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Kent Lind wrote
>A local shop just told me that they cannot sell tanks w/o valves and that none
>of their distributors will do so either because they are tested/inspected as a
>unit.  Does this sound correct to you folks?

Sounds like rubbish to me, well cetainly is in the UK anyway, but I don't
know about the USA. Tanks and valves are usually made by separate
companies, and the dive shop assembles them. For example Faber (tank
manufacturers) do not, as far as I know, make valves and Apeks (valve
manufacturers) do not make tanks. The testing is done completely separately
anyway. Tanks have a hydro, a visual inspection and the threads are checked
with a thread gauge. All these procedures necessitate that the valve is
taken out. Equally the valve will also be tested with a thread gauge wich
cannot be done when it is in the tank.

>I have a couple of 3/4" yoke valves left over from converting to DIN valves on
>my main tanks and I'd like to use my extra yoke valves on pony bottles.  Seems
>like I should be able to order pony bottles w/o valves since I already have
>the valves.  Anyone know of a U.S. mail order source that will sell pony
>bottles w/o valves?

Having said they are tested separately, they still perform as one unit so I
can understand why a shop will not just sell you the tanks, I wouldn't
either. If you've had the valves lying around somewhere the threads could
be damaged, which is potentially dangerous. However, what they should do is
offer to test your valves with their thread gauge and put them in the tanks
for you. That's what I would do. It could be that this is illegal in the US
(but I doubt it!) or that they think they can make more money by selling
you a complete tank and valve unit.

Hope this is of use

Lynn Daley

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