Tool Bag and Individual Tools

[Boarderguy]

@RobPNW

I'm not sure of the difference. Knipex website only lists the 1.
12", 180 & 125

Side by side of my 180 & 125

 

[RobPNW]

In the description, it appears one says chrome vanadium and one says nickel plated.

 

[SlugLife]

Nice. I'm tempted to go with 2 knipex tools and skip the fixed spanners. Then I have them for other things when not diving.

I forgot to mention this. If you can afford it, your normal-tools, and save-a-dive-kit tools should not be mixed. Last thing you want is to be on a dive trip, and discover you "borrowed" a wrench from your save-a-dive kit.

I'd have a dozen Knipex tools if money wasn't a factor. They're usually a little pricey.

Considering this tool bag is a compromise between weight/size and functionality, what's your guess for sweet spot size on this application? Like 6"?

Anything needing more torque than a 5in or 6in can provide, probably is extremely rare and the kind of maintenance you shouldn't be doing at the dive-site. I'd say either 5in or 6in should serve you well.

1. Thin jaw/Knipex wrenches are great but they are pricey. You can take a discount brand crescent wrench and use an angle grinder or bench grinder to turn it into a thin jaw wrench in a minute. Not as fancy but it does the job and it's no worry if it's lost or gets a bit corroded.

2. One or both of these are really handy for removing stubborn second stage covers:

3. While having the tools and parts kits on hand to service a regulator in the field is awesome, there is no substitute for having a complete backup regulator system if space allows. It's difficult to anticipate every possible failure and servicing a reg in the field is less than ideal. It's so much quicker and less stressful to simply swap to a backup system if you run into a problem (or hand a complete working reg to a buddy who's having trouble).

1. My save-a-dive kit is mostly about having tools available that will get the job done FIRST. Whether they're amazing tools is really a luxury.

2. Useful, but I'd probably leave those in my home-dive-tools. Do you really need those at a dive-site?

3. Agreed on the backup regulator. Disassemble it to save space; just a 1st stage, 2nd stage, spg, hoses (no octo). Rather than doing any field-maintnence, you can always quickly swap out the troube-part, or simply put together the regulator which takes little time. I put mine in a sealed plastic bag, to keep dirt/water/etc out of it. The main downside of having a complete regulator in my save-a-dive kit, is they do add a bit of weight.

 

[tursiops]

This is the only tool I carry in the water, in titanium. Saved the day for me and others, a few times.

Forgot to include the link: PANDORA TOOL - TITANIUM

 

[Sebek]

Forgot to include the link: PANDORA TOOL - TITANIUM

I have V1 and V3 of this tool and find V3 much improved. Allen bits are more resistant to stripping and the added flat/Philips screwdriver is useful.

PANDORA TOOL 3.0 - TITANIUM

*Engraving of Pandora-Lab logo on the tool could be differen...

www.pandora-lab.com

 

[Tracy]

I have V1 and V3 of this tool and find V3 much improved. Allen bits are more resistant to stripping and the added flat/Philips screwdriver is useful.

PANDORA TOOL 3.0 - TITANIUM

*Engraving of Pandora-Lab logo on the tool could be differen...

www.pandora-lab.com

I still wish they would implement a square drive stem wrench. More than once I have had team mates lose valve knobs on a dive. I have used this tool to remove a handwheel from one deco tank to open another deco tank. A square hole anywhere in it would be very handy.

 

[Still Kicking]

2. Useful, but I'd probably leave those in my home-dive-tools. Do you really need those at a dive-site

If you beach dive through surf they are among the most useful of tools. If a reg gets stuffed with sand you need to get the cover off to clear it.

I keep mine finger tight but many peopld like to crank them down with a metric ton of torque. To make matters worse, fine sand gets into the threads and really jams up the cover.

In this scenario. these tools - especially the pin spanner -- can really save the day.

 

[RobPNW]

What are people's thoughts on the need to have a grip on both side of a hose connection when connecting or disconnecting? Seems like it would be prudent but that basically doubles or wrench need.

 

[Bigbella]

I generally pack a decent-sized, thin, adjustable wrench (currently an 8" "Code Blue" Channellock); a few standard ones for hoses and other tight spaces; small Wiha screwdrivers and a few o-ring removers; Allen wrenches; and , usually, an IP gauge and one of those old "scuba tool" combination sets for local diving.

The kit for travel adds sufficient, relatively inexpensive specialty tools (handmade or through Scuba Clinic) for the complete overhaul of a regulator, should that ever be required (and it has), along with appropriate service kits and a small share of spare parts — nothing that would cause heartache should the airlines and TSA “lose” yet another.

I find that "boutique" tools like the Pandora are too pricey and impractical, even by scuba standards -- a bit too small for my mitts, for any decent leverage, without digging into my hands; the "wrenches" all-but useless around tighter hose arrangements, and just prone to damage. The version that I received as a gift, still sits in a basket with some spare keys; though I did manage to clean my fingernails with the flathead on occasion.

Its bottle opener works gangbusters -- but so does the edge of my tailgate . . .

 

[-JD-]

FWIW, almost disposable @ 2/$22 (When I bought a year ago they were $17). The words "OK" and "Good Enough" seem apt, but not bad for a SAD kit.

Amazon Basics 2-Piece Slim Jaw Adjustable Wrench with Inch/Metric Scale, Includes: 4.5-Inch (115mm), 5.5-Inch (140mm)