Filling Pre-88 Tanks

During a recent trip, a dive shop operator in Charleston, SC, told me
that I had to replace my pre-1988 Luxfer tanks by the end of this year,
that I wouldn't be able to get them filled any more after that, and, in
fact, he won't fill those tanks even now.

I know that his claims are erroneous, and I have sent him the statement
Luxfer issued just a few weeks ago refuting exactly those claims. I
understand the Luxfer "buy-back" offer, if that's what you can call it.
And I know there is no mandate to not fill those tanks after Dec. 31.

What I wonder about is his refusal to fill pre-88 tanks. It's his
choice, of course. I don't live in Charleston and doubt I'll ever dive
there again, but even if I did, I know there are other shops around. But
how many shop owners are refusing to fill pre-88s? Do you know of anyone
else who's taken that position? I do know that as of last September, the
shop where the most notorious explosion of a pre-88 tank occurred was
still filling them in Riviera Beach, FL.

So what gives with this guy in Charleston anyway?

gc

"George" <gcathcar@nospamaccmail.umd.edu> wrote in message
news:3F2EA7D4.1070903@nospamaccmail.umd.edu...
| During a recent trip, a dive shop operator in Charleston, SC, told me
| that I had to replace my pre-1988 Luxfer tanks by the end of this year,
| that I wouldn't be able to get them filled any more after that, and, in
| fact, he won't fill those tanks even now.
|
| I know that his claims are erroneous, and I have sent him the statement
| Luxfer issued just a few weeks ago refuting exactly those claims. I
| understand the Luxfer "buy-back" offer, if that's what you can call it.
| And I know there is no mandate to not fill those tanks after Dec. 31.
|
| What I wonder about is his refusal to fill pre-88 tanks. It's his
| choice, of course. I don't live in Charleston and doubt I'll ever dive
| there again, but even if I did, I know there are other shops around. But
| how many shop owners are refusing to fill pre-88s? Do you know of anyone
| else who's taken that position? I do know that as of last September, the
| shop where the most notorious explosion of a pre-88 tank occurred was
| still filling them in Riviera Beach, FL.
|
| So what gives with this guy in Charleston anyway?
|
| gc
|

I'm not sure, but I do know that the shop at my favorite diving hole won't
fill anything over 10 years old. Not a problem for me though, I just get
the tanks filled before I go and don't spend much money in his shop (I only
get stuff I have to have and left at home or broke).

In article <3F2EA7D4.1070903@nospamaccmail.umd.edu>,
gcathcar@nospamaccmail.umd.edu says...
>
>During a recent trip, a dive shop operator in Charleston, SC, told me
>that I had to replace my pre-1988 Luxfer tanks by the end of this year,
>that I wouldn't be able to get them filled any more after that, and, in
>fact, he won't fill those tanks even now.
>
>I know that his claims are erroneous, and I have sent him the statement
>Luxfer issued just a few weeks ago refuting exactly those claims. I
>understand the Luxfer "buy-back" offer, if that's what you can call it.
>And I know there is no mandate to not fill those tanks after Dec. 31.
>
>What I wonder about is his refusal to fill pre-88 tanks. It's his
>choice, of course. I don't live in Charleston and doubt I'll ever dive
>there again, but even if I did, I know there are other shops around. But
>how many shop owners are refusing to fill pre-88s? Do you know of anyone
>else who's taken that position? I do know that as of last September, the
>shop where the most notorious explosion of a pre-88 tank occurred was
>still filling them in Riviera Beach, FL.
>
>So what gives with this guy in Charleston anyway?
>
>gc
>

Paranoia would be my guess. If you read all the conflicting opinions presented
here and on other diving forums, you'll see that there's a lot of
misinformation floating around. A result of that misinformation is that some
people take the stance of better safe than sorry, and feel that any pre-1988
Luxfer tank is a potential hazard best avoided. Eddy current testing, done
properly, along with a good visual inspection of the neck and threads is a safe
way to determine the condition of the tank, but there's enough fear and
paranoia about these tanks that some shops just prefer to avoid anyway.

Alan

In article <3F2EA7D4.1070903@nospamaccmail.umd.edu>,
gcathcar@nospamaccmail.umd.edu says...
> During a recent trip, a dive shop operator in Charleston, SC, told me
> that I had to replace my pre-1988 Luxfer tanks by the end of this year,
> that I wouldn't be able to get them filled any more after that, and, in
> fact, he won't fill those tanks even now.
<snip>
> So what gives with this guy in Charleston anyway?

Geez George, you should have let me know you were coming here. There is
rampant dive shop monkeyism in most of the shops, but there is at least 1
good one. Did you go to the place in Charleston by the Holiday Inn, or
the one in North Charleston on rivers Ave? I have heard that both of
these guys are telling people that. I'm not sure if it is the owners'
policies or officious dive shop monkeys gone wild. Next time let me know
in advance and I'll hook you up with the right shop.

I hope you are not judging our diving on current conditions. There is a
weird upwelling all along the coast in the southeast, and water
temperatures are 15+ degrees below normal and the vis sucks. Usually
there is pretty blue warm water this time of the year.

al

Al Wells wrote

> I hope you are not judging our diving on current conditions. There is a
> weird upwelling all along the coast in the southeast, and water
> temperatures are 15+ degrees below normal and the vis sucks. Usually
> there is pretty blue warm water this time of the year.

Just goes to show you that you should have made the trip to Boynton last
weekend. We didn't get to do the wreck, but we did get to do a couple of
nice dives, in warm, clear water.

Lee

Or the Charleston operator sees an opportunity to sell tanks, which he
tried to do as well. Scare or intimidate people into taking up the
Luxfer bullshit buyback offer, reinforce the scare by refusing to fill
the pre-88 tanks, and sell a whole bunch of new tanks to people who
don't need them. He was especially proud of the new Pressed Steel tanks
and took great pains to show me how light they are and everything.

In fact, my next tanks probably will be Pressed Steel, and I will buy
them from an honest dealer who provides products and services without
intimidation.

You're right that trust is an issue, Lee, but it's my trust, not the
operator's, that matters.

gc

Lee Bell wrote:

>George wrote
>
>>I know that his claims are erroneous, and I have sent him the statement
>>Luxfer issued just a few weeks ago refuting exactly those claims.
>>
>
>Obviously the Charleston operator doesn't trust Luxfer. Come
>to think of it, neither do I.
>
>Lee
>

--
George

In article <bgmvei$4mi$1@slb6.atl.mindspring.net>, leebell@ix.netcom.com
says...
> Just goes to show you that you should have made the trip to Boynton last
> weekend. We didn't get to do the wreck, but we did get to do a couple of
> nice dives, in warm, clear water.

I would have loved to Lee, but there were circumstances working against
us. i will get down soon though while the water is still warm.

al

"Al Wells" <fossuldiver@Ibellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:MPG.19994ed749c87e629897e1@news1.lig.bellsout h.net...
> In article <bgmvei$4mi$1@slb6.atl.mindspring.net>, leebell@ix.netcom.com
> says...
> > Just goes to show you that you should have made the trip to Boynton last
> > weekend. We didn't get to do the wreck, but we did get to do a couple
of
> > nice dives, in warm, clear water.
>
> I would have loved to Lee, but there were circumstances working against
> us. i will get down soon though while the water is still warm.

Hey, just because you had good reasons doesn't mean I don't get to rub it
in. We'll have other chances.

"Alan Street" <alan@nonono_irsi.com> wrote in message
news:vitep4drlpia23@news.supernews.com...
> In article <3F2EA7D4.1070903@nospamaccmail.umd.edu>,
> gcathcar@nospamaccmail.umd.edu says...
> >
> >During a recent trip, a dive shop operator in Charleston, SC, told me
> >that I had to replace my pre-1988 Luxfer tanks by the end of this year,
> >that I wouldn't be able to get them filled any more after that, and, in
> >fact, he won't fill those tanks even now.
> >
> >I know that his claims are erroneous, and I have sent him the statement
> >Luxfer issued just a few weeks ago refuting exactly those claims. I
> >understand the Luxfer "buy-back" offer, if that's what you can call it.
> >And I know there is no mandate to not fill those tanks after Dec. 31.
> >
> >What I wonder about is his refusal to fill pre-88 tanks. It's his
> >choice, of course. I don't live in Charleston and doubt I'll ever dive
> >there again, but even if I did, I know there are other shops around. But
> >how many shop owners are refusing to fill pre-88s? Do you know of anyone
> >else who's taken that position? I do know that as of last September, the
> >shop where the most notorious explosion of a pre-88 tank occurred was
> >still filling them in Riviera Beach, FL.
> >
> >So what gives with this guy in Charleston anyway?
> >
> >gc
> >
>
> Paranoia would be my guess. If you read all the conflicting opinions
presented
> here and on other diving forums, you'll see that there's a lot of
> misinformation floating around. A result of that misinformation is that
some
> people take the stance of better safe than sorry, and feel that any
pre-1988
> Luxfer tank is a potential hazard best avoided. Eddy current testing, done
> properly, along with a good visual inspection of the neck and threads is a
safe
> way to determine the condition of the tank, but there's enough fear and
> paranoia about these tanks that some shops just prefer to avoid anyway.
>
> Alan
>

Paranoia? A vis sticker can come from anywhere at all, and frankly I don't
think I'd trust one. There's no guarantee other than a sticker for the LDS
guy that the tank has recently been through eddy current testing. And if I
weren't 100% sure that the tank in question has been through Vis+ testing
recently... you can fill the tank yourself while I go have lunch, thank you.

If I worked at an LDS, and someone shows up from out of state with a Vis+
sticker from a shop I've never heard of wanting a fill on a tank known to
explode.... sorry, lazy ass, get yourself a new tank or get it filled
somewhere else.

Jon

In article <weWXa.60504$wk4.42948@twister.nyroc.rr.com>,
jon@jonnythan.com says...
> f I worked at an LDS, and someone shows up from out of state with a Vis+
> sticker from a shop I've never heard of wanting a fill on a tank known to
> explode.... sorry, lazy ass, get yourself a new tank or get it filled
> somewhere else.

You'd make a perfect "officious dive shop monkey". If I am not
comfortable filling a visitor's tanks, I offer him rental tanks for the
price of an airfill.