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It's definitely worth double-checking, but I'm given to understand that solid metal tanks, steel or aluminum, can be hydroed more or less indefinitely. That's true for aluminum CO2 tanks, and I once had a 20-lb steel CO2 tank whose first hydro date was around WW2. (And I still have a Navy 15-lb CO2 extinguisher which was only hydroed once, in 1944, before I got it and had it rehydroed about a decade ago. )
It's the composite tanks, generally speaking, that have the fixed lifespans.
In DOT regulations in some of the CFR paragraphs they imply "indefinite life" is defined as <=38 years and others maintain that "indefinite" is literally indefinite so clear as mud. I have had inspected/hydro tested successfully 90 lbs. bottles [CO2] that had born dates in the 1920s/30s/40s. Typically the 38 year definition of "indefinite" seems to be associated with aluminum cylinders and the literal indefinite seems to be associated with Steel. You could have a whole job wading your way through DOT regulations. My recommendation is get a picture of the bottle stamps and look up the references that the bottle was certified under and make your call from that. There are no hard thumb rules associated with DOT regs.
It's definitely worth double-checking, but I'm given to understand that solid metal tanks, steel or aluminum, can be hydroed more or less indefinitely.
On paper, yes 👍
But Catalina had issues with the neck cracking during hydro on the aluminum tanks after about 10-15 years of use. Some hydro place won't even hydro them, and I've been to dive shop that won't fill them ...
Originally posted by DocsMachine
That's true for aluminum CO2 tanks, and I once had a 20-lb steel CO2 tank whose first hydro date was around WW2. (And I still have a Navy 15-lb CO2 extinguisher which was only hydroed once, in 1944, before I got it and had it rehydroed about a decade ago. )
Steel tanks are indestructible, I've used welding tanks that were brought back during WW2 with the swastika on them ...
My warning only pretend to aluminum tanks made by Catalina up until the mid 2000, it seams they corrected the issue around then.
Love my brass ... Love my SSR ... Hard choices ...
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