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How do you go about politely getting a dive shop to fill your SCUBA tank for shooting when you don't have a SCUBA card? There is a shop in my town, but my initial contact over the phone was not great. Is there any info printed up, or other helpful ideas.

Thanks,


Dwight

K38 wrote:How do you go about politely getting a dive shop to fill your SCUBA tank for shooting when you don't have a SCUBA card? There is a shop in my town, but my initial contact over the phone was not great. Is there any info printed up, or other helpful ideas.

Thanks,


Dwight

Best thing to do is to go in person and explain the situation to the clerk. Bring a copy of this article http://www.pilkguns.com/scuba1.shtml Perhaps bring your AP. Have a big 'Not For Breathing' label on your tank.
There are three dive shops in my area; one wouldn't, the other two do fill my tanks.
Good luck,
FredM

I have never had a problem at any of the shops I have visited.

I happen to be a certified diver so I am always ready to produce proof as back-up but have not had to.

I immediately tell the shop the use for the tank. There are two things that are a bit odd to them about the tank and refill request. The tank is in to perfect condition to be used for diving - all diving tanks get a bit scratched. Also, I am never requesting a complete refill and am just topping the tank off. While divers will do this on ocassion they usually want to use most of the air in a tank.

Most of you probably know this, but dive shops sell good quality silicon grease (of course) and it is quite inexpensive.

all the dive shops I have asked know about paint ball and the one where I fill my tank has a special form to fill out and they keep on file declaring that it is not breathing air.

just go ask.

Poole

Also note (in my experience) at least three dive shops I have frequented service tanks for paintball only to around 2300 psi instead of the full charge of 3200.

Be sure to point out that your cylinders are rated for 200 bar and you require a full-pressure service . . .

Steve Swartz

It's a good job you don't live here in south east florida ..... I bought a dive cylinder , and a fill station adaptor , and got all excited about getting the cylinder filled so i could have a go with my Feinwerkbau P-34 pistol for the first time , only to find that none of the local dive shops would fill the cylinder for me , even though i was polite & explained what i wanted it for , they weren't the slightest bit interested , "welcome to south Florida" , one dive shop worker sarcastically said to me ..... I found it particularly ironic because i spent 15-odd years in charge of a prison fire department on the Isle of Wight in England , where i had my own compressor , which i was ( and still am ) certified to operate & service ..... I used to fill & check breathing apparatus compressed air cylinders on a weekly basis , as well as filling cylinders for staff who were into scuba diving , i've filled literally hundreds & hundreds of them ..... A friend who dives , offered to get it filled for me , but i didn't want to give the dive shop a cent of my hard earned cash , so i bought a Hill pump from our host , and my problem is now solved for good !

Len

I think if i were in Len's shoes I'd be super mad. The scuba tanks will provide your air cylinders with much cleaner air. Thus providing a longer lifespan for your air pistols/rifles etc. I have heard from Tim at MAC-1 that the pumps need maintenance and can build up gunk inside over time. I can't recall how often they need cleaning but it definitely made me change my mind about pumps. OH! i am referring to hand pumps not the powered ones mind you... Anyhow, there has to be someone in the area who would fill airgun scubas! Perhaps, talking directly to the owner might help. Before i got into PCP guns, i called around to make sure there was someone who would provide the service. I was clear that i did not dive nor even swim! There were only 2 out of 6 that were glad to have me as a customer. I am fortunate to have them. In conclusion, i would prefer a scuba setup anyday. It's less work and best of all, easier on the guns.

Cheng