Living a Diver's Life

Image: Pixabay By Fred Stratton Instructor & Repair Technician fred@bubblesornot.com Special Edition - Cylinder Summary and Answer Key All right, BoN Crew, how did you do on the cylinder markings quiz?  I'm sure you passed with flying colors!   Cylinders 101 & 202 - Summary Now that we've covered cylinder markings you can stay away from sketchy cylinders you may find at yard sales or online. Invest in quality equipment that - with TLC and regular maintenance - will give you decades of reliable service. You might even be more vigilant when renting cylinders during dive trips. If it looks, smells or feels wrong (no VIP sticker, out of date hydro, diesel odor present when you crack the valve, etc.), ask for different cylinders. If the staff look at you sideways, find a more reputable dive shop. Avoid buying used cylinders made from 6351 alloy. If you have 6351s and just can't part with them, remember to include the price of eddy current test...

Single cylinder photographed using iPhone Panorama setting By Fred Stratton Instructor & Repair Technician fred@bubblesornot.com It's summer!  Time to fill your cylinders and head to the water.   But first, let's build on what we learned last month in Scuba Cylinders 101.  I promised more details on valves, those cryptic cylinder markings, and safety issues with 6351-T6 aluminum alloy. Deciphering Cylinder Markings Think of the markings stamped into a cylinder's shoulder like a baby's birth certificate, and hydrostatic retesting stamps and annual VIP stickers like a child's vaccination record. Divers "adopt" their cylinders from the manufacturer, which is like the birth mother whose name likely will be Luxfer, Catalina, Faber or Worthington. The birth date is the original hydro date (e.g. 06 18 is June 2018). The cylinder's material, size, and service pressure are like a baby's height, weight and eye color.  The governing agency...