diy doubles question

[billtylerjr]

I found a good deal and picked up a pair of steel 133's for about $500. I figured this would give my a good starting point and get my through the training and experience I want to accomplish this summer.

My question is this: can I put these together myself or do I need to take them somewhere? They are coming separated with the valves coming from a different warehouse. I spoke to one shop and they want to charge for an inspection and O2 cleaning ($100 total) and then a fee for assembling them. I would prefer to do it myself as it makes me that much more comfortable with my equipment in that I know it better. Everything is supposed to be O2 clean out of the box as per the documentation they gave me.

Any thoughts would be appreciated

 

[karstdvr]

I found a good deal and picked up a pair of steel 133's for about $500. I figured this would give my a good starting point and get my through the training and experience I want to accomplish this summer.

My question is this: can I put these together myself or do I need to take them somewhere? They are coming separated with the valves coming from a different warehouse. I spoke to one shop and they want to charge for an inspection and O2 cleaning ($100 total) and then a fee for assembling them. I would prefer to do it myself as it makes me that much more comfortable with my equipment in that I know it better. Everything is supposed to be O2 clean out of the box as per the documentation they gave me.

Any thoughts would be appreciated

Holy cow did you pick some big tanks!!!

Assembly is easy,and I guarantee if you search this forum you'll find a thread discussing it. If not,I think the Jim Cobb trimix page has something that you might be looking for to help.

If I knew you could get $100 for this,I might need to open a business on the side-I can't imagine all the free business I've given away

 

[cool_hardware52]

Your question is almost impossible to answer. I have no idea what your experience is with tanks, or valves etc. even with singles.

Will you need a VIP? If so some LDS is likely to be involved at least for the inspection, and they will want to install the valves and fill the tanks.

If you've never assembled a manifold, watching someone else can be worthwhile. You mentioned training, I'd talk to your instructor, he / she should be able to help, or recommend who to trust in your area.

Are these you first doubles? A pair of 133's as a starter set is pretty ambitious. Be sure you understand the weighting issues and wing lift necessary.

266 cuft of gas can you into trouble.

Tobin

 

[metaldector]

Putting two 133's together with manifold will be in excess of 120 lbs. add this to your back plate and wing you've got another 12 lbs. Now if you are a really big guy this might not pose a problem, but if you a skinny dude, lifting 13o+ pounds could be a bit challenging. Most of us double users dive 95's or smaller because of the weight. Assembly could be a bit difficult and as others have stated, you do need a VIP. $100 bucks is nuts. Good luck.

 

[amascuba]

The shop trying to put an o2 clean inspection on you is just trying to get more money out of you, unless you plan on diving gases that are over 40% nitrox with those cylindars. That is unlikely. Just take the tanks to them and have them do the VIP inspection and buy some silicone greese and do it yourself. It's not really hard.

 

[amascuba]

Putting two 133's together with manifold will be in excess of 120 lbs. add this to your back plate and wing you've got another 12 lbs. Now if you are a really big guy this might not pose a problem, but if you a skinny dude, lifting 13o+ pounds could be a bit challenging. Most of us double users dive 95's or smaller because of the weight. Assembly could be a bit difficult and as others have stated, you do need a VIP. $100 bucks is nuts. Good luck.

hhhmm .. Worthington HP 130's are 43 lbs each (empty).

You dive a 12lbs back plate? I've never seen one that heavy. Mine is 6lbs.

add lets say 8lbs for bolts, bands, and manifold.

43 x 2 = 96 + 6 + 8 = 110lbs. Now add gas. hhmmm ... I was beginning to think that 130lbs was heavy, but that's probably pretty close.

 

[Hoosier]

As for the doubling up the tank, I don't think it is a rocket science job. I read all threads about assembling the double here and other internet sources. And, I read all again and again. After then, it took about 1 hr for the first set and 30 min for the 2nd set. Even, I dis-assembled one set for renewing VIP and need to re-assemble it....

The key points for this job are
1. don't use any force for the manifold assemble. Try it again and again until it engages it by itself....
2. don't rush. You have a plenty of time...
3. Research, read, and sturdy before doing it.

Good luck...

 

[ianr33]

Some good instructions from DiveRite
http://www.diverite.com/TecTalk/doubles/index.htm

If you want to put nitrox in them then yes,they will most likely need O2 cleaning

 

[amascuba]

Some good instructions from DiveRite
http://www.diverite.com/TecTalk/doubles/index.htm

If you want to put nitrox in them then yes,they will most likely need O2 cleaning

If you are going to be using standard recreational mixes then you don't really need o2 cleaning. It's just something that a shop can upcharge for. Now if the shop or some garage mixer does partial pressure blending then yes you need to o2 clean, even if you are blending recreational mixes because during the blending process there will be 100% o2 in the tank.

 

[ianr33]

If you are going to be using standard recreational mixes then you don't really need o2 cleaning. It's just something that a shop can upcharge for. Now if the shop or some garage mixer does partial pressure blending then yes you need to o2 clean, even if you are blending recreational mixes because during the blending process there will be 100% o2 in the tank.

As far as I know all the shops in Austin use partial pressure for nitrox. And what if you travel? How many shops do not use partial pressure?