Thread: Oxy bottle renting etc?

Originally Posted by gmav

I think Air Liquide still test the cylinder beforre refilling.
As I said maybe someone can call them and verify that they will do this and let us know.

I find that hard to believe. SCUBA tanks are tested once a year by looking inside then pumping to a higher presser than the 3000psi they are filled at. these tanks well the old steel ones are far more likely to fail than argon etc because they have air filled by anyone possibly with fauity water filters so they can rust, so why and how would they test them every fill? I think a salesman may have been trying to justify the rental price.

I have heard that the companies involved are recouping the cost of manufacture of the bottles, which are obviously well made and the metal is thick etc....but gouging at the same time.
I just did a bit of search to see if I could find anything about those costs, didn't find much, except that in NZ it is possible to buy your own bottle and have it refilled at certain outlets. In Italy they have the option of buying disposable bottles.
I dislike the rental costs, as I almost can't justify the expense (of two) to the War Minister

Cheers

Originally Posted by glenn k

I find that hard to believe. SCUBA tanks are tested once a year by looking inside then pumping to a higher presser than the 3000psi they are filled at. these tanks well the old steel ones are far more likely to fail than argon etc because they have air filled by anyone possibly with fauity water filters so they can rust, so why and how would they test them every fill? I think a salesman may have been trying to justify the rental price.

AFAICR, all high pressure cylinders eg oxy, nitrogen, argon etc cannot be refilled legally if the test period is more than ten years. The test date is stamped into the cylinder, and is checked at each refill. Testing involves inspection and hydrostatic pressurisation while the cylinder's dimensions are checked. A cylinder which does not return to its original dimensions after the test is failed and scrapped. These proceedures are specified in National Standards. For acetylene cylinders, there is no pressure test; they are checked for corrosion and the valve is removed to check the absorbant filler material. They are then weighed to check for loss of acetone, which is added as required.

Regards,

Chas.