Cylinder storage/maintenance question

[MattV]

Just a few quick/silly ones folks.

1. Is it ok to store a cylinder fully filled (in my case 232bar)? If yes, for how long? Or it is compulsory to do it by the book (keep it with around 50 bar only). The reason I'm asking is because I was wondering (maybe stupidly) whther the high pressure could damage the valve. Does the air would get "stale" after a while (double filtered).

A variation of this is the pony. So if you have a 5lt one that you never have to use (coz the reg you bought just refuses to freeflow :D ) do you need to empty it from time to time and refill it?

2. Do same rules (if any) apply for nitrox (36%)?

3. I noticed some of the folks have a sort of mesh over their cylinder. I'm assuming it is there to protect the steel from scratches (and consequently rust). Is that correct or does it have other functions that escaped me?
3.a. How does one fix that on the tank? Just slide it like a sock?
3.b. Doesn't it interfere with your cam-band?

4. Finally, I have a rubber cap for the valve to protect it from dust and stuff. Do I need anything else? (the cylinder has a rubber boot)

[Richard Whitcombe]

Just a few quick/silly ones folks.

1. Is it ok to store a cylinder fully filled (in my case 232bar)? If yes, for how long? Or it is compulsory to do it by the book (keep it with around 50 bar only). The reason I'm asking is because I was wondering (maybe stupidly) whther the high pressure could damage the valve. Does the air would get "stale" after a while (double filtered).

Air isnt going to get stale. Its dried, its filtered. Ive had tanks stored full for 3-4 years ive used without issue.


A variation of this is the pony. So if you have a 5lt one that you never have to use (coz the reg you bought just refuses to freeflow :D ) do you need to empty it from time to time and refill it?

Thats worth it for a different reason. Its part of your pre-dive checks so its own, breathed and so on. This uses a small amount of gas. After a while this unused pony is only half full as a result.


2. Do same rules (if any) apply for nitrox (36%)?

Nitrox and air make no difference. Same "rules" apply.

The only storage "rule" id say is never store tanks empty with the valve open.


3. I noticed some of the folks have a sort of mesh over their cylinder. I'm assuming it is there to protect the steel from scratches (and consequently rust).

Its more cosmetic than that - it just keeps their paintwork shiny. Scratches wont hurt it, rust layer wont hurt a tank. The mesh does no more than to keep it looking shiny.


Is that correct or does it have other functions that escaped me?
3.a. How does one fix that on the tank? Just slide it like a sock?
3.b. Doesn't it interere with your cummerbund?

It cuts down and slides over. It also means the cam-band wont grip the tank slightly so it has more potential to slide out or move when being dived or worn on land.
Personally i wouldnt touch them.


4. Finally, I have a rubber cap for the valve to protect it from dust and stuff. Do I need anything else? (the cylinder has a rubber boot)

I never bother with valve caps either. Again i cant see a problem that they solve. If you have a boot take the tank out occasionally and check for corrosion and rust. The issue with boots is salt water gets trapped in there resulting in a tank base constantly in contact with salt water so gets corroded faster than the rest of the tank. So just keep an eye on it.

[MattV]

Many thanks Richard. I thought was a silly question, but better to ask ...

One thing though. You said:" Scratches wont hurt it, rust layer wont hurt a tank ". Surely if it rusts, it needs sanding/repainting? Or am I just OTT?:confused:

Is weird because everywhere you read about steel tanks people say they last longer than the diver... Hence, I bought a new one that I would want to be buried with 100 years from now :D

[Richard Whitcombe]

Superficial scratches on the surface are not going to need sanding or repainting.

[MattV]

Thanks for the info.

[northern_diver]

Neoprene or mesh covers for cylinders CAN be handy.

They do protect the cylinders and they do help in buddy identification, which can sometimes be quite an issue;)

In a unmolested state, they can stop the cam band locking to full effect, which can casue a cylinder to slip...which is an understandably negative event.

A coping strategy that some use is to cut the mesh in 2 and remove the top half, place the cam band on then replace the mesh (or neoprene). this ensures a good lock as well as good protection.

I personally dont like them and dont really need them as i dont cave and as while i do wrecking, generally its not THAT tight.

Dont be affraid to ask questions, thats the purpose after all of the forum.

John

[Richard Whitcombe]

[QUOTE=northern_diver
I personally dont like them and dont really need them as i dont cave and as while i do wrecking, generally its not THAT tight.
John[/QUOTE]

Ive yet to see a single cave diver (or overhead environment diver) use these. OR any training course for OHEs recommend them.

[ChristianG]

Plastic tank protector mesh is yet another product made by the cynical to fleece the innocent/unwary. All it really does is:

• allow the cam buckle (I always prefer two anyway) to slip when it probably wouldn't otherwise
• allow frayed bits of netting
• don't allow you to properly see what's happening to the tank beneath it

Heck, there's at least one Agency which heavily frowns on tank boots, leave alone this wretched stuff, and for much the same reasons.

It falls into the same, exactly the same actually, category of product as those heavy duty plastic spiral hose protectors. Those actually have one very good use, they add great protection to those thin metal tank holders you can buy to stop the tank/s rolling about in a car. Their own plastic protection usually lasts one car journey, no more, and these are a great remedy for that.

[Nigel Hewitt]

Plastic tank protector mesh is yet another product made by the cynical to fleece the innocent/unwary.
I tend to go with that. It's a non-solution to a non-problem.

Keep your paint pristine by covering it in a plastic mesh that looks tatty after five dives.
Meanwhile the people who do the testing strip off the paint so they can stamp their hieroglyphs into the metal.

The big killer of tanks are bad wet fills not storage conditions.

[Ian Wetherall]

As an expansion on boots n stuff

Whats the best method of removing the rubber boot on a cylinder ??

Someone suggested wellying the bejesus out of it with a rubber mallet

[MattV]

Ummm... thanks guys for all the info. I thought that mesh thingie looks pretty useless; but then you see it around on other people's kit, and you wonder whether a mere 5 quid on the mesh could save you a lot of money in the future. Clever marketing ...

[Ron MacRae]

Ummm... thanks guys for all the info. I thought that mesh thingie looks pretty useless; but then you see it around on other people's kit, and you wonder whether a mere 5 quid on the mesh could save you a lot of money in the future. Clever marketing ...

It does have some vaue. It stops all the cyls from going clink clink in the back of the van...:)

[Richard Whitcombe]

As an expansion on boots n stuff

Whats the best method of removing the rubber boot on a cylinder ??

Someone suggested wellying the bejesus out of it with a rubber mallet

That but combined with hot water, as hot as possible. Makes the boot more pliable.

[Ian Wetherall]

Thanks Richard

Its clobberin time :)

[northern_diver]

Ive yet to see a single cave diver (or overhead environment diver) use these. OR any training course for OHEs recommend them.

Guess you havent seen the caver that i have then (abiet only a few). Horses for courses. Doesnt mean its isnt done.

John

[Richard Whitcombe]

Guess you havent seen the caver that i have then (abiet only a few). Horses for courses. Doesnt mean its isnt done.

John

I guess i haven't. I've not seen a single cave diver in any country and not heard of a single cave diving training agency even mention they exist.

[Janos]

I guess i haven't. I've not seen a single cave diver in any country and not heard of a single cave diving training agency even mention they exist.

I'm a cave diver. I've got a piece of paper to prove it and everything. Does that mean I'm cool and my word is law? Marvellous.

Errr...

I'm a cave diver and I'm in favour of a cylinder cover.

Janos

[MattV]

I'm a cave diver and I'm in favour of a cylinder cover.
Janos

Cool! So, what is that mesh made of?

Do you have any problems securing a cylinder to your BC (I probably know the answer to that: "I'm on twins and I use a backplate/wing/harness") :p