I know it has been discussed before but I'd be interested in comments on the following (preferably from the Europeans on here but anyone is who is willing to give it a shot is welcome). For the record having seen O2 and oil mix I am right behind regular checks.
The baseline assumptions I am making are:
1) We all know that oxygen and oils/lubricants don't go well together
2) We all know that oxygen and various types of "O" rings and other materials don't go well together
3) We all are as careful as we can when:
a) getting cylinders filled and
b) using them
4) We are all sane enough to get a cylinder cleaned if we suspected contamination
5) We are all used to the idea that we have to get oxygen/EANx cylinders inspected annually and having a nice big sticker on it afterwards
Living in Luxembourg getting the latter done has been a challenge and I am concerned that although the cylinders I own now have a test stamp (valid until 2012!) I will have difficulty getting the cylinders filled especially in the UK. I also seem to have difficulty explaining the annual inspection idea locally.
What surprised me (in talking to people in England) is that the annual inspection for O2 service and O2 cleanliness is not mandatory but is down to "
custom and practice".
What I am interested in knowing is:
1) Has anyone got experience of getting cylinders filled (by commercial dove shops) that lack that all important official looking sticker?
2) Has anyone got any experience of O2 cleaning cylinders/valves etc. themselves? (will a dive shop accept a home made sticker?)