How long can my regs go without rebuilding?

[LeadTurn_SD]

Nope, if anything the high priced regs are less robust than you Sherwood. They might not be fancy but the Sherwood designs are tough.

I have all 3 of the items you list above. The Ebay one is nothing more than some manuals compiled from various sources, you can find most of them on line for free.
The 2 books are both excellent material. I find Vances's book a little lighter on the theory and more into the hands on than Wolfinger's book. Wolfinger's book goes deeper into the theory and less on the hands on. Personally, I think the 2 compliment each other and both are worth reading and should be read by anyone repairing regs...several times. Every so often I drag out both copies and reread them.

Just wanted to second what Herman said. The two books are excellent. I'd actually recommend them to all divers, even if you never intend to service your own equipment. They give you a very good understanding on the how and why of regulator servicing.

Best wishes.

 

[hudson]

I would add though, at least from my limited perspective, Vance's book contains sufficient knowledge, with regards to both practice and theory, for a beginner to start servicing his own regs. Can't say the same for the Wolfinger book, there are a lot of practical details left out and is not as easy to follow.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

I would add though, at least from my limited perspective, Vance's book contains sufficient knowledge, with regards to both practice and theory, for a beginner to start servicing his own regs. Can't say the same for the Wolfinger book, there are a lot of practical details left out and is not as easy to follow.

I think you are right. If I had to choose just one, it would be Vance's book. But I feel like I got a more complete understanding after reading both: For example, I sort-of understood the mechanics behind balanced 1st's and 2nd's after reading Vance's book, but got a better handle on it after reading Wolfinger's book.

Now if I could only figure out which end of the sledge hammer to use when trying to adjust the IP....

Best wishes.

 

[herman]

I think you are right. If I had to choose just one, it would be Vance's book. But I feel like I got a more complete understanding after reading both: For example, I sort-of understood the mechanics behind balanced 1st's and 2nd's after reading Vance's book, but got a better handle on it after reading Wolfinger's book.

Now if I could only figure out which end of the sledge hammer to use when trying to adjust the IP....

Best wishes.

The very reason I say they compliment each other.......although you might want to reread them.....I don't recall a sledge hammer being a suggested tool.

 

[PhilEllis]

I think you are right. If I had to choose just one, it would be Vance's book. But I feel like I got a more complete understanding after reading both: For example, I sort-of understood the mechanics behind balanced 1st's and 2nd's after reading Vance's book, but got a better handle on it after reading Wolfinger's book.

Now if I could only figure out which end of the sledge hammer to use when trying to adjust the IP....

Best wishes.

I think both of these books are extremely good, and personally believe they are must-reading for anyone who wants to become a serious regulator technician. Peter's book may well be one of the best written document I have ever seen for those who want to understand WHY a regulator works. Of course, Vance's book is the most comprehensive on the market from the perspective of a real, hands-on regulator technician. That being said, I don't think these two books alone are sufficient for one to progress from a novice to a serious technician. It seems to me that only an apprenticeship under a good technician can prepare you for serious, high-production regulator service. Of course, several years of experience only serve to make you even better.

I agree with others that regulators are not really high-tech devices. Anyone with moderate mechanical skills can disassemble, clean, and reassemble regulators.

Phil Ellis
Discount Scuba Gear at DiveSports.com - Buy Scuba Diving Equipment & Snorkeling Equipment

 

[cbmech2]

Phil, you are absolutely right when you say that anyone with a mechanical aptitude can disassemble, clean and reassemble regulators. However, a competent tech would also do a bench check prior to servicing to note any conditions that may lead to placing more scrutiny on certain internals depending on what the results are, although when I service regs I thoroughly inspect each item after cleaning to check for cracks, nicks and othe damage. Knowing what to inspect and how they fail also helps. Knowing the theory of how they work and what to look for separates the novice from the expert from the troubleshooting aspect.