>Last night I got into a debate with my dive buddies about Pressed Steel
>and Faber tanks (specifically Faber 95 vs Pressed Steel 104). My buddies did
>not like Pressed Steel because they believe that they have less resistance
>to rust compared to Faber tanks. They base this information on visual
>inspections that they have done over the years. Can someone who has Pressed
>Steel tanks (and takes care of them) comment on this? It seems to me that
>you should not have any problems if you take good care of your tanks in
>the first place.
I have multiple sets of Pressed Steel HP tanks, 8 single 120's, 1 65 
cu.ft., 1 80 cu.ft. tank, one set of twin 120's, and a set of twin 102's. 
 I also have a Farber 3300psi scuba pro slim line 72 tank.  All were O2 
cleaned about 1 to 1and 1/2 years ago.  None have been abused.  I fill 
with my own SA-6 Rix compressor using an additonal seperator and large 
high capacity Lawrence Factor Filter and the intake air is fairly dry (I 
live in Southern CA over 8 miles from the beach).  None the less all of 
the HP tanks needed a tumble due to rust after about a year.  In contrast 
my OMS 45's , Al 30's, and Scuba Pro LP Ean80 tank didn't show any rust 
after the same time period.  IN FACT the HP TWIN 120's were filled with 
air and hadn't even been used in the entire time as I didn't go any 
deeper than 300fsw so my twin 102's were used with stages.

My conclusion is that the Pressed Steel HP tanks rust if you even cough 
at them no matter how careful you are.  I hope the same does not apply to 
the LP Pressed Steel tanks as I've now got several 104's and two 120's on 
order to replace some of my rust buckets that I intend to sell to some 
fool who'll be willing to tumble them every year.

Harold H. Gartner III
6900 Via Alba
Camarillo, California 93012
home: (805) 482-9743
home fax: (805) 987-6804
office: (805) 644-1061
E-Mail:
hgartner@ra*.or*
CompuServe 71470,1423

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