Dumb Question About O Rings

[Luis H]

Yes o-rings at a dive store are more expensive than a bulk purchase at an o-ring supplier. Same is true when you want one screw at a hardware store. Keeping inventory, answering questions, having a RETAIL storefront, liability insurance-these things add up. A dive store does some things at below cost and need to make it up elsewhere. It is a blend of margins, some low and some high that allows a full service dive store to exist. Take away the extra $1.50 here and it will have to go somewhere else. My two cents worth.

Lee
www.seapearls.com

I have to agree with your point. Two bucks is not a big deal in this sport, but some times it is just the thought of the huge ration in an item like this.

I actually praise one of my LDS for selling little bags with 5 O-rings for close to $3. To me it is just the idea of selling one O-ring at a time when IMO you should always have several.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Dive Rite Express sells them 5 for $3, or 60 cents each. That is a bit cheaper. If you combine them with an order of at least $35, shipping is free. To make it economical, you'd really need to combine your o-ring order with something else to get the free shipping. Each time I have an order of over $35 from them, I check and see if I need any o-rings and then I just add them to the order.

http://www.diveriteexpress.com/hardware/orings.shtml

 

[Sasquatch]

That's all great feedback. What got me scratching my head on this was that after I VIP'd my tank and hydro/VIP'd my 19cf pony I went diving and noticed upon charging my main that it was leaking. I looked at the O ring and it was obviously not new. I changed it (bought 2 from them a while back for my save-a-dive kit at $3.95) but when I confronted my LDS with the fact they hadn't replaced the O rings I was told, no they don't do that because the O rings are so expensive.

I was stunned and suggested that they adjust the price of the VIP and the Hydro to include that O ring. Me, I'd throw it in as part of the service especially to a customer that has spent over $2000. with them in the last year.

 

[Azza]

But yes there is a difference between scuba O-rings and those
from the hardware store.
Scuba O-rings are much stronger.Try the soft hardware ones and
you will see they won't last very long.Most will go with a bang on
the first use

There is no difference between what LDS and engineering shops sell. You just have to buy the right durometer for the job.

 

[Azza]

That's all great feedback. What got me scratching my head on this was that after I VIP'd my tank and hydro/VIP'd my 19cf pony I went diving and noticed upon charging my main that it was leaking. I looked at the O ring and it was obviously not new. I changed it (bought 2 from them a while back for my save-a-dive kit at $3.95) but when I confronted my LDS with the fact they hadn't replaced the O rings I was told, no they don't do that because the O rings are so expensive.

I was stunned and suggested that they adjust the price of the VIP and the Hydro to include that O ring. Me, I'd throw it in as part of the service especially to a customer that has spent over $2000. with them in the last year.

Mate thanks for sharing a good laugh with us. Oh my side hurts now.... They are so FOS it's not funny.

 

[fmw625]

The other day i was diving air and an o ring blew out. My bad for not having a spare. I found 10 Buna-N for a dollar at home depot.

 

[captain]

Get them here.

http://www.air-oil.com/oringsonlinefset.htm

 

[Ed Palma]

Just to veer slightly off topic... assuming the same durometer rating, is it okay to use the hardware store o-rings for other applications like regulator o-rings? Anyone try this one yet?

 

[captain]

Just to veer slightly off topic... assuming the same durometer rating, is it okay to use the hardware store o-rings for other applications like regulator o-rings? Anyone try this one yet?

Yes, no problems on air.

 

[dlndavid]

being a Parker Hannifin employee and stock holder I would highly reccommend to buy the best O-Rings, Parker O-rings
http://www.parker.com/ead/cm2.asp?cmid=3106