Best mask for a mustache

[mntdiver]

Ever hrard of spontaneious combustion? All the components are there if you use a hydrocarbon lubricant.

Define "all" of the components. For spontaneous combustion you still need a heat source for the combustion triangle. Be it a chemical reaction, oxidation or bacterial fermentation, you still have to have the full triangle. Oxygen explosions are often related to pressures over 200 psi. The heat source for the detonation is that of friction caused by acceleration of the gas, usually in a restriction where hydrocarbons are present or the heat resulting from compression. Ambient pressure detonations without a heat source? Well...

How have you been James?

 

[Rick Murchison]

Trust me on this.
Pure oxygen and hydrocarbons don't need enough of a heat source to call it one. That's why there's the warning of a danger of spontaneous combustion when the two come in contact. We proved it over and over in the Navy, and buried the proof far too many times. Even a greasy burger for lunch was a no-no for mustached fighter jocks without a thorough washing of the 'stache before it went into the oxygen mask.
After the hydrocarbon spontaneously combusts, it provides the heat source for other things that we don't normally think of as flammable but which will burn merrily in the presence of pure oxygen... things like flesh and eyeballs and stuff like that.
There's no need to test the theory any more.
Don't mix 100% oxygen and hydrocarbons. <<-that's a period at the end of that sentence.
Rick

 

[james croft]

Hi John,
Doing all right. Doing an evidence recovery dive tomorrow. Stolen vehicle recovery. Probably going to get a little gas smell on my gear. Will be using my aga so my moustache won't explode. Hate to lose it after all these years. Started growing it on the 4th of july 1976. Take care!

 

[james croft]

Rick,
Don't doubt you. But I think there may be a different environment in a cockpit vs. underwater. I am just curious if there has been any documented cases of a fire underwater with the circumstances we described involving divers.

 

[Rick Murchison]

Rick,
Don't doubt you. But I think there may be a different environment in a cockpit vs. underwater. I am just curious if there has been any documented cases of a fire underwater with the circumstances we described involving divers.

I have no idea. I don't know anyone who has continued to use vaseline or other grease to get a mask seal who's progressed as far as deco diving with 100% O₂.
I'd think with the natural humidity of exhaled gas and the added humidity of the water around and in the mask, there's be very little chance of getting the combustion started - but hydrocarbon grease has been known to "just start burning" on its own in an oxygen environment. As the Oxyhacker says about less than absolutely pristine oxygen handling, you can probably get away with it.
The question becomes, is that good enough?
Not for me.
But then I've seen what an oxygen fire does to skin and meat.
Rick

 

[fmw625]

Mntdiver,

Like Rick said, all you need is 100% o2 and hydrocarbon.

 

[Wayward Son]

I use a Sea Vision Ultra as well, but I do have to trim a bit. It is more tolerant than other masks I've tried, which have all required daily shaving. The Ultra will let me go several days before it starts leaking there again & even then, it's minor. I've never used silicone or any other grease, just trim the stash a bit.

 

[Live2Dive22]

I put a whole bunch of silicone on my upper lip and it really seems to work.

This trick is used by many of the guys around here. A few of the accessories manufactures, Trident and Marine Sports actually market this in a chapstick type tube for convent application.

 

[WI Scuba Dave]

I'm using a Deep See "Outlook" and it's worked very well with my mustache. http://www.deepseeinc.com/products/outlook.html

 

[BKP]

I'll second (or third) the SeaVision Ultra.

I tried Ocean Master, ScubaPro, Mares X Vision, Atomic Ultraclear (which broke my heart to have it leak), moustache wax, trying to live with clearing every 30 seconds, etc....

Finally discovered the SeaVision Ultra (I have it in clear, both purge, and non-purge models). Neither leaks... ever... No wax, no trimming... nada... just the mask... no leaking, no constant clearing, no worries...