 setups with no 02 cleaning and I never heard of any issues. While I was gone for 2 weeks the employees replaced a couple of 02 valves with valves that had not been cleaned yet and I didn't know it till a year later. Those valves had 100% 02 flowing through them 12 hours a day 5 day a week for a year.

Just ask your LDS how they 02 clean valves and cylinders, and do that.

Don't over glorify the lucky souls who use 100% O2 with a dirty vavle/reg/tank. It's careless and fires do happen. I've seen lots of photos on just SB in the past. People have been killed or injured.

That said, O2 cleaning is not at all hard and anyone can do it with minimal supplies. I rebuild my CCR O2 regs every year and service the valves. I O2 clean with Simply Green Crystal, a cheap ultrasonic, tribolube 71, and lots of hand washing as I do the work.

 

[DAJ]

The cleaning process varies but this is basically how it goes. A dive shop will have a faster way of doing it and use diffrent equipment but at home you can get it done. I would argue that if it’s just the one cylinder, have a shop do it as it can be a lot to do at home for just one cylinder. With that said, if you want to save a few bucks and the shop will trust your home cleaning job, give it a go.

1. Select your pre-cleaner. This could be pure hot water or steam. A liquid type of detergent like Ivory, Joy, Dawn, crystal Simple Green or some 409. These are mixed with hot pure water for your solution.
2. Do a basic VIP on the cylinder
3. Clean threads with nylon brush and wipe it off with something that is lint free.
4. Fill the cylinder up with hot cleaning solution and let it sit for 30-45 minutes.
5. Pour out cleaning solution and rinse with pure hot water
6. Take sample of the rinse water and check for floaters or oil. If you see something, rinse again.
7. Turn the aluminum 80 upside down and dry with H-C free air.
8. Install your O2 clean valve as directed and put some H-C air in to and put the cylinder in water for a leak test.
9. If all is good, drain and fill cylinder with 02.

Doing the valves is a bit more meticulous with a bit of scrubbing involved but the cylinders are not that bad. Anyway, I completed my mixed gas blender and O2 course before I did my mixed gas diving courses because I wanted to have a better understanding of the entire process. Have fun and let us know how it went.

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

Thanks for the replies..... reason I am asking is that I am picking up a new AL80 for 100% O2 next week. My LDS just called to let me know that as soon as the tank comes in they need to O2 clean it so I was curious as to what that typically involves. They are also giving me credit for the standard valve that comes with the tank and installing a DXG Premium O2 Modular valve.......prior to filling..

And before anyone asks.....I am not intending using this tank for any planned stage or deco purposes. It's specifically intended to store a healthy supply of emergency O2 on my boat..... and will be well marked as such. My delivery system is a fully 100% O2 cleaned Dive Rite deco reg along with a RescuEan pod that connects via LP inflator hose.

I am considering adding a 25ft LP hose to the kit so I'll have the option of hanging a weighted 2nd.

 

[johndiver999]

Thanks for the replies..... reason I am asking is that I am picking up a new AL80 for 100% O2 next week. My LDS just called to let me know that as soon as the tank comes in they need to O2 clean it so I was curious as to what that typically involves. They are also giving me credit for the standard valve that comes with the tank and installing a DXG Premium O2 Modular valve.......prior to filling..

And before anyone asks.....I am not intending using this tank for any planned stage or deco purposes. It's specifically intended to store a healthy supply of emergency O2 on my boat..... and will be well marked as such. My delivery system is a fully 100% O2 cleaned Dive Rite deco reg along with a RescuEan pod that connects via LP inflator hose.

I am considering adding a 25ft LP hose to the kit so I'll have the option of hanging a weighted 2nd.

The bigger danger is probably failing to mark the tank in a ridiculously obvious manner and having someone use it - say while you are underwater and not supervising. If there is any question about the people on board, I always explain that this is oxygen and is only to be used in an emergency, and I just have a 30 cu-ft bottle.

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

The bigger danger is probably failing to mark the tank in a ridiculously obvious manner and having someone use it - say while you are underwater and not supervising. If there is any question about the people on board, I always explain that this is oxygen and is only to be used in an emergency, and I just have a 30 cu-ft bottle.

That's exactly why my post stated that it will be well marked as 100%...... Plus anyone diving from my boat knows the implications and restrictions of 100% O2.

 

[happy-diver]

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[rjack321]

Thanks for the replies..... reason I am asking is that I am picking up a new AL80 for 100% O2 next week. My LDS just called to let me know that as soon as the tank comes in they need to O2 clean it so I was curious as to what that typically involves. They are also giving me credit for the standard valve that comes with the tank and installing a DXG Premium O2 Modular valve.......prior to filling..

And before anyone asks.....I am not intending using this tank for any planned stage or deco purposes. It's specifically intended to store a healthy supply of emergency O2 on my boat..... and will be well marked as such. My delivery system is a fully 100% O2 cleaned Dive Rite deco reg along with a RescuEan pod that connects via LP inflator hose.

I am considering adding a 25ft LP hose to the kit so I'll have the option of hanging a weighted 2nd.

What brand AL80?
Luxfer's have showed up 100% O2 ready for many years. With a green sticker that says exactly that on the side.

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

Thanks! I just assumed that it was a Catalina....but I'll check. FYI...since it's primary use is for onboard O2 storage only, I really am not concerned about any minor buoyancy characteristics.

 

[rjack321]

Thanks! I just assumed that it was a Catalina....but I'll check. FYI...since it's primary use is for onboard O2 storage only, I really am not concerned about any minor buoyancy characteristics.

Alternatively, a used lp72 is an ideal budget O2 bottle, even at a "no plus" 2200psi its 65cf.

 

[OMyMyOHellYes]

Luxfer's have showed up 100% O2 ready for many years. With a green sticker that says exactly that on the side.

And just like that, new Luxfers quit showing up entirely.