Eric Sedletzky
Contributor
I just used my new Scuba Gaskets s/s reg yesterday. It worked flawlessly as I expected. I really like the compactness and cleanliness of the first stage. It looks like something that should be a component of a Nascar racecar or part of a spacecraft. It’s just slick and non pretentious.
I got the DIN version.
The second stage worked fine. I like the venturi lever right next to the adjustment knob for ease of location. There is a marked difference in breathing resistance working both the knob and the lever, from pretty stiff to very free snd smooth. This is good since I know the design is effective.
The only thing I’m going to change out is the mouthpiece. It was a little small and tight. I’m switching to the large trident mouthpiece which fits me best.
I don’t know enough about other modern second stages to be able to compare it to anything.
All my other regs are all-metal 1085’s and 109’s. I do have a G200B and an R190 but those are a bigger older school designs. The Scuba Gaskets 2nd stage is more compact and breathes very smooth so maybe like an SP C370? IDK?
I like it.
We did an urchin removal working dive so a lot of it was hard work and huffing a puffing whilst filling bags and battling surge in the shallows.
I never got the feeling of OMG I Need more Air!
Entries and exits are splash in and crawl out on all fours so silty conditions but no fine sand since Stillwater is more gravelly.
Converting my tanks was another matter.
I have a few HP tanks with inserts. The inserts have been in there for years. I didn’t even attempt to remove them with a standard Allen wrench since there was some slop. I ended up custom making an Allen bit in a socket by carefully grinding down a larger size until it fit tight with a slight taper. I tapped it in then used an impact gun carefully feathering the trigger and managed to crack them loose. They were completely salted out. The shock of the impact is the only way to knock those loose.
Those inserts will stay out now since these tanks are for this DIN reg.
A pro tip I can offer: If you want to replace inserts after getting them out and want to prevent freeze up, get some Lanocote and dress the threads before installation. It’s a bit strong smelling but it’s harmless since the smell is from the lanolin it contains. It’s a staple in the sail boating industry to coat stainless bolts and screws that will go into aluminum masts. It provides a micro layer between dissimilar metals so they don’t weld to each other with corrosion. I guess they found that natural lanolin works better than any synthetic lubricant or protectant that they can find.
I got the DIN version.
The second stage worked fine. I like the venturi lever right next to the adjustment knob for ease of location. There is a marked difference in breathing resistance working both the knob and the lever, from pretty stiff to very free snd smooth. This is good since I know the design is effective.
The only thing I’m going to change out is the mouthpiece. It was a little small and tight. I’m switching to the large trident mouthpiece which fits me best.
I don’t know enough about other modern second stages to be able to compare it to anything.
All my other regs are all-metal 1085’s and 109’s. I do have a G200B and an R190 but those are a bigger older school designs. The Scuba Gaskets 2nd stage is more compact and breathes very smooth so maybe like an SP C370? IDK?
I like it.
We did an urchin removal working dive so a lot of it was hard work and huffing a puffing whilst filling bags and battling surge in the shallows.
I never got the feeling of OMG I Need more Air!
Entries and exits are splash in and crawl out on all fours so silty conditions but no fine sand since Stillwater is more gravelly.
Converting my tanks was another matter.
I have a few HP tanks with inserts. The inserts have been in there for years. I didn’t even attempt to remove them with a standard Allen wrench since there was some slop. I ended up custom making an Allen bit in a socket by carefully grinding down a larger size until it fit tight with a slight taper. I tapped it in then used an impact gun carefully feathering the trigger and managed to crack them loose. They were completely salted out. The shock of the impact is the only way to knock those loose.
Those inserts will stay out now since these tanks are for this DIN reg.
A pro tip I can offer: If you want to replace inserts after getting them out and want to prevent freeze up, get some Lanocote and dress the threads before installation. It’s a bit strong smelling but it’s harmless since the smell is from the lanolin it contains. It’s a staple in the sail boating industry to coat stainless bolts and screws that will go into aluminum masts. It provides a micro layer between dissimilar metals so they don’t weld to each other with corrosion. I guess they found that natural lanolin works better than any synthetic lubricant or protectant that they can find.
