Air Gun Home :: View topic

Jaxom · Senior Member

I don't meant to sound cheap and all, but like most, I'm watching the budget really close. I had heard that a brand new 80cu scuba tank would run $200 + tax and fill. It's doable, if and when folks start buy some of the stuff I have for sale. I think I mentally blocked the cost of one of those fancy carbon fiber tanks. Because I don't recall how much those were.

Then I got to thinking, if I'm selling stuff to make ends meet, others are probably too. So I did a craigslist search for scuba tanks. Seems I can find 80cu tanks ranging in prices from $75-$100 used.

This leads me up to my questions about scuba tanks. As I understand it, they need to be inspected. Either visually or pressure tested. I haven't heard about a price for a visual inspection, but a pressure inspection costs $70 sapposedly.

Are tanks required to come with paperwork indicating when they were last tested? If an owner/seller doesn't provide this paperwork it would safe to say that I shoudn't go through with the deal?

I understand there's two different valves on scuba tanks. Either a "J" or a "K". Which one am I looking for, that I could use a yoke on to fill my discovery with?

Thanks,

Jax

Verado · Member

The tanks will have a date stamped into them. Usually up near the neck. My tank is an old steel tank that was given to me and it has the dates and everytime it got hydro'd the dates were xxxxx out and new date installed. I think it is a hydro every 5 years and visual every year. Like I said, I have a steel tank so things could be different with Aluminum.

sniper · Silver Status Member

you're right on jax. my tank and yoke were $100 and $75.
the tank had a recent hydro (stamped on it).
it's almost 30 years old and rust free. Shocked

Jaxom · Senior Member

Does the testing vary by state? Or is this a national regulation? IF it's by state where would I find out other then asking the scuba store?

sniper · Silver Status Member

sorry jax, i don't know that answer. Rolling Eyes

oddtodd · Silver Status Member

I'm pretty sure that tank testing is federal. I do know the testing period for acetylene is every 5 years and it's both the same in indiana and ohio. I live almost on the border of indiana so I have dealt with both states. It's 5 years for argon too.

Verado · Member

last time I had my tank hydro tested, I remember the guy saying there is a standard test. If I remember correctly, it is visually inspected on the inside, rolled with steel shot to take out any rust, pressurized to 150% of it's rated pressure. Mine is a 3000 psi so it was tested a 4500 psi. I think he said it has to hold that pressure for 24 hours. I could be wrong because it was a while ago.

Maybe this will help though. http://www.sounddive.com/hydro%20test%20illustration.htm