It probably has been discussed before but, will a diving air tank work as a on board air tank to fill tires and run air tools? I can get my hand on one for a good price but I first need to know if it will work. It already has been pressure tested and it is certified as in like new conditions.

For running air tools you'll need lots of flow(CFM)& the appropriate pressure (PSI) and the scuba tank won't get you that.

Your best bet (for the $$$) is to buy a 5-15lb liquid CO2 tank & regulator. Total cost will be about $120-200 depending on whether you buy new or used then simply fill it as needed. My 10lb tank cost me $9 for each fill. For more specifics check the powertank site.

Alternatively you can spend $400 or so on a high output 12v compressor (both CFM & PSI) to run those tools.

Last but not least, you can buy a 110VAC compressor & tank at any tool place and buy a properly rated 12vdc-110vAC converter. Will probably cost in the neighborhood of $300.

HTH!

I'm sold on my CO2 - I've wheeled twice and used my air tools in the garage alot this winter on just one fill-up for my 15lb'er.

If you go CO2 make sure you don't get industrial grade CO2 - commonly used for paintball. You want food grade CO2 - the stuff they sell to bars/home brewers. Industrial grade has a high content of metalic particles in it and will wreck your air tools.

You can't get a scuba tank filled at most places without a cert card. As far as running air tools you will get about 10 minutes of use. I've used them underwater to drill holes in rock. For filling tires you will need a scuba regulator to reduce the pressure from 3000 psi to 125 psi. The scuba regulator has at least one High pressure port for the guage and two low pressure ports for the 2nd stage regulator that goes in your mouth. You want to use the Low pressure side and you can get a $10 adapter at most scuba shops for filling tires.

It's really only worth the effort if you scuba dive because you already have the tank and regulator. It is the fastest way to inflate tires but you have to be carefull the 125 psi will overinflate your tires in a heartbeat. Also Scuba tanks have to be visual inspected every year and hydrotested every 5. Scuba shops will not fill tanks without the inspection sticker. They kill people when they fail. There is a batch of bad aluminum ones made in the 80's that have the wrong alloy and every few years one pops and kills someone. Most other tanks will pop the burst disk first. You don't want to drop a 3000 psi tank <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />

I forgot the gory photos of the scuba tank explosion. This will change your mind.

http://scubabomb.freeservers.com/Cscuba.htm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

The list of tanks made with the bad alloy

Here is "The List" of scuba tanks that the DOT says are most likely made from the 6351-T6 aluminum alloy:

All DOT-3AL tanks manufactured under one of the following exemptions or special permits: 6498, 7042, 8107, 8364, 8422
All composite cylinders manufactured under one of the following exemptions: 7235, 8023, 8115
All Walter Kidde DOT-3AL scuba tanks.
All Cliff Impact DOT-3AL scuba tanks made before July 1990.
All Luxfer 80.8 cu. ft. scuba tanks (S80.8) made before May 1987.
All Luxfer 72 and 100 cu. ft. scuba tanks (S72, S100) made before August 1987.
All Luxfer 80 cu. ft. scuba tanks (S80) made before January 1988.
All Luxfer 50 and 92 cu. ft. scuba tanks (S50, S92) made before April 1988.
All Luxfer 30 and 63 cu. ft scuba tanks (S30, S63) made before May 1988.
All Luxfer 40 cu. ft. scuba tanks (S40) made before June 1988.
All other scuba tanks made in the US before February 1990 (except Catalina).
All scuba tanks not made in the US.

What about some kinda composite tank? I found 2 tanks on side of the road. I need to take some pics to post. I will probably just buy a CO2 tank.

CO2 tanks also require an annual inspection, and a hydro-test every five years.

Yeah, those things ALWAYS give me the creeps...when I was taking my cert course, we would have to fill tanks occaisionaly. Most people would walk around in front of the tanks while filing tanks...I forget how many we could fill at once...but it was several. I always stood off to the side and tried to hide behind the racks that held the fill tanks...lol...people made fun of me. while we were in the Keys for a couple weeks of diving, we met a guy who had a tank explode on him in a shop. The scars were HORRENDOUS! He had pics showing the wounds, and what was left of the tank...I saw a LOT fewer people standing right in front of tanks as they filled, and more cowering in my "hiding spot". Has anyone heard any statistics of C02 tanks exploding? Makes me not really want a potential BOMB in the back of my rign.

The CO2 and most good scuba tanks are all steel. Your only risk is the burst disk <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />.