Spare O-Rings

[Jethroish]

Past Spring I bought a pre-packaged save-a-dive kit. I have used 2 o-rings on rental tanks. Now I need more 0-rings.
Question is, do I need to use o-rings from a dive shop or can I use o-rings from a hardware store? Do I need to have something specific for air/nitrox?
Thanks

 

[Wayward Son]

Up to 40% it doesn't matter. Over 40 you need O2 safe O rings.

 

[JVM4.0]

I'd stay away from the generic "hardware store" variety of o-rings. I'd be willing to bet you'd end up with variable quality, since no one knows how long they've been sitting there.

I go to one of a few companies in town that stock hydraulic/pneumatic fittings, and get Viton o-rings. They ahve other varieties as well, and will make sure you get first quality.

 

[Bill Schindler]

For one, I would have asked the shop to replace the rings that you used on their rental tanks. I would stay away from hardware store o-rings and stick with rings that you know are specifically for scuba tanks.

 

[Wayward Son]

Even at dive shops they aren't expensive. I bought a save-a-dive O ring assortment for less than $5 & it came in it's own little case. They're commonly replaced, consumables & don't cost that much. You should be able to buy replacement rings for the kit pretty cheap at the LDS.

 

[tangfish]

spend the five bucks and be sure!

 

[av8er23]

I have wondered that myself. I just purchased my first o-ring kit from a LDS the other day. Yea it was under 5 bucks. I would seriously doubt there is any difference though between the two. But of course some people will argue the point.

 

[herman]

Try asking your LDS for some. My LDS buys them by the bag full from a local Oring supplier and they only cost a couple of pennies. With all the stuff I buy from them, they give me several any time I ask. A quarters worth of Orings buys a lot of customer satisfaction.

 

[Scottri]

Buy them from a dive shop. There are various grades of o-rings rated for different pressures and the sizes can vary. Ask the shop for a handful. They should charge you much for them.

 

[scubatoys]

I'm not so sure it's a quality issue as much as it is durometer. If you look at a standard 2-14 o-ring, you can have different durometers of hardness. One too hard may not seal well, one too soft could extrude and blow out.

I'd also vote for the 5 dollar kit.