What should i do with 1987 scuba tank
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Mr Carcharodon
Contributor
This is all from memory so if I do not get every bit right don't ding me too much.
The "issue" with older aluminum tanks was limited to 6351 alloy from Faber. All those tanks were produced prior to January of 1988 or 1989. The failure rate was low enough that the Department of Transportation never issued a recall. Which I take the mean they were uncertain what, or if, there was an issue. In any case the manufacturer says you can keep the tanks in service by performing an Eddy current test for cracking at the time of hydro. Not all dive shops accept that. Apparently only 3 or 4 tanks out of several million produced have failed catastrophically too date. So that sounds like pretty good odds. Of course the worst case failure mode is having the tank blow up so you have to balance that. Much more likely is to find cracking at the time of an inspection or Eddy Current and have the tank pulled from service.
Im not sure how much the extra testing costs but it may make more economic sense to buy a new tank if you are going to get it hydroed more than once.
The "issue" with older aluminum tanks was limited to 6351 alloy from Faber. All those tanks were produced prior to January of 1988 or 1989. The failure rate was low enough that the Department of Transportation never issued a recall. Which I take the mean they were uncertain what, or if, there was an issue. In any case the manufacturer says you can keep the tanks in service by performing an Eddy current test for cracking at the time of hydro. Not all dive shops accept that. Apparently only 3 or 4 tanks out of several million produced have failed catastrophically too date. So that sounds like pretty good odds. Of course the worst case failure mode is having the tank blow up so you have to balance that. Much more likely is to find cracking at the time of an inspection or Eddy Current and have the tank pulled from service.
Im not sure how much the extra testing costs but it may make more economic sense to buy a new tank if you are going to get it hydroed more than once.
fire_diver
Contributor
It makes more sense to buy a new tank because so many shops refuse to touch the 6351 tanks. If you can fill it yourself, or have an LDS fill it, thats fine. But you will probably never be able to get it filled at a dive site.
Fish Food
Contributor
Adventure Sports fills aluminum bombs.
2degrees
Contributor
Sell it at a yard sell. Put a high price on it then reduce it to a price that will sell. Add in a cheap mask with the deal.
mike_s
Contributor
It wasn't Faber... It was Luxfer....
I can't remember the exact number... but I think it was a little higher than that. (I'm sure someone will come along and post it).
I used to think that also until I saw one that cracked after passing an Eddy-Test.
It developed a hairline crack in the neck while filling.
After actually seeing the tank and the tiny crack (that vented air), I agreed with others that it just wasn't safe to use and not worth risking the life of anyone, including the person filling the tank.
Wayward Son
Contributor
I gave one away.
Eric Sedletzky
Contributor
Drill a hole in it so no one else can use it and scrap it.
Not worth it.
There are plenty of other newer used aluminum tanks around.
Not worth it.
There are plenty of other newer used aluminum tanks around.
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