Diving Old Scuba Tanks - Scuba Tech Tips: S09E02
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 มี.ค. 2019
- Viewers have asked if old scuba tanks are safe to dive? Alec says yes, with a few exceptions, tanks from the 1950's can be safely dived with a valid Visual Inspection (annual) and Hydrostatic Test (5 years in North America).
Watch my "Alec Peirce at the Ranch" for ranch and home ideas. / @alecpeirceattheranch
**** Alec Peirce Scuba ****
SCUBA TECH TIPS playlists
▶︎ Series 9: • Scuba Tech Tips - Seri...
▶︎ Series 8: • Scuba Tech Tips - Seri...
▶︎ Series 7: • Scuba Tech Tips - Seri...
▶︎ Series 6: • Scuba Tech Tips - Seri...
▶︎ Series 5: • Scuba Tech Tips - Seri...
▶︎ Series 4: • Scuba Tech Tips - Seri...
▶︎ Series 1, 2 & 3: • Scuba Tech Tips - Seri...
VINTAGE SCUBA playlists
▶︎ Series 6: • Vintage Scuba - Series 6
▶︎ Series 5: • Vintage Scuba - Series 5
▶︎ Series 4: • Vintage Scuba - Series 4
▶︎ Series 3: • Vintage Scuba - Series 3
▶︎ Series 2: • Vintage Scuba - Series 2
▶︎ Series 1: • Vintage Scuba - Series 1
SEA HUNT REMEMBERED playlists
▶︎ Series 2: • Sea Hunt Remembered - ...
▶︎ Series 1: • Sea Hunt Remembered - ...
SEA HUNT COLLECTOR
▶︎ Website: seahuntcollector.com - กีฬา
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 73 | คู่เอก "วรพล vs พันฤทธิ์"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/rrOljlqse3A/mqdefault.jpg)
My steel 72 from 1971 passed hydro and visual inspection with flying colors.
Great tank.
They really are fantastic tanks.
A
This guy always makes me smile!
You're just like my wife!!
Alec
Alec, I really enjoyed seeing all the vintage gear that was at the Sea Hunt event in Silver Springs. You should all be very proud of the work you have done on such an important part of our scuba diving heritage. I can only imagine how much time, effort, expense and love of the sport it takes to accomplish what has been done. Also, I was totally blown away by your collection of Sea Hunt items. Thank you so much for sharing some of it with us to admire in person.
It was a genuine pleasure to meet you, your wife, Kevin, and the other divers at the Sea Hunt Forever event. The Sea Hunt reenactments were fun to watch. I especially enjoyed seeing and listening to the young children on the glass bottom boats tours express their excitement at seeing the divers performing. You all may have inspired a whole new generation of future scuba divers!
Well thank you Rick. I'm so glad you enjoyed it all.
We do spend a lot of time and quite a bit of money each year to be at Silver Springs to entertain the visitors.
The park does NOT pay us or even compensate for any of our expenses at all.
Many of the divers travel a long distance to be there - from Minnesota, California and, of course, Canada.
I know in our case, Diana and I, the total cost of the trip was close to $3000.
So I'm glad you enjoyed it. That's why we do it - and for our own fun too.
We are very like a bunch of old guys enjoying their model trains or classic cars, only scuba related.
Take care.
Alec
Nice to meet you Rick, thank for stopping by and saying hi.
Kevin
@@KevinSmith-hc4pc Kevin, I sent you (I hope it was you) the picture of us as we discussed in a PM on Facebook. It turned out pretty good. :-)
Not seen it Rick, please try again. I could use a good picture of me!
Kevin
Watching this is making me feel better about the 30 year old LP85s I’m chatting with a guy about right now. Current hydro, and I’m getting him to get a visual inspection done before any cash changes hands, so it should be all good.
They were handy tanks. I hope all goes well.
Alec
You taught me more of scuba gear than all my instructors together. I just wanted to say thank you for that Alec! I'm learning newer and newer tech tips day by day watching your videos! And I also enjoying the vintage line too! So, thank you again for the experiencies that nowdays divers couldn't get from anywhere else but from you.
Regards, Daniel
Thank you Daniel.
If I'm helping you to enjoy your scuba diving passion a bit more, I'm a happy man.
Take care.
Alec
I dont mean to be so offtopic but does any of you know of a way to log back into an instagram account??
I was stupid lost the login password. I would love any help you can offer me!
@Otis Edward Instablaster ;)
@Jad Elon Thanks for your reply. I got to the site on google and im trying it out now.
Seems to take a while so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Jad Elon It did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. I am so happy!
Thank you so much you saved my account!
I’ve only recently become interested in scuba diving but at 16 I figured starting sooner rather than later would be a good idea, I loved my open water course so I’m going to be doing my second PADI diving course this summer and have every intention of continuing to dive as I get older. Your videos have really cemented my resolve to get into diving as well as giving me a bunch of useful tips and knowledge to impress my instructors with before it’s been taught. Love your videos and hopefully one day I’ll be certified as a master instructor like you.
I have met thousands of divers and one common comment among them was, "I wish I had started diving earlier".
You're on the right track and I appreciate your comments.
Good luck.
Alec
Alec Peirce Scuba Thanks!
Thanks for all the information and the videos you’ve shared with us
Really helpful
Thanks for watching Hamed.
I'm glad you have enjoyed them.
Alec
Alec, you are a stronger man than I, I won't get into the springs without at least a 5mm full suit.
Anyways unfortunately some shops have started applying the "No tanks older than 20 years" to steel tanks regardless of hydro or vis status. Which is annoying to those of us that own 20 year old tanks.
Find another dive store.
It may be fear of liability or lack of knowledge.
Either way it's unfortunate but avoidable - go to another store.
Alec
I was always Amazed watching the Divers of the 50's and 60's Throwing the Tanks over their head when donning. I have a Broken Collarbone and Tendonitis(Flares up at times) that prevents me from doing that.
Back in the 'stone age' of diving I did do that just to get my Open Water certification in 1958. Today, nope!!!
A
A lot of tech divers I know love those steel 72's. They are a little hard to find and often sell for a pretty penny.
The characteristics of the steel 72 were almost perfect for scuba diving. It was a light tank (lighter than an aluminum 80), easy to swing around by hand but most important, it was slightly negative at the start of a dive and pretty much neutral at the end of the dive. That's exactly what all divers, not just tec divers, want.
I was raised and used for years the good ol' 72. Lots of divers still love it and use it on a regular basis.
However, it is not made anymore so all such tanks are old ones that have been reborn.
With safe testing and regular inspection, they are as safe and useful as any modern tank.
Take care.
Alec
Love It!!! Ive got to send You some pics of My Vintage Gear👍😊
Send them to seahunter@vintagescuba.com .
great video
I still have an old steel 40 that was part of the USD aqualung pack. Vintage and odd. Always amazed each time it passes hydro. Thanks for reinforcing the safety!
Those old 40s were the choice of female divers on Sea Hunt. And obviously good ones are still in use.
Alec
Hi Alec, Enjoyed your vintage tanks episode. Have fun in Florida USA
It was a great visit to good ol' Silver Springs Mark.
You'll see some video soon.
Alec
Hi Alec. Thanks again for another informative video. In one of the texts I have read, it said that ‘in theory’ a tank can be refilled 100,000 times. Needless to say, i have not dove enough to test this out. Again it is hit and miss with hydro testing (& visual). Lost out on a used tank i bought - failed hydro when was due, but got 2 years out of it so no regrets
100,000! That's a lot of diving Ted. And divers complain about the price of scuba tanks!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alec
I watched a video on Sea Hunt forever by Jonathan Bird. My second confined water dive is Sunday!
Fantastic! Bird's is a great dive center.
Say hi to the old guy for me. Apparently, he was a buddy of Diver Dan (LOL).
Alec
Brother-diver Alec, a VERY informative instructional video indeed! I had wondered about this topic for some time now. ps: During your filming here, no persons walking by in the background, NOT one... made any silly faces and/or gestures! Can you believe it??
Sorry. We screwed up.
Alec
Hey I was there watching this video happen!!
Good time huh?
I hope you saw my Sea Hunt display!
Alec
I was too busy diving underwater Alec@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter
Thank you for the very nice video.
Weather looks good there. Perhaps you can show some UW video if any is available.
When you get back home, can you put a video together on how to remove small rust spots (steel tanks) and oxidation (aluminum) off scuba tanks?
Cleaning tanks? Good idea.
Video is coming.
Alec
Cool video! Where can I find your schedule for future Sea Hunt events?
Check out the Sea Hunt Forever page on Facebook. We usually have a big event like Silver Springs every 2 years.
Alec
Hello Alec, I've been a long time fan. I was wondering if you've personally ever had dcs or gotten bent. I've been diving for 25 years now, and I've lately become more conscious of the risky component of diving. I would be fascinated to get your take on it in a future video if you were short on ideas for subjects. Love the channel!
Nope. Never had DCS or any major diving medical problem.
Good genes I suspect (LOL).
It sure wasn't because I was extra cautious!!!!
I'll look at an episode on diving problems.
Alec
Hey, Alec great videos !! Hope one day I can go to Florida for the event!
I have a question about the size of the regulator ports. I recently purchased a royal aqua master and gonna send to VDH for a phoenix upgrade. Are modern accessories (Computer, octo) are 7/16 port size?
Modern regs (since about 1980) have 2 different port sizes - 3/8" for all low pressure attachments and 7/16" for high pressure hoses.
Old regs, both double hose like your Royal and single hose, had only one port size - 3/8".
Now to be completely honest, the Royal and most 2 hose regs did not have any ports at all. But they did have a Hookah port which can be converted to accept a low pressure hose.
The Phoenix upgrade will give you modern-style high and low pressure ports just like a modern reg.
Alecv
I wouldn’t stand anywhere near a 60 year old tank when filling. But that’s just my will to live.
That's fine. The results of a tank failure are not pretty.
Personally, I too in my later years have become leery of ALL tanks being filled. And I have probably filled hundreds of thousands!
New aluminum tanks do not have a spotless record either.
However, I suppose there's less likelihood of being hurt by a scuba tank than while driving to the corner store.
A healthy respect of the frailty of humans and a strong will to live are desirable traits Papa.
Take care.
Alec
hey Alec, very nice video, i have one question left, to what pressure can you fill these tanks. (If you know please answer in bar or atm, since i'm from europe)
Very early tanks were 1500psi (100bar). Then they were 1800psi (125bar) for quite a while before becoming 2250psi (155bar).
The steel 72 tank was the most popular for many years, right up until the mid-80s when aluminum started to take over.
Note that you could fill most of these old tanks to 10% above the stamped pressure so the 2250psi (155bar) tanks could be filled to 2475psi (170bar).
Take care over there.
Alec
I have my dads ICC lp tanks, (1800 psi ) still passed last hydro and vip !
1800 means that it was made pre-1960.
Good ol' tank.
Alec
Hi Alec,
I'm aware of the old school valve that was on that single cylinder (a J valve?), I understand that when you're low on air you'd open that value to access the reserve, but how does that work? Where is the reserve gas stored? Does the reserve gas enter the main chamber of the cylinder or does operating the J valve result in switching from one volume to another?
Right on David.
Although I don't agree that the use of a J reserve AND an SPG is a good idea. This was a popular notion at one time but not now.
1. The J reserve mechanism was notoriously unreliable, partly through diver error and partly through poor design.
Relying on it was not smart.
2. The reserve only tells you that you are out of air - not information that I want!!
3. A diver is by nature lazy and will always looks for the easiest way around an annoying process. Many divers using both
a reserve and an SPG ignored the SPG and relied on the reserve (see point 1 above).
4. Having a reserve on your tank can lead to a 'freshly filled tank' that's empty. I've seen it happen many times.
4. Nothing is idiot proof - true in driving and in diving!
Take care.
Alec
Great video, to what depth would you use that single tank? You wouldn't have much bottom time at 80ft or more.
The depth of any dive is determined by many factors, air supply being a major one of course.
But, technically one can dive deep with a 72, provided your time at depth is short.
It was a common practice for us to shoot to the bottom as quickly as possible, spend just a minute or two there and then begin ascending. That way the major air consumption time is limited and you can still enjoy a good dive.
Alec
Long time since I've seen a J valve.
Hope your using pressure gauges on them these days LOL
Great video though. Thanks.
SPGs came along in the early '60s. It took quite a while for them to replace the use of J valves but now it would be foolish to dive without one.
J valves have pretty much disappeared although I recently head that one company still makes them.
Alec
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter We still had a few "J" around in the UK in my early diving days, but everybody had SPG's, we did not however see many of those new fangled "BCD" thingys, "Horse Collars" were our Safety Device.
I have two vintage twin sets (one with a J Valve) and have had several single tanks but alas no one in the UK will certify them as no parts are available for the valves which also have to be serviced under our regulations.
Perhaps you can purchase new or good used valves. The threads haven't changed in 60 years.
Alec
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Indeed, one of them fitted one of my classic tanks with a more modern valve but it really spoiled the look making it look modern.
hi alec,ive just joined your channel and love the videos and the way you disciribe how to do things with scuba tanks ,but i have a hookah problem and could do with your advise.could you please make a video showing how to use a hookah with a bcd and drysuit as all hookah videos show just one regulator being worn/used in warm water where as i live were the waters a bit chilly
A Hookah by definition is a regulator 2nd stage only that gets it air supply at Intermediate Pressure (IP) directly from a source at the surface.
Both a drysuit and a BCD require their own IP supply. So to use them you would have to have additional separate IP hoses running from the surface (not a good idea) or somehow split some air off the regulator supply hose to share with the suit and BCD. That could be done but might not be advisable.
I'll have to think about that. I've used Hookah many times but never had a drysuit or a BCD on at those times.
Alec
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter the hookah im buying gives out 2.55cfm at opperating depth and can supply 2 divers upto 30ft or 1 diver upto 60ft i personaly will only be going to 16 with a high tide depth a max dive of 20ft.i found some scuba dive regulator adaptors on ebay that might do what i need if i connect 2 together giving me 1 air in and 4 air out.as i will be the only person on my hookah i think it will do what i need.if you need ill send you the item number.
rob
I remember the first time I used a double hose.... It was about 3 weeks ago 😂
I remember my first time too Steve. It was in 1958!!
I actually wrote a short story about that experience and the story was published din several dive magazines.
Alec
Hi Alec. I am curious about your job. What exactly do you do on a daily basis? How did you get your job? What college courses are available for equipment repair? What courses did you take in college? How could I get into a job at a dive store repairing equipment? Thanks.
There are no courses for dive store operation in the formal education system, meaning colleges or university. A business management program might be helpful.
For the rest of your education, the best route is to work at a dive store. There you will learn the art of retail sales and have the opportunity to take factory-sponsored equipment repair courses.
Alec
Can I dive with a drager tc su 5303
Only if approved for scuba diving in the country you're in but carbon fibre is not approve for under water use in North America.
That's a 72 cu. ft. with a reserve you'd pull when the air got low, Alec?
Yep!
this was pre-pressure gauges so a J valve with reserve was mandatory equipment in those days.
I should clarify that there no laws about scuba and few rules either.
When I say mandatory then, it means that you can do what want but you'd be stupid to not have a J valve!
Alec
how about some underwater video
Coming soon.
Alec
I hate alu tanks ,as those seldom cylinder ventil winding .
Back in the stone age, there was no aluminum tanks, steel 72's were everywhere, used by everyone.