89 replies to this topic

[WVMike]

I will pitch in my non expert side as well. What I have learned is this. All O2 you buy at the local gas dealer comes out of the same tank. Be is Welding/Cutting or Medical grade or Avaition grade. The avaition grade needs filtered further to remove more moisture.

The only difference in how they handle cutting gas vs Med gas is that when the cylinders are returned the medical cylinders are suspose to be vaccumed out before refilling, while cutting/welding are just topped off.

Around here price is the same, give or take.

There is another Nitrox thread going where Walter explained the O2 cleaning of tanks and regs real well, and when it is necessary and when not.

[steelemagnolia6]

This is what I was told by my LDS that the only difference in Prescripiton O2 is the filtration process and the cylinder that it is put in. The difference in the O2 that they use and cutting O2 us the way that it is filtered, theirs is the same as medical grade it is in a different type of cylinder than those that are delivered to patients. Same gas comes from the same commerical dealer. Cutting grade gases are not filtered as well as the ones that they use to dispense into our nitrox tanks.

Barry has been running a dive shop longer than most of us have been thinking about getting wet, so I belive that he might know what he is talking about to. And he'll be glad to answer questions regarding his O2 and it's filtering for anyone.

And David this isn't my first time around the block or my second one. I've been in more than one dive shop, and been to more than one place that sells gases for all commerical uses including welding and cutting.

Edited by steelemagnolia6, 26 May 2005 - 04:34 PM.

[VADiver]

I figured the LDS was just trying to sell NITROX wraps, but I needed to get my tanks cleand and they are the only ones I know who do it.

I have no idea about the quality of gass, but I do think it's a bit different than what the hospitals us. My buddy's a doctor and he mentioned it. I don't have a home fill station yet, so I don't have to worry about it too much. As long as I can get my fills at a good shop I'm happy. I just hate those stickers!

[Dive_Girl]

Vinny, they're likely just trying to mark tanks appropriately. I don't much care for the stickers either as my BCD has scrapped into them gumming them up as well gumming up my BCD in a few places. Ah well, who said diving was a glam sport must never have had to wear neproene, wipe their nose, worry about residual make-up or mask ring, or gummy tank stickers and the list could go on.....

Now, I do know some divers with doubles where the doubles are cleaned to handle Nitrox and they have very small stickers because the likelihood of someone mistaking someone else's double is very slim and nobody I know just throws a set of doubles carefree onto their backs on takes off diving.

Edited by Dive_Girl, 26 May 2005 - 05:02 PM.

[Trimix2dive]

If you place a small small sticker on the back bottom end of the tank, they will usually not complain too much. Plus, you can save scraping them up with putting your bc on and off the tank.

[fbp]

POAD
(plain Ole Air Diver)


from a simple single tanker

Don't need no:
- stickers
- O2 % worrys
- depth limits
- LDS - personnel
- Cleaning.....
More.....

"Air Rocks..."!!!!!

LOL...

Just kidding, (Not meant to be taken seriously eh?? )
enjoying the thread as usual....

Edited by fbp, 26 May 2005 - 05:52 PM.

[steelemagnolia6]

I agree with you Nicolle.. it might not be a glamourous sport... but I'm sure that most of us don't mind. hood hair, mask ring, runny noses and all...



The stickers do get to be a mess after awhile!

Edited by steelemagnolia6, 26 May 2005 - 05:12 PM.

[Trimix2dive]

I have one tank I mark Xenon. Just to mess with the fill tank lug head from time to time.

Edited by Trimix2dive, 26 May 2005 - 05:13 PM.

[steelemagnolia6]

Trimix... I bet that they don't appreicate your humor huh???

[Trimix2dive]

One of the five folks there doesn't, but the others appreciate a slightly touched sense of humor. Since I'm there when there filled anyhow to check the mixes, One will take the Xenon lable off and replace it with nuclear power symbol and warning tag.

We label the mixes on the butt end of the tanks, then proudly display them to the odd man out. He just clares at us as if we have some mental defect. Then we all usually laugh.

Its all good fun.

[steelemagnolia6]

Nothing like being the nutball in the mix.. I want one of the hazardous waste stickers to put on my tanks!!!....

[notsonewbie]

At this point in time I am still renting tanks and since I am landlocked, it wont really be practical to buy them since the air fills and the tank rental are close in price at the shop I go to.

Edited by notsonewbie, 26 May 2005 - 06:18 PM.

[Trimix2dive]

I think we've created a monster.

[David Evans]

The all black thing is a DIR myth, fwiw.

My wing for my doubles rig is bright red, and I've got stickers all over my backplate, and biker-style flames on my drysuit pockets. (yes, my suit is black, but that's just because black is the only color my particular suit comes in). I also frequently write stupid things all over my fins with a white paint pen, and if I could find a molded rubber fin in a color besides black (or pink), I'd buy 'em.

Also referenced previous in this thread, since I'm in myth-squashing mode, is the idea that DIR divers only dive drysuits. Absolutely false. I took my cave training in a 3 mil (the water was 78 degrees). The idea isn't to wear a uniform - it's to wear gear that is appropriate for the dive you're doing.

DIR divers like to have fun too, ya know....




-david

(edit: this message no longer makes sense in context, as a previous message in the thread that made reference to diving in all black was edited by another user)

Edited by David Evans, 26 May 2005 - 06:38 PM.

[notsonewbie]

I wish I had water warm enough for a 3 mil wetsuit. I am used to the 7 mil that anything lighter almost feels naked (scary thought).