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Buying a used scuba cylinder is always a crap shoot.
You've got to know what you are buying before you bid. As with anything else on ebay, know what you are bidding on before you bid. It's pointless to pay prices higher than retail becuase you got excited or caught up in the moment. Here is some information to help evaluate that tank your are looking at.
Scuba Tanks in general.
All tanks have information stamped in the metal around the neck of the tank along with other information like the date of manufacture, tank material (steel or aluminum), the tank volumn and the max fill pressure.
Is that used scuba tank you are looking at a good deal?
As a certified diver you should already know for any tank, steel or aluminum, if must have a current hydro test and visual inspection to be filled legally.
A hydro test is required every 5 years. The date of the last, as well as every other, hydro is stamped in the metal around the neck of the tank. If the hydro is out of date make certain you factor that into the cost of the tank as you figure your max bid.
A visual inspection must be performed every year and a sticker is placed on the tank indicating the date the last VIS was performed. Just as witht he hydro, consider the cost of a new visual inspection as you make your bids.
If the tank is out of date think about what it will cost in your area to get it legal and always make sure you know what a new tank will cost at your local dive store. Always take these costs into account when setting yoru maximum bid.
What about shipping costs?
If a tank has a current VIS and Hydro the only other thing to consider is shipping. Simply because a scuba tank is heavy don't think shipping has to be high. You'll notice a lot of tanks with outrageously high shipping fees. Do your homework and do the math. An aluminum 80 weighs approximately 34 pounds and a steel 72 is just a little heavier. Some sellers want to make up for a low sellnig price by sticking you with the shipping. Check UPS, FEDEX and other shippers and eliminate the shipping cost mystery. Stay away from the tanks with inflated shipping charges
Steel versus Alumium
I've only seen a handful of steel tanks fail hydro. I have seen quite a few fail the visual inspection and seen just aas many fail because of corrosion beneath external coatings. In general steel tanks seem to survive more abuse than an aluminum tank.
On the other hand, aluminum tanks fail hydro all the time. Regardless of any other considerations, be especially wary of pre 1992 aluminum cylinders.
Weighting Issues
Diving a steel cylinder can eliminate quite a bit of weight from your belt or integrated system due to the steel tanks natural negative bouyancy.
You've got to know what you are buying before you bid. As with anything else on ebay, know what you are bidding on before you bid. It's pointless to pay prices higher than retail becuase you got excited or caught up in the moment. Here is some information to help evaluate that tank your are looking at.
Scuba Tanks in general.
All tanks have information stamped in the metal around the neck of the tank along with other information like the date of manufacture, tank material (steel or aluminum), the tank volumn and the max fill pressure.
Is that used scuba tank you are looking at a good deal?
As a certified diver you should already know for any tank, steel or aluminum, if must have a current hydro test and visual inspection to be filled legally.
A hydro test is required every 5 years. The date of the last, as well as every other, hydro is stamped in the metal around the neck of the tank. If the hydro is out of date make certain you factor that into the cost of the tank as you figure your max bid.
A visual inspection must be performed every year and a sticker is placed on the tank indicating the date the last VIS was performed. Just as witht he hydro, consider the cost of a new visual inspection as you make your bids.
If the tank is out of date think about what it will cost in your area to get it legal and always make sure you know what a new tank will cost at your local dive store. Always take these costs into account when setting yoru maximum bid.
What about shipping costs?
If a tank has a current VIS and Hydro the only other thing to consider is shipping. Simply because a scuba tank is heavy don't think shipping has to be high. You'll notice a lot of tanks with outrageously high shipping fees. Do your homework and do the math. An aluminum 80 weighs approximately 34 pounds and a steel 72 is just a little heavier. Some sellers want to make up for a low sellnig price by sticking you with the shipping. Check UPS, FEDEX and other shippers and eliminate the shipping cost mystery. Stay away from the tanks with inflated shipping charges
Steel versus Alumium
I've only seen a handful of steel tanks fail hydro. I have seen quite a few fail the visual inspection and seen just aas many fail because of corrosion beneath external coatings. In general steel tanks seem to survive more abuse than an aluminum tank.
On the other hand, aluminum tanks fail hydro all the time. Regardless of any other considerations, be especially wary of pre 1992 aluminum cylinders.
Weighting Issues
Diving a steel cylinder can eliminate quite a bit of weight from your belt or integrated system due to the steel tanks natural negative bouyancy.
Guide created: 05/23/07 (updated 10/20/09)
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