Wrenches?

[Dack]

I'm not satisfied with either the pocket scuba tools nor standard crescent wrenches. Both seem to leave tooling marks on the chromed brass fittings.

Anyone have brass wrenches or some other alternative?

Yeah I know it's a small thing, but it matters to me.

- Dack

 

[Bubbletrubble]

You might want to adjust your approach to the "tool blemish" issue. The appropriate-sized good-quality tools shouldn't be leaving any blemishes on the chromed brass fittings. Poor-quality adjustable wrenches can come out of adjustment at inopportune times, slip off a part, and cause a nick or two.

While working on certain first stages, you may encounter some "stuck" parts. In such cases, you might be tempted to exert a great deal of force to separate the parts in question. Rather than doing that, try hot/cold treatments, soaking in hot water, a soak in a dilute vinegar:warm water solution, or any combination of these treatments.

You can also protect easily-marred regulator surfaces with some rubber innertubing, painter's tape, or soft leather while you work in the vicinity with your tools.

I do recommend getting a set of plastic or brass o-ring picks. They can be very helpful in replacing difficult to position/remove o-rings.

Hope you find this info helpful...

 

[Dack]

Brass picks - yes! I have 'em and appreciate why they're important.

For clarity, I've never come across any stuck parts. This is mostly in reference to assembling brand new parts together, and I don't believe excessive force is in use. I've bought two "combo tool" wrenches and they in general appear to be punched from metal, so the surface against the fitting isn't a good fit. Those are the worst offenders.

I've been using very wide adjustable wrenches, and those leave much smaller marks. It's very easy to dent brass, so I thought maybe a brass wrench or a wrench with a plastic non-marring surface was commonplace.

Of course most people just slip covers over the fittings...I'm using Phantom hoses (like Miflex) so covers not required nor desired.

- Dack

 

[Bubbletrubble]

I can easily attach/detach hoses with even a crappy small adjustable wrench (purchased from Harbor Freight so you know it's a cheapy)...and not leave any blemishes on the brass fittings of the hose. (Even if a few scuffs were created on the hose, I don't think I'd care too much.)

To attach a hose to the first stage...
Step #1: Screw in the hose with your hands. Make the junction hand-tight.
Step #2: Adjust the wrench properly and snug it up just a little with a couple of fingers on the wrench. That's it.

Get a good quality adjustable wrench and a decent set of standard crescent wrenches. Use the fixed-size crescent wrenches whenever possible. The pocket scuba tools are convenient for a save-a-dive kit, but I prefer to use other tools when working on gear at home.

You're doing something wrong (incorrect tools/technique) if you're creating blemishes when assembling brand new parts on your reg.

 

[knowone]

All my Hung Lo adjustable wrenches have all the edges filed round

and I grind or dremmel special wrenches, from any other wrenches

and my scuba-tool sits on a shelf above my bench, just gathering dust

and sometimes, it appears to morph into a fifty dollar bill and fly away

 

[Dack]

I'm glad I'm not the only crazy one here who is a perfectionist when it comes to tools and scuba gear, and the littlest scratch or ding from a tool is a problem that needs to be solved.

...or that others are equally crazy.

- Dack

 

[Randy43068]

It's nuts. If you're diving and using your gear you'll get some scratches and dings in it from normal use.

Seriously, worry about something important.

 

[Teamcasa]

I'm not satisfied with either the pocket scuba tools nor standard crescent wrenches. Both seem to leave tooling marks on the chromed brass fittings.

Anyone have brass wrenches or some other alternative?

Yeah I know it's a small thing, but it matters to me.

- Dack

Open-end or adjustable end wrenches just should not be used on scuba hoses except in an emergency. I use flare-nut wrenches.
Here's a picture for reference:

 

[Dack]

Great advice on the wrenches.

As far as not worrying...that's like saying don't worry about a little sand in the regulator, or properly cleaning equipment after use. I think about scuba equipment in the same way that airplane mechanics think about their planes. Worrying about the small things DOES matter, if you're paying attention to the small details then big problems are less likely to occur. During a flight small things can turn into big things, and big things can go bad in a hurry.

You don't have to dive the same way. But then again, I won't be borrowing your regulator.

- Dack

 

[ScubaVideo]

The "pocket scuba tools" you refer to are cheap tools for use only when no other tools are available, like at the dive site or on a boat.