Mistral DH Reg (~1959) and modern tanks

[herman]

I have used my Mistral at 3k before. They tend to complain some (makes noises) but work OK. Cracking pressure is def more at those pressures, they start to be work much better when you get below 2k. If 3k is all you have, I would use it but it's best if you drop it some. Around here we do a lot of quarry diving so we typically get 2 dives out of a tank. The first is with some other reg and the Mistral gets the second dive on the tank.

 

[GJC]

@CT-Rich
Good luck with your old new regulator. I'd go for a Cyclone 1st stage, a silicone diaphragm and the new style duckbill from VDH as well as new wagon wheel valves.

I have a DA Aquamaster that I put a Cyclone in. I don't have a Mistral. Will a Cyclone fit/work in a Mistral?

 

[Scuba Lawyer]

I have a DA Aquamaster that I put a Cyclone in. I don't have a Mistral. Will a Cyclone fit/work in a Mistral?

No.

 

[JamesBon92007]

@CT-Rich and @JamesBon92007 , I highly recommend going of to VDH forums and reading/searching the Classic Vintage Diving section. Oodles of good info over there... I'm rebuilding a DAAM and a RAM, and have found answers to all my questions so far over there (by searching, haven't invented a new problem... yet!)

Respectfully,

James

Thanks. I already downloaded the six files they have with DA Aquamaster in the title. And, of course, their info was very helpful in deciding which doublehose to buy, and which not to.

 

[Scuba Lawyer]

Around here we do a lot of quarry diving so we typically get 2 dives out of a tank. The first is with some other reg and the Mistral gets the second dive on the tank.

On some of the 30 minute shifts at SHF I'd dive the first half of my twin 38's (and 71.2) with a downstream Voit 50 Fathom and the 2nd half of the tank on the next shift with an upstream Mistral. Got the best of both worlds that way.

 

[JamesBon92007]

According to the serial number I'm getting one with the older, short yoke (around 1964) that will not accomodate a banjo. I still have my old Sportsways tank with a J-valve and I also have one of those adjustable ScubaPro J-valves just in case one of my other yokes won't fit. I've been diving with a SPG so long I think I'd be uncomfortable without the reserve, but I've actually never used a J-valve for a reserve. I have a Sherwood and a Voit first stage that are not currently usable so maybe one of those yokes will fit and be long enough for the banjo. Of course, then I have to find a banjo I was only considering getting a Royal Aquamaster but finally decided I didn't want to spend twice as much. I was under the impression that the DA was the next step down, but with all the talk about the Mistral I'm now wondering which is considered the better regulator?

 

[James79]

According to the serial number I'm getting one with the older, short yoke (around 1964) that will not accomodate a banjo. I still have my old Sportsways tank with a J-valve and I also have one of those adjustable ScubaPro J-valves just in case one of my other yokes won't fit. I've been diving with a SPG so long I think I'd be uncomfortable without the reserve, but I've actually never used a J-valve for a reserve. I have a Sherwood and a Voit first stage that are not currently usable so maybe one of those yokes will fit and be long enough for the banjo. Of course, then I have to find a banjo I was only considering getting a Royal Aquamaster but finally decided I didn't want to spend twice as much. I was under the impression that the DA was the next step down, but with all the talk about the Mistral I'm now wondering which is considered the better regulator?

Regarding a pressure gauge, I have a couple tanks with an HP port on the valve... It's an option to consider. Also, if you put a cyclone nozzle in it, you effectively turn a DA into a RAM. I haven't had my hands in a mistral yet, so I can't speak to that.
Respectfully,
James

 

[Scuba Lawyer]

I was under the impression that the DA was the next step down, but with all the talk about the Mistral I'm now wondering which is considered the better regulator.

Two different animals. A single stage Mistral will breath better at lower tank pressure than a two-stage AM or RAM. However, the RAM will breath consistently at all tank pressures. There is no need to buy a RAM anymore. A regular old unbalanced DA AquaMaster becomes a balanced RAM with the edition of a Cyclone or Phoenix 1st stage. And with an HPR second stage and new silicone diaphragm it will breath better than any stock RAM you will ever use (IMHO, of course ).

 

[AfterDark]

According to the serial number I'm getting one with the older, short yoke (around 1964) that will not accomodate a banjo. I still have my old Sportsways tank with a J-valve and I also have one of those adjustable ScubaPro J-valves just in case one of my other yokes won't fit. I've been diving with a SPG so long I think I'd be uncomfortable without the reserve, but I've actually never used a J-valve for a reserve. I have a Sherwood and a Voit first stage that are not currently usable so maybe one of those yokes will fit and be long enough for the banjo. Of course, then I have to find a banjo I was only considering getting a Royal Aquamaster but finally decided I didn't want to spend twice as much. I was under the impression that the DA was the next step down, but with all the talk about the Mistral I'm now wondering which is considered the better regulator?

The "better" is IMO hands down is the 2 stage reg. I've had and used both, my Royal Aquamaster isn't pretty but it was cheap to buy and easy to rebuild. It doesn't breath quite as easy as my SP 109/156-mk5 but close.

 

[JamesBon92007]

Regarding a pressure gauge, I have a couple tanks with an HP port on the valve... It's an option to consider. Also, if you put a cyclone nozzle in it, you effectively turn a DA into a RAM. I haven't had my hands in a mistral yet, so I can't speak to that.
Respectfully,
James

Before I hit the "Buy it Now" button I checked all my tank valves and none of them have the HP port for a SPG. After a little thought I remembered how I used to dive and realized that I still have other options. It's becomming increasingly clear that this is most likely going to be my first doublehose regulator