How to inspect a scuba tank (VIP)

Visual is the first step prior to hydro testing a scuba tank.
The tank must pass visual before testing, if it can’t pass VIP, no need to hydro test.
In this video I go over all the steps for visual inspection of scuba cylinder

[@jeffadams7134]

Very knowledgeable person. Thank you for the presentation!

[@diannepoliakoff1860]

This guy knows everything about tanks and regulators and BCD’s!! I wish that I could download his brain “matrix-style” into mine!

[@scubatechkeylargo]

Thanks for comment

[@Traveler19751]

@@scubatechkeylargo how much is the vip class

[@scubatechkeylargo]

@@Traveler19751 Hey Joseph the VIP Class is $249 which includes VIP manual and certification, I'll be posting 2022 schedule after the holidays

[@Traveler19751]

@@scubatechkeylargo Thanks

[@luisvalery8059]

Very good my friend

[@scubatechkeylargo]

Thank you , appreciate you letting know.

[@ahmedsaker2338]

Good presentation, please can i get the information and specifications of the hydro test pump. Thank you

[@scubatechkeylargo]

Brand is Hydro-Test above ground water jacket with digital scale.

[@diverdave4056]

the dive shop i go to will send the tanks out for a hydro and then do a visual ! I asked why not do a visual first ??? they said thats how they do it !

[@scubatechkeylargo]

I have shops that send me tanks for hydro without doing VIP first and many times I fail them before testing. Doing the VIP first makes sense, this way you can catch a fail and not even bother with sending it out.

[@BurhanMuntasser]

May I ask you how you got such clear picture/video of the interior of the tanks please? What camera did you use? I can never get a clear picture of the interior of the tank like you did.

[@scubatechkeylargo]

I used an iPhone, with my VIP light inside tank. The VIP light helps the iPhone focus.

[@johnraymond7189]

What would cause "Banana Shape" and what is considered excessive? Is it subjective? I've been diving since 1981 and I learned more in the last week (since discovering your channel) than i have in 40+ years.

[@scubatechkeylargo]

That's awesome! to hear you're learning from my channel. Banana shape is typically a manufacturing flaw, all tanks have some sort of distortion, for lack of better term. A straight edge ruler will help you to detect exact spots. If you can spot a distortion with the naked eye it's probably excessive. If you would like, email me [e-mail] and I'll reply with a pic of an excessive banana shape tank that came into my shop. Thanks for comments & questions!

[@runwaygoldenretrievers6753]

Coming to dive key largo nxt month. Whose the best to dive with

[@scubatechkeylargo]

We have a lot of good dive shops, here's a few; south Key Largo we have Conch Republic Divers, north Key Largo we have Horizon Divers and in middle Key Largo we have Sailfish Scuba.

[@craigblanch2767]

We have to hydro test every year here in Australia

[@scubatechkeylargo]

Hydro test every year, that makes for a busy hydro shop. What psi/bar are your typical scuba tanks?

[@TheWittyGeek]

OSHA regs are not laws, they're regulations. There is a very big difference.

[@chankslunks]

Request video sir, can you show me, how to repair dumb valve bcd

[@scubatechkeylargo]

Yes, I'll put a video together for you.

[@chankslunks]

@@scubatechkeylargo thank you sir

[@joeysultan3621]

You should not be scraping off any of the oxidation on aluminum tank. All what will happen is that the aluminum that you expose is going to interact with the oxygen in the ear and create new oxidation that's going to preferentially eat into the aluminum of the tank. With aluminum tanks leaving it be. I'm speaking about this from the perspective of the mechanical engineer.

[@scubatechkeylargo]

I strongly disagree with your statement when it refers to scuba cylinders. Cylinders are a flexible container holding 3000 psi or more, which can and have been explosive when improperly inspected. Oxidation/corrosion, “lost of metal” will lead to pitting in the alloy, a single pit measuring .06 of an inch will fail the cylinder, but an structural column with the same pit can remain in service. Please keep in mind we in the scuba industry are formally trained, I personally have 40 years of training and experience we are also regulated by, Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Compressed Gas Association (CGA) Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and OSHA . In addition we are mandated to have continual education and certification every 3 years. Did you know the person filling or inspecting your scuba tank must be trained and certified every 3 years? (CFR180.205) Here are some quotes from our training text to help you understand our methods. “ The primary purpose of cleaning a cylinder, whether inside or out, is to ensure all metal surfaces are exposed to the inspector’s eyes”. “The entire exterior of the cylinder must be exposed to the inspector and not concealed”. “If corrosion is found on the exterior, under the coating then the entire coating should be removed”.