The carbon fiber isn't to contain a shower of shrapnel or make a normal tank safer, it's very thin/weak aluminum tank that's not good for much pressure at all, then bracing it with carbon fiber so it can take the pressure. Like wrapping duct tape around a balloon, the tape can't hold air, the balloon can't hold pressure, but together... The point is minimal weight and size. My 88CF 4500psi carbon fiber tank with the metal valve weighs only 12lbs. The 15yr life span is about the resin the fibers are bathed in, which like any resin/epoxy or whatever it is will become brittle and crack over time and the fibers will break. A metal tank is as far as I know good forever until it fails test, which if cared for should never happen. Of course there's a huge pressure and time safety margin so they're no doubt good for longer, but nobody will fill it after the date so... Some might be tempted to fill it themselves considering the price of a new cf tank, but no point in pushing your luck with a grenade. I don't have a problem putting CO2 or N2O in my exp tank, but it's 4500 days are long gone imo.
And yes most people would love to have 4500 for scuba, but most are unwilling to drop the coin. Dive tanks often take a of of abuse too which may cause a visual fail if scratched. The difference between industrial air and scuba air is mainly the pump, they don't want any oil in the scuba tank which you then gag on. There may also be a filtration spec for shops too, dust and such, plus you don't want moisture in any tank regardless of use. Not sure about now but it used to be that oil-less air pumps were specialty items so you couldn't have it filled just anywhere.
I too wonder about the tanks on the gun itself because you know someone somewhere has a 4500 tank for their 3k or less gun and didn't pay attention when filling it.... Again a safety margin but no way I'd trust it. I also remember the Mrod tank being amazingly thin so it makes be wonder how even 3k is safe.
Crawfish: Btw, I just discovered I have a 9000psi N2 tank @work. It looks like a regular 300 cubic foot/3kpsi steel tank, so I started tapping from it, 'till I saw it pushing past 6k! At first I thought someone got liquid in it because we fill our own from a liquid source, but it says 620bar... No matter how tough it may be it still makes me uncomfortable. The lines and fittings too, I don't trust any of them! So I was thinking you should exchange your "lame" 4500 for a 9k
Assuming you can sleep with that thing in the house...
And yes most people would love to have 4500 for scuba, but most are unwilling to drop the coin. Dive tanks often take a of of abuse too which may cause a visual fail if scratched. The difference between industrial air and scuba air is mainly the pump, they don't want any oil in the scuba tank which you then gag on. There may also be a filtration spec for shops too, dust and such, plus you don't want moisture in any tank regardless of use. Not sure about now but it used to be that oil-less air pumps were specialty items so you couldn't have it filled just anywhere.
I too wonder about the tanks on the gun itself because you know someone somewhere has a 4500 tank for their 3k or less gun and didn't pay attention when filling it.... Again a safety margin but no way I'd trust it. I also remember the Mrod tank being amazingly thin so it makes be wonder how even 3k is safe.
Crawfish: Btw, I just discovered I have a 9000psi N2 tank @work. It looks like a regular 300 cubic foot/3kpsi steel tank, so I started tapping from it, 'till I saw it pushing past 6k! At first I thought someone got liquid in it because we fill our own from a liquid source, but it says 620bar... No matter how tough it may be it still makes me uncomfortable. The lines and fittings too, I don't trust any of them! So I was thinking you should exchange your "lame" 4500 for a 9k
Assuming you can sleep with that thing in the house...
