PTFE dry lube in second stages?

[Fibonacci]

Just overhauling a couple of Sea Hornet Command Air regulators where there has been a build up of white deposits causing the LP seat carrier to catch up a little and not slide as smoothly as it should inside the air barrel on each breathing cycle.

While this came out with the usual 50:50 white vinegar and water bath followed by ultrasonic cleaning in Simple Green Crystal solution I'm wondering if a dry PTFE spray could be used inside the air barrel to keep it more slippery between service intervals?

There are a couple of food/medical grade PTFE dry spays available... any thoughts for use in SCUBA?
PTFE Dry Lube Spray — VDX — MicroCare Medical

 

[Schwob]

Ispeak from a point of no competence in the matter, but wouldn't it be (sadly) ironic, if we divers as humans who (maybe?) care more than average about the oceans and their inhabitants were to device ways to contaminate our lungs and digestive tracts with micro platic particles during the very act of visiting "their world"?

 

[markmud]

Just overhauling a couple of Sea Hornet Command Air regulators where there has been a build up of white deposits causing the LP seat carrier to catch up a little and not slide as smoothly as it should inside the air barrel on each breathing cycle.

While this came out with the usual 50:50 white vinegar and water bath followed by ultrasonic cleaning in Simple Green Crystal solution I'm wondering if a dry PTFE spray could be used inside the air barrel to keep it more slippery between service intervals?

There are a couple of food/medical grade PTFE dry spays available... any thoughts for use in SCUBA?
PTFE Dry Lube Spray — VDX — MicroCare Medical

Hi Fibonacci,

I am not trained in these issues, so consider my opinions to be narratives, and not declaratives.

Christo Lube is a compound of PTFE and PFPE. Christo Lube is the go-to lubricant for regulators and valves that may come in contact with O2 under pressure.

Your PTFE spray may use propellants and vehicles that oxidize with high pressure O2, either concentrated or at 21%. These propellants and/or cutters may not be chemically pure. If they leave a residue, it could cause CO2 to form in your gear.

I would use Christo Lube and play it safe unless an expert tells you otherwise.

"CHRISTO-LUBE ® 1204 is synthetic grease made from polyfluoropolyether (PFPE) fluid thickened with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) polymer. This grease has excellent low temperature properties and is inert to oxygen and other aggressive chemicals."

YMMV,
markm

 

[Fibonacci]

Thanks for the info... Christolube PTFE grease is indeed specified for the first stages of many regulators or valves and judging by the levels of sticky white atomised residue inside some second stages I've pulled down it is used with great enthusiasm by some service techs

The VDX spray propellant seems to flash off in a second, leaving a thin dry film behind... which is what appeals to me.
Duraglide Dry Lubricant Features and Benefits; a Video Demo - Medical

 

[markmud]

Thanks for the info... Christolube PTFE grease is indeed specified for the first stages of many valves and regulators, and judging by the levels of sticky white atomised residue inside some second stages I've pulled down it is used with great enthusiasm by some service techs

The VDX spray propellant seems to flash off in a second, leaving a thin dry film behind... which is what appeals to me.
Duraglide Dry Lubricant Features and Benefits; a Video Demo - Medical

Is duraglide recommended for use in O2 equipment?

markm

 

[BoltSnap]

Thanks for the info... Christolube PTFE grease is indeed specified for the first stages of many valves and regulators, and judging by the levels of sticky white atomised residue inside some second stages I've pulled down it is used with great enthusiasm by some service techs

The VDX spray propellant seems to flash off in a second, leaving a thin dry film behind... which is what appeals to me.
Duraglide Dry Lubricant Features and Benefits; a Video Demo - Medical

All manufacturers and experts in the field in the whole wide world of scuba diving in this galaxy agree on the type of lube to be used on their equipment and you want to contradict them and use something else without ANY reference from these experts?

 

[Fibonacci]

Sea Hornet, the manufacturer of the second stages I am overhauling went out of business decades ago... and anyway predated the development of PTFE greases, instead coating the second stage demand lever springs with Teflon.

This Teflon coating was apparently baked onto the springs after manufacture, but eventually flakes off... esp after ultrasonic cleaning. While the Teflon can be reapplied by coating specialists, they will only re-apply in batches... not useful in this case.

I know there are several well qualified service technicians on ScubaBoard, so I am seeking their opinion as to whether a dry PTFE spray may be a good alternative to the original for use with air.
I am not certain the original regs were rated for O2 rich breathing gases.

The alternative is to get a batch 50 of new springs made up, then get them Teflon coated.

 

[Fibonacci]

Well, there is nothing like getting right back to the source!

I met with Peter Katz, who was the design chief for Sea Hornet right up to its demise, at the recent OzTek show in Sydney over the weekend. He was responsible for R&D on all their SCUBA regulators as well as the spearguns (since sold to AB BIller in the US).
Well into his 80's he still had a mind like a steel trap... I really enjoyed our chat.

What I had assumed (that dangerous word) was a brown Teflon coating was actually just brown paint to help the production line workers select the correct spring!
He said they were often thought to be rusty by service technicians but as there were five different spring lengths colour coding was needed and there just happened to be a spare can of brown paint in the workshop

 

[Couv]

Well, there is nothing like getting right back to the source!

Thank you for the follow up.