Rinsing dive gear

[Julius SCHMIDT]

I bought a used wing, the previous owner did not rinse the inside very well. When I was checking it out I found a couple of salt crystals in side the bladder. The biggest one was almost 6 mm square.

Only 6mm

In summer my gear dries as I'm climbing out of the water. I soak everything regs charged in hot water, gets it all out even things that aren't in there yet. Hot water, inside bc too, rarely require servicing either

 

[Belzelbub]

Wait why does 1st has to be above 2nd?
And this is when both are under water?

Ideally, it’s what The Comicist and davehicks said. If at all possible, don’t submerge the 1st.

If you’ve got a pressurized tank use it. That way, regardless of position, water is not likely to get into the 1st.

If you don’t have a tank available, then keeping the 1st above the 2nd is important. Ideally, keep the 1st out of the water. This way, water that gets into the 2nd is unlikely to get into the 1st due to gravity. This is especially true of Atomics, as the Seat Saver relaxes the seal when unpressurized.

Now, I mentioned that at the Aquarium, I do need to dunk both 1st and 2nds, but this is as much to avoid cross contamination as regulator care. I still keep the 1st above the 2nds as gravity and the minor pressure differential should help keep water out of the 1st.

 

[SlugLife]

If I'm reading OP correctly, he allows water to get inside the first stage? Completely soaking the regulators, inside and out?

I've generally heard this is bad to do, even with fresh-water or tap-water. I'd also be worried about water getting inside the SPG, or being unable to purge all water. One shop where I rented a regulator and didn't replace a dust-cap threatened to charge for servicing the entire regulator, if they found signs water got inside.

 

[Antient Marriner]

Sandiegoaes{and Readers} Thank You for the cleaning advice . This is just the sort of Information I am seeking as I go back to diving.
Now a Question; there are two sorts of vinegar, one from apples, and the distilled from corn[of all things]. Both are watered down to 15% acidity. So which sort works the best, or are they equal in effects?
Thanks

 

[Hatul]

Does anyone know what's in Salt Away and Salt-X and how they help remove salt?

Also, one idea especially for Atomics which use a seat saver is, after rinsing/soaking to put the reg on a used dry tank and press the purge button on each second stage for a few seconds to blow out any water that has made it inside.

 

[Belzelbub]

Does anyone know what's in Salt Away and Salt-X and how they help remove salt?

Not 100% sure what’s in it, but it’s non-toxic, non-hazardous, and safe around a variety of materials. Link below is to the Salt Away application guide. There is also an SDS on the site, and the diamond is all zeros.

Salt-Away Applications ...

 

[AfterDark]

Warm water dissolves salt and it comes out the tap.

 

[Bigbella]

If I'm reading OP correctly, he allows water to get inside the first stage? Completely soaking the regulators, inside and out?

I've generally heard this is bad to do, even with fresh-water or tap-water. I'd also be worried about water getting inside the SPG, or being unable to purge all water. One shop where I rented a regulator and didn't replace a dust-cap threatened to charge for servicing the entire regulator, if they found signs water got inside.

Perhaps, he was only referring to the open areas of first stages, were water normally has some access, such as the example above?

 

[AfterDark]

If I'm reading OP correctly, he allows water to get inside the first stage? Completely soaking the regulators, inside and out?

I've generally heard this is bad to do, even with fresh-water or tap-water. I'd also be worried about water getting inside the SPG, or being unable to purge all water. One shop where I rented a regulator and didn't replace a dust-cap threatened to charge for servicing the entire regulator, if they found signs water got inside.

Not really he posted a couple of long posts with a lot of info. He wasn't concerned about a little fresh water getting in but didn't post dunking an open 1st stage into fresh water. He's of the opinion that a dust cap with a good o ring will prevent rinse water from entering the 1st stage while submerged. Since I've done that for decades and also service my own reg and have never seen evidence of water in the dry areas I tend to agree the dust caps with a good O ring hand tight will keep the 1st stage internals dry in a rinse tub.

 

[Bigbella]

Yikes . . .