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Duane, I highly recommend two books from Airspeed press, their regulator maintenance book and the oxygen hackers handbook. They go into all of this and are excellent reference books, as well as being entertaining to read. They are available online for about $30 each from Airspeed press. I'm not affiliated with them, just a very happy reader. BTW, the books cover a lot more than what you ask about, but in the same vein. They are packed with info, and a lot of industry "behind the scenes" stuff. Cheers. Duane Liptak Jr wrote: ~ >Can someone out there give me the straight scoop on O2 cleaning? Every gear >manufacturer and agency seems to have different regulations and standards >ranging from cautious to downright paranoid, and I'm getting frustrated as >hell trying to sort it all out. > >My specific areas of concern are: > >1. What exactly needs to be done to a regulator to make it safe for >mixtures of 40% to 100%? (Beyond the tear it down and clean everything with >simple green, trichloroethane, or other solvent part.) > > a. Does every O-ring need to be viton, just high pressure side, or are >nitrile/butyl o-rings acceptable? I know that many aviation applications >use nitrile, but viton seems to be mandated for scuba uses. What's the >deal? > > b. What needs to be done with hoses, especially HP? ( clean them, use >new hoses rated for O2 service, etc.) > > c. SPG's: Should they be cleaned, and how? Do the spool O-rings need >to be changed? > > d. Second stages: Do the O-ring, diaphragm, and seat materials matter >at the lower pressures that this system is exposed to? How about lube? > > e. Are Sherwood regs (with the rubber dry air bleed valve) acceptable >for use with high FO2's? (academic question--I use Zeagles) > >2. Tank valves: Do quick opening valves, like some Genesis K's with coarse >threads on the seat, pose a danger with high FO2's? > >Any help from those with more experience in this are would be greatly >appreciated. I have used and been around HP O2 in welding and cutting >industrial applications for years, and despite some abhorrent conditions of >uncleanliness and regulator (welding type) abuse that I have been >unfortunate enough to witness, I have not seen or heard of any documented >accidents besides the " My brother's wife's friend's brother knew a guy who >heard of somebody...." type. It makes me wonder how much of this is >actually necessary and how much is scare tactics to get divers to buy viton >everything. > Don't get me wrong, I've been pretty cautious up to now with the mixes >under 40% that I have used, but I'm just curious as to how much of this is >necessary, and how the folks out there who have the experience are doing >things. > >Thanks in advance, > >Duane > >-- >Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. >Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'. -- Paul B. -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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