Is this fire damaged carbon fiber tank still usable?
The only damage is on the top. The firefighter who owns it said it is still fine to hold pressure for “paintball” type activities. I can get it real cheap, approx 100.00, but I’m not so sure if it is not usable. If it is not usable as is, can I get a replacement part for the part that is melted??? Please advise. Thanks again!
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Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
A couple of thoughts, around here hydros at $25 (at least that’s what I recall my last one was) at the test place that shops would send your tanks to. A fresh hydro will *prove* the tank itself is safe and sound.
The gauge/valve should be easy to get used in 15 YO trim from tanks that have expired. I bet Joe B can make you a great deal on one? Tim M might have an expired tank or two kicking around willing to donate a vlave to you.
If you decide to opt out on it, please send me a PM, I think I’d like to get it and do the above……
Thanks and good luck.
Doug Owen
good info triggerman. I am going to have my local dive shop look at it and they will tell me how much it will be for a hydro and replacement parts. If it is more than 100 bucks, I won’t buy it. If it is under 100, and if it is deemed safe, It will be worth it. My local dive shop said they should be able to get real close to 4500 psi, if not, I have a few buddies in the Fire Dept that can fill it for me.
I tried to get tanks from them, but the chief makes them drill holes in them and they send them back every five years 😥
Can you belive that. There is a good ten years left on all those tanks that they destroy…bureaucracy at its finest!
These pictures at the bottom of the page in this link alone would make me run very, very fast away from a tank that had been exposed and possibly compromised to that kind of heat, and this was only a scuba tank, probably filled to a max of 3200psi that did this kind of damage ……. I don’t want to be anywhere around a 4500psi tank that self destructs …….
look at the Luxfer tank inspection guide.
http://www.luxfercylinders.com/downloads/
It has a section on heat damage.
You gotta ask 3 questions when you consider a carbon fiber tank:
1 What is the date of manufacture?
Tanks are only good for 15 years, then they are trash.
2 Does the tank have a current hydrostatic test?
If not, no one will fill it.
It costs $50 to get one hydroed, so a $100 tank with no hydro will actually cost you $150.
3 Is there a place near you that will fill it to 4500psi ?
Mark
Thanks, I will contact survivair to see what they have for parts as well. Please let me know if your friend has any and how much coin?
I paid about the same from Tim McMurray for this tank.
It’s not fine for firemen’s use but ok for paintball? So, it’s ok to endanger or kill paintballers and not firemen I guess, eh?
If you want damaged look on ebay. They’re cheaper. 🙄
Yes you can get that part replaced, that happened a couple of times when I was in the fire department I might know of a guy that has some replacements for sale ill send him an email and find out.
Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
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http://www.thescubaguide.com/gear/tanks/safety.aspx
Yup, pretty scary all right, but that’s not what CF tanks do when they fail. Since they’re a soft aluminum bladder inside a solid expoy cover with a CF net when they fail they leak down rather than blow sections out (no grain boundaries in the metal to support cracking).
SCBA tanks are known to not blow up like SCUBA and other pressure bottles sometimes do. If it passes hydro, I wouldn’t give it a second thought.
Doug Owen