Protecting the Argon Bottle

Mal Bridgeman · April 12th, 2007, 11:28 AM

I have just opened the box on my shiney new Argon cylinder.

I propose to mount it on the plate using a single Mounting Strap and bungee.

I have seen that when people do this the plate scrapes the paint off the cylinder. Some protect with a wide rubber band.

Would gaffer tape do the job just as well?

What do you use and why?

TIA
Mal

*JGrogan* · April 12th, 2007, 11:39 AM

Mal, don't worry about it. It's an aluminium cylinder so won't rust!
Anyway, it won't scratch much - I've got one I've carried like this for 5 years with very few scratches on it.
Best,
John.

Quote: (Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman)

I have seen that when people do this the plate scrapes the paint off the cylinder. Some protect with a wide rubber band.

Mats Edenfeldt · April 12th, 2007, 11:41 AM

I don’t use anything, one of my argon bottles have some quit badly scraped paint and the other one I have just taken all the paint off. Why bother, its going to be scratched anyway so just leave it and when it gets to bad then take all the paint off or repaint it in the color of choice

Rubber band is probably the best bet but that will be punctured as well, gaffa will last a bit shorter but it wont look to nice.

GLOC · April 12th, 2007, 11:51 AM

I had/have a black Argon cylinder and you are right it does get scratched, so what

The only issue is that where it is getting rubbed is where the data of the cylinder is but I have another 12 months before I have to get it tested anyway

Mal Bridgeman · April 12th, 2007, 11:54 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by JGrogan)

Mal, don't worry about it. It's an aluminium cylinder so won't rust!
Anyway, it won't scratch much - I've got one I've carried like this for 5 years with very few scratches on it.
Best,
John.

Hi John,

Mine is a steel one ... like this:

I am guessing protection is a bit more important with a steel one ... or does it really not matter?

Thanks
Mal

wilbo · April 12th, 2007, 12:10 PM

Mal,

Mine is scratched to ****. I blame it on a certain Admin of this board though as one of its former owners..

But seriously - it will get scratched - so I wouldn't bother. I tried the gaffer tape thing - and yes it kinda works - but as the bottle moves about - whatever you use will just fray against the side of the backplate.. Plus you are just delaying the inevitable..

wilbo · April 12th, 2007, 12:14 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by GLOC)

I had/have a black Argon cylinder and you are right it does get scratched, so what

The only issue is that where it is getting rubbed is where the data of the cylinder is but I have another 12 months before I have to get it tested anyway

Unless you are going to put Argon in it - why waste the money.. Just fill it off your twins using the decanting whip..

(Cue the shock horror ~ but you must get it tested because you don't know its safe posts)

NickB · April 12th, 2007, 12:22 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by wilbo)

Unless you are going to put Argon in it - why waste the money.. Just fill it off your twins using the decanting whip..

Not much use if you've got trimix in your twins though, you may as well not bother with the argon bottle in the first place.

Andrew Bryson · April 12th, 2007, 12:27 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman)

Hi John,

Mine is a steel one ... like this:

I am guessing protection is a bit more important with a steel one ... or does it really not matter?

Thanks
Mal

You better get some boots on your twinset pronto!

andy

Joe Hesketh · April 12th, 2007, 12:27 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman)

I am guessing protection is a bit more important with a steel one ... or does it really not matter?

Because of its light weight it'll take less of a beating than the average set of painted steel doubles and no one worries (or rather they shouldn't) about a few (or even a lot) of cosmetic scratches there...

April 12th, 2007, 11:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
Mal Bridgeman (Online) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Suffolk, UK Posts: 663	Protecting the Argon Bottle I have just opened the box on my shiney new Argon cylinder. I propose to mount it on the plate using a single Mounting Strap and bungee. I have seen that when people do this the plate scrapes the paint off the cylinder. Some protect with a wide rubber band. Would gaffer tape do the job just as well? What do you use and why? TIA Mal __________________ Opinions and beliefs are correct at the time of posting but are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the author.

April 12th, 2007, 11:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
Mats Edenfeldt(Offline) Cave is fun :) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sweden - Stockholm Posts: 157	I don’t use anything, one of my argon bottles have some quit badly scraped paint and the other one I have just taken all the paint off. Why bother, its going to be scratched anyway so just leave it and when it gets to bad then take all the paint off or repaint it in the color of choice Rubber band is probably the best bet but that will be punctured as well, gaffa will last a bit shorter but it wont look to nice. __________________ GUE: DIR-Fundamentals, Cave 1, Cave 2 NAUI: Trimix 1, Technical diver, Instructor, DM, Wreck penetration, Oxygen service technician IANTD: Advanced Nitrox, Nitrox Various: Apeks tech, Poseidon tech "Doing it right really means to do it properly. No skimping and no compromises. It sounds easy enough but it is not - it requires balls of steel" Peter Steinhoff

April 12th, 2007, 11:51 AM	#4 (permalink)
GLOC (Online) Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fleet, Hants Posts: 2,000	I had/have a black Argon cylinder and you are right it does get scratched, so what The only issue is that where it is getting rubbed is where the data of the cylinder is but I have another 12 months before I have to get it tested anyway __________________ Gareth Images of Life Photography DIR Team Foxturd Travels Underwater and Further Afar If you don't have the time to do something right, where are you going to find the time to fix it? - Stephen King

April 12th, 2007, 11:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
Mal Bridgeman (Online) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Suffolk, UK Posts: 663	Quote: (Originally Posted by JGrogan) Mal, don't worry about it. It's an aluminium cylinder so won't rust! Anyway, it won't scratch much - I've got one I've carried like this for 5 years with very few scratches on it. Best, John. Hi John, Mine is a steel one ... like this: I am guessing protection is a bit more important with a steel one ... or does it really not matter? Thanks Mal __________________ Opinions and beliefs are correct at the time of posting but are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the author.

April 12th, 2007, 12:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
wilbo (Online) Chimp 4 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Swindon, UK Posts: 878	Mal, Mine is scratched to ****. I blame it on a certain Admin of this board though as one of its former owners.. But seriously - it will get scratched - so I wouldn't bother. I tried the gaffer tape thing - and yes it kinda works - but as the bottle moves about - whatever you use will just fray against the side of the backplate.. Plus you are just delaying the inevitable.. __________________ Cheers! Wilbo DIR explorers: DIR Yorkshire Divers: YorkshireDivers One of the Foxturd chimps

April 12th, 2007, 11:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
JGrogan (Online) GUE Join Date: May 2006 Location: London Posts: 447	Mal, don't worry about it. It's an aluminium cylinder so won't rust! Anyway, it won't scratch much - I've got one I've carried like this for 5 years with very few scratches on it. Best, John. Quote: (Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman) I have seen that when people do this the plate scrapes the paint off the cylinder. Some protect with a wide rubber band.

April 12th, 2007, 12:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
wilbo (Online) Chimp 4 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Swindon, UK Posts: 878	Quote: (Originally Posted by GLOC) I had/have a black Argon cylinder and you are right it does get scratched, so what The only issue is that where it is getting rubbed is where the data of the cylinder is but I have another 12 months before I have to get it tested anyway Unless you are going to put Argon in it - why waste the money.. Just fill it off your twins using the decanting whip.. (Cue the shock horror ~ but you must get it tested because you don't know its safe posts) __________________ Cheers! Wilbo DIR explorers: DIR Yorkshire Divers: YorkshireDivers One of the Foxturd chimps

April 12th, 2007, 12:22 PM	#8 (permalink)
NickB(Offline) Always lowering the tone Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cardiff, UK Posts: 350	Quote: (Originally Posted by wilbo) Unless you are going to put Argon in it - why waste the money.. Just fill it off your twins using the decanting whip.. Not much use if you've got trimix in your twins though, you may as well not bother with the argon bottle in the first place. __________________ SnowHeads / BreastFriends / Free Money!

April 12th, 2007, 12:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
Andrew Bryson(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Abingdon Posts: 315	Quote: (Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman) Hi John, Mine is a steel one ... like this: I am guessing protection is a bit more important with a steel one ... or does it really not matter? Thanks Mal You better get some boots on your twinset pronto! andy

April 12th, 2007, 12:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
Joe Hesketh(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 658	Quote: (Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman) I am guessing protection is a bit more important with a steel one ... or does it really not matter? Because of its light weight it'll take less of a beating than the average set of painted steel doubles and no one worries (or rather they shouldn't) about a few (or even a lot) of cosmetic scratches there...