Is the Atomic T2 Reg as good as they say?

[paulwlee]

I've accidently used my Titanium reg with 50% and yes there was a chemical reaction, yes my reg heated up and melted the O rings, but it didn't burst into flame nor did not explode like a mini A bomb on my back.

If you had your regulator serviced and it was usable, sounds like it had nothing to do with the Titanium and everything to do with contaminants inside the regulator.
If the Titanium had ignited, then you would've had to throw away the regulator.
So the same thing would have happened with a brass regulator if it had the same contaminants inside, right?

I agree with you that Titanium regulators do have their advantages.
If I had lots of money to spend, I wouldn't hesitate to get one for my single tank non-tech rig.

 

[jeckyll]

Any weight I take off the reg I just have to add again elsewhere...

I dive a M1 and a Z2 (left & right posts respectively). Great regs, I can't tell the difference in breathing between the two.

I doubt you could with a T2, but have never bothered due to the expense...

So besides the "wow" factor, could you spend the money on better things?

 

[pennypue]

I've got a Ti2. Love the way it breathes. I bought it with a package of other gear used. If someone's looking for one used, I'd consider selling it. Especially since I use matching apeks on my doubles.

The Ti2 does breathe really sweet. Very dry when I'm upside down. :jump3:

 

[paulwlee]

I doubt you could with a T2, but have never bothered due to the expense...

So besides the "wow" factor, could you spend the money on better things?

Of course you can't tell the difference when it's just been serviced. But if you look inside the ambient chamber of a brass first stage after a year of diving, there will be some corrosion that's likely to make it less responsive. A Ti body shouldn't have this.

But then again, I have other much better uses for my money, which is why I don't have one, and qualified it with "if I had a lot of money".

 

[jeckyll]

Paulwlee: So, if I get my first stages sealed, then what?

 

[Hallmac]

there is no doubt that the atomics all breath very well. The sealed units make me mad as all get up when I have to service them.

Nothing ruins my day faster then seeing one on the service rack. Glad I don't earn my living on them I would quit diving.

 

[Couv]

Have you, first hand, ever read any news or saw pictures regarding exploding regulators?

No; however I did take your word as true when you said:

...I've accidently used my Titanium reg with 50% and yes there was a chemical reaction, yes my reg heated up and melted the O rings...

If you are happy with your regulator, I am happy for you. You do not need to defend your purchase to me. Give it a rest.

 

[BKP]

My wife and I both dive B2 primaries. We've had them deep, we've had them cold. They breathe 100% consistently regardless of depth or temp (although for < 40 F temps, I'd probably get the 1st stage sealed, and for > 40% O2, I'd get the M1 -- neither of which we plan on doing).

We've never had free flow issues, malfunctions, etc, and we love the swivels (we don't do caving or long hoses, so the swivel makes sense). The titanium components are guaranteed for life against corrosion even if you never get them serviced (the recommendation is every two years, with an annual inspection). This alone gives me a warm and fuzzy about the titanium aspect. If you manage to drag it through the sand, they're *very* easy to field clean with no tools. If you have the extra $$, it's tough to make an argument *against* titanium, or the Atomic...

Bottom line, you'd have to pay me to swap out my B2 ('cept maybe for a B3, if/when it ever comes out).

 

[Solo1mick]

All interesting stuff. There's a lot of different views as with any piece of equipment, whta's right for one person may not be right for another.
All of my diving is done in tropical waters (+27C) the only problem I have with equipment is sand.

I also when on vacation as a norm I dive 2 tank boat trip or 3 tank boat trip. After the 3 dive my mouth is a bit sore, hence looking at the Ti angle.

The weight lose also would be a benefit for hand luggage, I don't thing that losing 8oz's of my reg would mean I would have to put extra weight on to dive.

The price of Ti is expensive but I also have the option to buy it at reduced price from LDS, although I never really bother about price if I want something.

The reg will also be dedicated to EAN use and I only use 32% as there's no benefit in the diving I do to use any higher mixes.

Well I'm off to the LDS Saturday, so I will let you what I end up buying T2 / B2 or nothing..

 

[GulfCoastdiver]

I read one post where he read the reg burst into flames with a 30 something % mixture. Garbage. I've accidently used my Titanium reg with 50% and yes there was a chemical reaction, yes my reg heated up and melted the O rings, but it didn't burst into flame nor did not explode like a mini A bomb on my back. The air simply got hot and tasted nasty. The reaction took about 10 minutes and I surfaced. That was it. No more drama.

The reg got serviced and I didn't grab a random tank in my garage anymore.

I have got to ask you about the random tank thing, how do you keep random tanks in your garage not knowing the O2%? > 40? < 40? how do you plan your dive?
Also who paided to repair you reg, I would think you void the warranty when you did that, right?
Ok that said...
We have 3 Z2's in the family, the wife has one, daughter has one, and I have one as a back-up to my Legend LX ACD and they all breath great at any depth...