Apeks Barrel Discoloration

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I would definitely go back to the shop that serviced it and talk to the owner. If the chrome on that barrel was in good shape before you had it serviced and that’s the way it came back, they should replace it. It’s too bad you have to take your time to go argue with a dive shop about their screw up. It will be interesting to see what their response is. A competent, honest technician would have replaced that barrel at his cost before even putting it back together.

If you have no luck with the shop, i.e. they deny that they did anything wrong, you could try contacting Apeks, I guess. I wouldn’t hold out a lot of hope. Again, this is assuming that the regulator went to the shop for service with a good coating of chrome on that barrel and came back bare brass. I doubt you have a way of proving that. I believe you, and an honest shop owner probably would too.

This is yet another example of why I started servicing my own regs shortly after taking up diving decades ago.
 
I've been waiting for months for my last Apeks spare parts order (different from kits). I think it's a fruitless quest.

DIY
 
Regardless, when shown the barrel, the dive shop should accept responsibility and make customer whole. Meaning new part(s) & labor, no charge.

Could possibly give relief to technician who overcooked part. Maybe barrel still shiny, until went for dive in the salt?

LDS should cannibalize from their sale stock for part if not on hand. @parzdiver should not have to wait for new parts if they are in shop.

One should not have to breath through an air barrel showing that level of oxidation.
 
There's nothing wrong with the chrome if it hurts so much polish it with polish and get on with it
 
Use a gentle metal polish like Flitz including on the inside. Carry on*.

*If there is a lot of bare brass after removing the tarnish/verdigris, especially on the inside, which I may be doubting, either clean regularly or in due course replace as funds and time allow.
 
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