What lube to use for SPG and where to get it?

[smokn']

So I just got a black face hog brass and glass SPG. It looks awesome and I can't wait to try it out on an upcoming night dive!. However, It didn't come with any lube. I hear people talking about silicone grease to use when installing. Is this my only option? Where would I find it? Naively, I went to my local autoshop and asked for silicone grease (they have it all, right?) but they only had silicone adherents (a small voice told me this would be the wrong move). Anyway, what's the deal with this stuff? Any specific brand? Or any household substitutes?

 

[tbone1004]

cristolube, tribolube. etc etc
you can get it at most online shops, however if you're not rebuilding regs it's not really practical. You may try going to your LDS and asking him if he can put some lube on the spool. If he charges for it, go to a new dive shop, it takes them 30 seconds max to lube and tighten a nut....

 

[DevonDiver]

cristolube, tribolube. etc etc
you can get it at most online SCUBA shops,.....

Most scuba shops (online or local) sell the appropriate lubricants. There are two main options...

1) Silicon Grease. A general lubricant used in scuba systems.

2) Christo-Lube. A specialised lubricant, that is less flammable, and therefore appropriate to any system that is in contact with elevated O2 levels. i.e. if you use nitrox

Have a look here, for online retailer... O-Rings-Buna and Viton

 

[Blue Sparkle]

Ulp. I have assembled my SPG/spool twice within the last six months (once when it was new and then last month when I got a different hose for it), and did not use any lubricant either time. Have I messed it up? I just went until it was hand tight and then a scoch more. Have not noticed any problem, but.... should I take it apart and then use some Christo or Trilolube?

I also put regs together in the same fashion (hoses onto first stage and second stages).

Thanks,
Blue Sparkle

 

[aquaregia]

The oring's will work and last a whole lot better lubed. I use oxy-compatible lube on everything. It might be three times the price, but it still really isn't all that expensive. I've rebuilt five or so reg sets and I've barely made a dent in my $20 jar. I'd take it apart and lube up the orings, not risky and very quick.

 

[Blue Sparkle]

For some reason I thought one wasn't supposed to use any lubricant on these particular O-rings (or the hose ones). I don't mind buying some of the Trilolube or similar - I want to take good care of my kit.

I guess I will have to do a little bit more research before working on my gear!

 

[aquaregia]

I could be wrong; it's happened. You're talking about the spool o-rings right? They're 003s? I tend not to lube any orings that can touch dirt or that I'm worried about the threads staying tight on, but I've seen people lube tank neck orings which someone once told me specifically never to do. So I'll defer to the "usual suspects."

 

[Blue Sparkle]

I believe the OP was asking about the SPG spool O-rings, and that's mostly what I was asking about too. As a side-note I mentioned that I had also not used any lube on the O-rings that go between the hoses and the regulators. I started wondering if those also should not have been "dry."

Everything seems to have been working fine, but then I know that you can just get lucky even if things are not assembled properly, or maybe they work but won't last as long, etc.

The thread caught my eye since I had just reassembled the SPG (got a new HP hose). Also, my buddy wanted to try my hose set-up, so we switched reg hoses for a day.

 

[Gombessa]

I believe the OP was asking about the SPG spool O-rings, and that's mostly what I was asking about too. As a side-note I mentioned that I had also not used any lube on the O-rings that go between the hoses and the regulators. I started wondering if those also should not have been "dry."

General practice is not to lube "static" o-rings, those which don't move or contact moving parts. This includes the o-ring between hose and first stage, and tank valve o-ring. The o-rings on the SPG spool should be lightly lubed, as the SPG is intended to spin around them (as such, they're not static).

 

[aquaregia]

Cool. I suspected that might be the case; thanks for confirmation.

Edit: oo I have thanks clicks left!