Tue Jun 12, 2012 11:15 pm
I just saw this thread and it reminded me of a project I have on the back shelf that I had almost forgot about.
I bought a Sportsways twin manifold and figured to use it with some steel PST SCBA tanks I got for free from a local fire department. Should make a nice small set of doubles. As far as I can tell the valves appear to fit the SCBA cylinders and I believe the threads are the same but I have not checked to see what the threads are. I was wondering if anybody knows what the threads are for the Sportsways or if anyone has any experience using the SCBA tanks with Sportsways valves?
The SCBA bottles are rated for 2216 psi and should make a sweet set of doubles. They also appear to be approximately 6.9 in in diameter but I did not measure them carefully but held a ruler alongside and eyeballed them. I need to get my carpenter squares out to do it right but I suspect some 6.9 bands would work on them.
Steel SCBA bottles are easily obtained as they were replaced by aluminum tanks in the 80's and then later carbon fiber wrapped tanks replaced the aluminum. The harder part is finding Sportsways manifolds as they are not that plentiful. I bought a set from a LDS that had them in a display of old gear for 30 bucks and then got the tanks for free.
I want to make sure the threads are exactly the same before I pressurize it but they screw in without any issues and seem to be the same but I don't have anything to mike them out with at this time.
Has anyone tried these valves in anything other than a Sportsways tank?