How do these work do they expire like the carbon scba tanks do? Found 2 scuba tanks but the seem to be old like 78 and 80 if I'm seeing them correctly does this mean they are out of date and not useable? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Steel Scuba Tanks?
- Thread starter brawler1588
- Start date
My understanding is they have to be "hydro" inspected every 5 years, which means they are subjected to hi pressure by a testing facility to test them. If they pass they get a date stamp directly into the side of the steel tank indicating the date it passed. Then your air supplier will look for that date to be within the last 5 years or not fill it. They also require an annual "visual inspection" where your local dive shop will inspect the tank visually (inside and out) to ensure there is nothing looking bad. I think the visual inspection is documented onto a sticker (at least mine is done that way by my dive shop).
My steel 120cf has a date going back to 1994 on it, and was last hydro (5 year) tested in 2017. It was just visual (annually) tested this week. The visual was $34, which sounded high but I forget what I have been paying in prior years. Mine is a 3500 psi tank.
Since you are just learning I would see if you could take it to a dive shop to have them tell you the status before purchasing. Steel tanks can go bad from pitting inside so sometimes folks will be trying to get rid of them and not be up front about them. You might end up having to pay whatever visual inspection they charge to check it out. If it passes the visual test then you probably have to send it off for a hydro test.
My steel 120cf has a date going back to 1994 on it, and was last hydro (5 year) tested in 2017. It was just visual (annually) tested this week. The visual was $34, which sounded high but I forget what I have been paying in prior years. Mine is a 3500 psi tank.
Since you are just learning I would see if you could take it to a dive shop to have them tell you the status before purchasing. Steel tanks can go bad from pitting inside so sometimes folks will be trying to get rid of them and not be up front about them. You might end up having to pay whatever visual inspection they charge to check it out. If it passes the visual test then you probably have to send it off for a hydro test.
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Steel tanks of that vintage are usually rated for a working pressure of only about 2200 PSI so check the stamping on the neck. That may rule them out before going any further. If they have been stored correctly with dry pressurised air in them, they may be still usable, but they will need to be tested as stated above. Modern steel tanks made by Faber, can have working pressures up to 4300 PSI, but they are different animals to the old ones.
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Yeah they are free just not sure if it's worth all the trouble was going to get them for the private archery and gun club I am a member of we now have a airgun area and thought some tanks would be helpful but might be a headache.
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My tank fills just short of 3500psi. Yes a visual inspection each year and hydro every five years. My tank has served me well. 
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When I was looking for my scuba tank I was told that steel tanks that have been in constant hydro and visual inspections pretty much last forever. But if they have been sitting for years unused they are probably bad. I also found that a lot of the older tanks are 2200 psi. A new 3000 psi aluminum tank will cost about $180 filled and with current hydro at our local dive shop.
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