#2242
MDW - 4/17/2012 12:46 PM
I would not fear purchasing a tank on ebay, even if it is out of hydro. I have done so many times. It only costs about $20 to get an out of hydro tank hydro tested, but typically the ones that are just a couple years out of hydro are $50 or more less than ones of equivalent age that are in hydro. If you stick with steel or 6061 aluminum (that are not obviously all beat up) you’ll be fine. Of the 16 tanks I have, 13 of them came used off ebay. Only one tank has every failed a hydro, and that’s because I decided to take a risk on buying 4 tanks made of 6351 alloy (for $20 each). Of the 4, 3 passed hydro and one failed and was condemned. I still regard that as a win ($20 x 4 for tanks, $30 shipping total, $20 x 4 for hydro = $190 for 3 usable tanks). Plus, scrap aluminum goes for around 75 cents a pound, so the condemed tank is worth $20 at the scrap yard.

I also bought most of my other gear on ebay as well. This way I was able to end up with 5 sets of regs for about what you would expect to pay for 2 new sets and 3 or 4 used wings for the price of 1 new one. Who cares if you have to get it inspected as soon as you buy it? You’re gonna pay to inspected next year anyway even if you buy it new, right?