Is the Apeks ATX50 and ATX40 Nitrox capable . . .

[Lost Yooper]

I agree with Warren. I've seen more "evidence" that you can get away with no O2 cleaning of any sort, for any % of O2 and never have a problem. Take a look at the O2 clean environment in a welding shop. I do what Warren suggests -- basic commmon sense stuff. I don't worry about it much. This is more of a liability/lawyer issue than anything else.

We've had some real dandy arguments, I mean discussions , about this subject in the past. Like always, we win and they lose .

Mike

 

[trymixdiver]

so your telling me ( unoffically of course) that this "kit" the LDS refers to is ONLY O-rings for both the 1st and 2nd stages?

Andy

what about the hoses?

what do you mean warren when you say magnifier below?
if its not a big deal do i really get a magnifing glass out?

"1) Disassembling everything and cleaning thoroughly, under a magnifier, with a suitable degreaser like Simple Green and suitable lintless cloths like microfiber. "

 

[VTWarrenG]

trymix,

Yes, oxygen-cleaning kits are a rip-off.

The hoses you already own are fine. You only need to worry about places where heat could be generated -- for example, at the first stage sealing surfaces and valve seats. Once you're dealing with the low pressures after the first-stage, oxygen cleaning is basically a non-issue. I would not be concerned about your hoses -- but I would use Viton O-rings on them, anyway, just for completeness. Also, there's almost nothing you can do to oxygen clean a second-stage reg other than O-rings, and there's almost no reason to do anything to them in the first place:

1) they don't deal with high-pressure gas, and therefore don't generate appreciable heat from friction.
2) they're dirty as hell from an O2 perspective, even if you're incredibly anal.

As far as a magnifier: you're just trying to make sure you've gotten all of the hydrocarbon greases out of the tiny low spots in the metal surfaces, and you've removed all the dust and dirt you can find. A magnifier is jut a nice convenience. I never said O2 cleaning's "not a big deal" either -- I just said that O2 cleaning really only requires basic attention to a few points, and isn't the magnum opus others seem to think it is.

- Warren

 

[trymixdiver]

Ok thanks a bunch, its all crysto clear now

Andy

( sorry couldnt resist the pun)