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selling my dive hookah and buying a scuba compressor

G

georgefrombc

New member
hi everyone, i think i am going to sell my two person hookahmax and buying a dive compressor as i have lots of scuba tanks i could fill and probley only use two a three a day. might be easier to use. any thoughts on the idea and does anyone else fill there own tanks with a dive compressor thanks.
 
I used to have a Poesiden compressor and am kicking myself for selling it. I have 10 tanks at the present time and can spend 3 hours underwater on one. I bought a hookah and sold it. WAY to noisey for me. I am glad I repair computers for the dive shop here. In trade I have air cards to last me maybe half the summer. Lots of good compressors out there. Mine was a 5 horse gas one. Easy to maintain. Filled the tanks slow but no matter. Did my own visuals and never hydro'ed them although THE LAST could have been a FATAL mistake and would at NOT do that again. Hydro is for your safety PERIOD. Visual is for the dive shop to make money. I can stick my own light down my tanks and make sure they are not pitted.
 
thanks scuba. i am looking at a 5hp gas beuar compressor from my dive master as he has one for sale. i have 8 tanks and i think it will be alot better then using my hookah for diving. thanks for the reply and i hope i can ask a few more questions as it is helpfull in situations. have a good one and bye for now. any other thought later would be helpfull also.
 
On an air card it costs me 5.00 a tank to fill. So 10 tanks = 50.00 I spend about 600.00 a year in air. Sometimes more. If your getting a good deal on the compressor it is WELL worth it to buy. Just ALWAYS have your tanks hydro'ed and save your money on visuals. Buy a light and look yourself. NO law requires visuals either. Just dive shop policy. BUT D.O.T law requires hydro's. Your transporting bombs with 3000psi in each. You really do not want to see one explode.

So for the last 5 years I have spent over 3 grand on air. Visuals cost 15.00 each so thats another 150.00 a year on top of that. If you dive that much a compressor is a no brainer. All you need is the special oil for the compressor and the oil and gas for the engine. I would go for it if the price is right and you save money. The compressor will last for years.
 
hey scuba i am getting the compressor for 1600 dollars. so i do not think that is to bad and a few years i will have it paid for. i also think that i will actually be in the black as i can fill paintball tanks also and help out a few other divers around my town as the nearest dive shop is about hour and half away from my house. the price of gas now days is adding up as we pay like 5.25 a gallon. i am kinda getting excited as i can just put it in the back of my truck and go camping and fill my tanks as need, well thanks for you help and i hope my finds increase as the year comes and i can my alot of videos for youtube. thanks again for all your help
 
OK you added more fuel to the fire. A couple more things to think about. IF you blow an o ring inside the compressor and you filled somebody elses tanks, the air won't kill them BUT can make them sick. Your opening yourself up to a lawsuit. Also make sure their tanks are inspected.

http://www2.tbo.com/news/breaking-news/2011/sep/11/10/st-pete-man-dies-after-scuba-tank-explodes-ar-256967/

NOT worth your life to have a tank explode. And yes you can overfill them and do it safely one or two hundered psi more . A hydro tests a tank to 5 thousand PSI. HOWEVER, they do expand and contract and that CAN lead to invisible stress cracks. DON'T do it. If you fill somebodys paintball tank SAME rules apply. Out of hydro, DON'T touch it. NOT worth your life OR a lawsuit. I have dove on tanks with bad air. NOT good. Happened in Okinawa from the base fill station and once here.

If your safe and follow proceedures, you are getting a good deal and can make a little on the side. Just be cautious. Especically with the Luxfer tanks made before 1990. Inferior aluminum blend and more known failures with them. Being in hydro is the key for all. And for steel, also a visual to make sure its not rusted inside.

Remember with your air, somebody elses life is in your hands if you have filled their tanks and something went horribly wrong. Make sure the air intake is UPWIND from the engine exhaust!!!

LOL I keep thinking of new things. EVEN if the tank is in hydro some people have painted their own tanks and had the paint baked on. Baking a tank changes the molicules in the aluminum. A dive shop owner was killed and the owner of the tanks lost his legs. DON'T touch them!!! Tanks may seem harmless but you are playing with bombs!!
 
that is some good info scuba thanks. i was thinking of just using my tanks and they would have all the visual and hydro done. there is only a few people that dive around here and will my tanks all the proper hydro and visual is done all the time. like you said the visual can be done from yourself and like you said with the painball gun tanks it is not a good idea. i think i will just keep it to myself and only my tanks as i always look when the last hydro was done. wow lots of info and greatly apprieciated thank you very much for all your help tonight.
 
Hi George,
I have recently bought scuba kit for treasure hunting. On my last trip to the Canary Islands I saw a hookah set up. It looked awesome! What's it like diving with one? I am tempted with the 12v battery run compressor. Have you got any feedback on them please? Many thanks, water wizard.
 
dive with a hookah is cool and gets you in spot that you usually can not get to. you must be certified in diving before attempting to dive with any system. if you get a 12v system i would see if you could try it before you buy one. hey if you have anymore questions just ask. i am selling mine because i just want something to fill my dive tanks and then i am able to dive anywhere i want and it is quieter. well good luck and i hope this helps.
 
I would add a couple of things, remember you do need to do PM on the compressor and the filter stack. Besides the hyper filtration there is also a moisture adsorbant that needs to be replaced periodically. In general Bauer compressors are an excellent compressors- top flight. At some point compressors do need to be rebuilt in their life, the bauer is not inexpensive to rebuild but completely worth it.

Always be cognizant of where you are pulling your air from and it would be an excellent idea to have an air sample sent in for analysis. An air sample will give you an idea if there is problem with the compressor.

Cheers and enjoy the freedom of having a compressor at home and not having to run around and get tanks filled etc.

Tim
 
Thanks very much guys. I am up to rescue diver with padi, but a total novice with hookah set ups. Is the battery model still loud? I'm a bit worried that I might get moved off the areas I want to search....
Thanks water wizard
 
LOL rescue diver? I learned an important tip when I was on the police dive team.

What is the best thing about finding a body underwater?


Noboby can hear you scream!


I am only open water certified but I have been diving for 33 years. I was certified in OKinawa in March of 1980. Good luck out there!!
 
Wow scuba! 33 years, that is awesome. I've only been diving 12 years, I'm a novice! You ever tried a hookah set up? It sounds great ith no refills needed, but the noise could be a big issue.....
 
wow thanks for all the information. i am just on my set for work and work the next 3 days but try to check the responses for the post. all great responses and would like to keep all the information coming. i think owning my own scuba compressor is a good investment and yes i have been diving since 1987 when i had my first certification. it is a great way to find treasure and a good way to relax when you are diving. well thank you again for all the responses and hope to see more.
 
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