prharris(Offline)

Well here's one that used to cause fun on other lists, and I was always in the against camp, however having just had my 12's back from service (no boots for 10 years) and being told that they were "touch and go", and that I should paint the bottoms with hammerite, I thought that in the "constantly questioning, always willing to learn" frame of mind I'd ask why not use them.

I'm not talking about a double boot, or even the chunky rubber ones with the hexagonal 'anti-roll' bits, just very thin, individual boots without lips.

Reasons for suggesting this after so long.

1) I don't want to be buying new cylinders every 15 years.
2) Even though I'm anal and even have a rubber cat mat that I take to protect boats and my cylinder bases, not all filling stations are as careful.
3) Given the rest of the kit we carry, the oft-quoted drag issue is not really an issue.
4) The thin type of boot are hardly going to trap line.

Now the guy may have just meant that it was "touch and go" as to whether they needed repainting, but....

Anyway, fire away, I've been flamed by GI3 before, so I'm pretty thick-skinned about t'interweb.

r
Paul

EBT(Offline)

Paul,

now if it were me, I'd be asking (in a friendly way), to see a copy of the standard against which your tanks are being assessed......


/Zak

prharris(Offline)

Hi Zak,

Thanks, yes, well it seems one of those things where it's open to the tester/filler or whatever to interpret the rules themselves, are they on the web?

I'd always though that:

a) the bases of cylinders are the thickest point of them
b) unless rust is actually flaking off, then it's ok

I trust the guy, and he told me by way of pointing it out to me, not touting for the repainting job.

r
Paul

Divingniknaks(Offline)

Depends on the make, eg. Fabers will actually be thicker at the neck due to the way they're made. Hence head heavy

You're right though, at the end of the day it comes down to interpretation in most cases.

__________________
Phill
-----------------------------
Salvo Lights, DirZone Gear , Frog Wings

Dive ? http://www.divingniknaks.com

Gary Moffat(Offline)

Divingniknaks(Offline)

I'm amazed that this issue of boots keeps coming up to be honest.

I really thought that the "boots on" idea had been killed off by now, for a whole heap of reasons.

It really doesn't destroy cylinders from what I've read from peeps who have had cyls long enough for it to matter. (I haven't yet).

As for the life of a Cylinder, personally I don't find 12 - 15 years unreasonable. Works out at approx 20p a week cost. (I know you've got testing to add in as well, so even if it's 40p a week )

Just my thoughts.

__________________
Phill
-----------------------------
Salvo Lights, DirZone Gear , Frog Wings

Dive ? http://www.divingniknaks.com

prharris(Offline)

Well, yeah, and I've seen so many discussions that I could probably argue both sides convinsingly

True, but if we're all agreed that 232 is the max that we want to use, we're not going to get overtaken by higher cylinder pressures.

Also, new composite cylinders are not really much use for diving, as you need the weight somewhere, so technology will not make them redundant.

We have club ones that are much older than mine, and I suppose that if they keep passing tests, then why not use them?

As with any kit, maintenance and TLC will make it last longer, so if it's just a matter of painting the bases every year, then it seems worth it.

r
Paul