tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57417535431716910652024-03-06T12:01:47.814-08:00VDH BlogThis blog is Vintage Double Hose Worldwide LLC's sounding board for vintage equipment diving testing and development.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03805120013953212886noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741753543171691065.post-36211686799984905352016-09-03T09:52:00.000-07:002016-09-05T05:53:18.533-07:00Healthways Scuba Star First Stage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A good place to start discussing Healthways single hose regulators is with the one they made the longest and that you will undoubtedly see the most often. And in my opinion on of the best and most versatile they ever made.<br>
The ties between Healthways and Scubapro is discussed in dozens of places so I won't bother going into the details here but you will quickly recognize similarities.<br>
This blog post is not intended to be a historical account nor a service and repair guide. Links to supporting documents and catalogs are at the end of the blog post.<br>
The Scuba Star First Stage appears in the <a href="https://personal.filesanywhere.com/fs/v.aspx?v=8d6e638b5f656dafae66" target="_blank">1961 Healthways catalog </a>with a Second Stage of the same name. (I'll cover the second stages later) at a price of $32.50.<br>
It is a very simple piston first stage with a few unique features. <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/kkj9gtijsn3gnja/ScubaStar%20Pre%201967.pdf?dl=0" target="_blank">1961 Scuba Star Schematic</a> Healthways changed the first stage slightly in 1967. <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/rqxt50opmveup0j/ScubaStar%201967%20and%20later.pdf?dl=0" target="_blank">1967 and later Scuba Star Schematic</a><br>
The 1961 version contained what was described on Pages 9 and 10 of the <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/ss4qw24z86t7qs6/Healthways%20Repair%20Manual.pdf?dl=0" target="_blank">Healthways Service manual</a><br>
as a Depth Compensated Automatic Air Reserve. Which basically amounts to a restricted orifice to be used in conjunction with a K valve or if you are using a J valve the hole in the restricted orifice was larger. Details are in the service manual and part numbers for both are listed on the schematic.<br>
I'm not sure of the differences in size of the orifice nor do I have an accurate way to measure them if I did have both available. In reading the Healthways catalogs and service information it seems the company was obsessed with reserve type indicators of various types.<br>
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The orifice, O-ring and filter were retained by a C-clip in the early version of the first stage.<br>
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Moving on to the ports on the first stage there is one for the second stage and by looking into it you can see passage directly into the piston area.</div>
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There was also a high pressure port for using a pressure gauge but it was not stamped HP on the early version so be sure if you are using one that you look carefully before attaching hoses to the ports. Below is the HP port which you can see passage leading to the high pressure side of the first stage.</div>
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Healthways also incorporated an overpressure bleed valve into the third port.</div>
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Healthways refers to this valve as a "third stage" in several references in their catalogs and service manuals.</div>
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This overpressure device was a <u>very necessary safety feature</u> as many of the second stages used in conjunction with this first stage were Upstream Tilt valves. (I'll cover later)</div>
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One of the shortcomings of the Upstream Tilt valve second stages is that when and if the first stage fails to seat at a normal intermediate pressure there is no way for the high pressure air to get past the second stage and rupturing the low pressure hose will occur. </div>
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The overpressure valves are set to open at a designated pressure and the adjustment screw is staked on two sides to prevent further adjustment. </div>
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In later years Healthways used Downstream valve second stages and this overpressure device was eliminated. You can remove this device and use the port for a safe second stage or inflator hose if you are absolutely sure you are using a DOWNSTREAM second stage. Otherwise keep it in place!</div>
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The internals are simple and robust and did not change though the years. Basic piston first stage with a high pressure seat and two O-rings. Intermediate pressure was adjusted by adding stainless steel shim washers at the piston base or base of the first stage held in place by the main spring. </div>
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Healthways recommends an intermediate pressure of 135psi +/- 5 at 2000 psi.</div>
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In 1967 the Scuba Star first stage was updated slightly according to the schematic and catalogs. </div>
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The C-clip retainer was replaced by a star retainer, and the overpressure valve and the Depth Compensated Automatic Air Reserve orifice are not shown on the service schematic but are still listed as available part numbers. </div>
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Note: In <u>1963</u> Scubapro introduced the MK3 which has more than a few things in common with the Scuba Star. The piston is different but only SLIGHTLY and everything else is mostly cosmetic. Knowing the relationship between the two companies this comes as no surprise but if you tell most divers you are using a MK3 first stage they generally smile and acknowledge you are diving with a great piece of vintage gear....Tell them you are diving with a Scuba Star first stage and most will recoil in horror at the fact that you are diving old dangerous equipment.....It's all in the marketing!</div>
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I'm working on first stage service kits for this first stage and should have them in the store soon. Yes I know you can go to the small engine parts bin at your local hardware store and scrounge up some O-rings,possibly flip over the high pressure seat and cut some shim washers from a sheet of tin after you give the metal parts a dip in some magic concoction of cleaner. There is a cheap way to do things and there is the right way to do thing. Rarely do the two ways end up with the same results.</div>
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This is a great first stage to learn on and will be a winner to dive with when you are done. They are available inexpensively from a variety of sources.</div>
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I dislike UPSTREAM tilt valve second stages by Healthways or any other manufacturer but hook your Scuba Star first stage up with a downstream valve second stage and have a good time.</div>
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Reference Links</div>
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<a href="https://personal.filesanywhere.com/fs/v.aspx?v=8d6e638b5f666eb86e97" target="_blank"><br></a></div>
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<a href="https://personal.filesanywhere.com/fs/v.aspx?v=8d6e638b5f666eb86e97" target="_blank">Link to Healthways Service Manual</a></div>
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<a href="https://personal.filesanywhere.com/fs/v.aspx?v=8d6e638b5f6671a66da9" target="_blank">Link to Healthways Catalogs 1961-1970</a></div>
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<br>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03805120013953212886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741753543171691065.post-71948035534112719422016-07-24T22:35:00.001-07:002016-07-24T22:40:15.037-07:00The Argonaut Kraken as a vacation regulator...in Kauai!One of my favorite things about the Argonaut Kraken is what geeks call its <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extensibility" target="_blank">extensibility</a>. This means that whatever you are referring to as extensible, typically software, was engineered with future expansion in mind. The Kraken definitely fits that bill, as it was engineered as a vintage style regulator that you can grow with and add things to such as a low pressure inflator hose, a pressure gauge, a drysuit hose, an octopus, etc. Having said that, as a travel regulator for warm waters, it excels in my opinion when it is in its most basic configuration.<br />
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My wife and I vacationed in Hawaii for a week. Everyone knows how airlines <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWfaiTLPUKQ" target="_blank">screw you at the drive through</a> these days with costs, and baggage fees are no exception. For a one week vacation, diving with minimal gear, my wife and I managed to check only one full size bag with all our dive gear, shoes, and beach clothing. We then brought a carry on with our nicer clothes and hygiene items. Try that with two full sets of modern dive gear. Our checked bag was under 50 pounds as well, so we didn't get dinged again for it being heavy. Packing minimal scuba gear saves room for the few comfort things that you do want to bring. As an example, we were both diving high end (read heavy) technical diving computers, so it's not like we were cramming tables into our swimsuits or anything.<br />
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It's so simple to strip the Kraken down and make it a more minimal regulator. The last time I dove my Kraken, I was running a drysuit inflator hose, low pressure inflator hose for my BCD, and an alternate second stage. By stripping it down to just the regulator itself and an SPG, which takes all of five minutes with a wrench, I was sure that I could dive vintage style with rental tanks (pretty much no rental tanks come with a J valve anymore), but that I could also monitor my gas supply with a rental tank with a K valve (without a reserve built into it).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The venerable J valve. It's hard to find on rental tanks!<br />
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If you couple a minimal scuba regulator with minimal exposure protection in the form of just wearing a swim suit, then you can fit everything you are going to bring in one of those cheap Wal-Mart snorkeling mesh bags. That's actually what we did, and it was incredibly useful. It also allowed us to rinse our gear in the mesh bag at the end of the day, without taking everything out of it.This leaves more time for walking on the beach, telling obscene jokes around people you just met, and drinking more Mai Tais at Dukes.<br />
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Diving minimally during your warm water vacation makes life a lot easier. We managed to dive every day except the day before we took our airline home. Our dives were easy, our cleanup was minimal, and our hotel room was not covered in scuba crap. It gave us the time to enjoy a dive or two every day, but then have plenty of time for important things like hiking, coffee tasting, and rum distillery tours. By the way, if you haven't been to Kauai yet you are totally missing out! If you want to see how awesome the Argonaut Kraken works as a travel regulator, then check out our video at the bottom. I set the video to Cemetery Gates by Pantera. Diving usually has relaxing music as a soundtrack, but man we really stomped the guts out of this vacation and got a lot done during a week so we stayed pretty stoked. I think the fish picked up on our energy, but that could just be because I was mostly drunk. Check it out:<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741753543171691065.post-91692332484952120812016-05-28T13:34:00.000-07:002016-05-28T13:34:09.075-07:00Argonaut Kraken Vintage Style Diving<br />
I had some time after returning from a business trip, so I threw some of my favorite pieces of vintage dive gear, along with my Argonaut Kraken, into a tough tote and decided to do a night dive with a buddy. Somehow, I also got to watch my wife's yappy Jack Russell. I'm not sure how that happened.<br />
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Argonaut Kraken pre-operational checks</div>
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After taking the Kraken out of its case, configuring the ports and accessories the way I wanted them, and checking the work of breathing, I went through my dive locker and picked out some stuff for a night dive at Rockaway Beach on Bainbridge Island, Washington:</div>
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After getting everything together, we headed to Bainbridge Island, Washington, to go diving at night:</div>
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How did everyone else do this week with diving? Let us know what you have been up to!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741753543171691065.post-81823714873544750312016-05-28T10:17:00.000-07:002016-05-28T10:17:02.026-07:00The Sky is Falling....Vintage Equipment Diving is Dead...Give me a break.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aeOPmDctkp1dbjgrYA-kar2y_KqvPtu6xoShoyK5OAMqiAkJoSytpSVaUxbeo9gRHOq5OJ8tQ8QeoeWEJynrcMz3GdDfDfyy_ytp8dkw_MuAiXsLxDHEdjseLqnk2rhkc2GOQqFA_4k/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aeOPmDctkp1dbjgrYA-kar2y_KqvPtu6xoShoyK5OAMqiAkJoSytpSVaUxbeo9gRHOq5OJ8tQ8QeoeWEJynrcMz3GdDfDfyy_ytp8dkw_MuAiXsLxDHEdjseLqnk2rhkc2GOQqFA_4k/s320/Capture.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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When I read nonsense like this I always pause for a moment and think to myself:<br />
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<i>Do these people have remote viewing ability or the powers of time travel ?</i><br />
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From where I'm at the future of vintage equipment seems pretty promising..<br />
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For more than a decade now I have been churning out new parts and services for the vintage equipment community as fast as I possibly can. The sky is the limit for new ideas I have running around in my head but unfortunately, my financial resources have me restrained somewhat.<br />
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Not everything I've made or reproduced has been a success. Having said that, you will never see me moping around the internet seeking either condolences or accolades for giving it "my best shot" Nor will you find me posting about all the great inventions I have that "the world is just not ready for" or any other lame excuses for failure.<br />
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The new DSV mouthpiece is kicking my ass trying to get it manufactured correctly but you don't see me whining and lamenting:<br />
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<i>Well if you people had only given me a gazillion dollars I might have gotten this lead zeppelin off the ground. This is surely an indicator that no one is interested in vintage equipment diving and unless JP Morgan comes in and gives me a big rack of cash and sets me up in 2000 dive shops around the world I think we better turn the lights out and go back to finger painting...</i><br />
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Instead you will find me laughing at my failures, licking my wounds, raising hell, and getting it done despite all the setbacks.<br />
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For the Vintage Equipment Diving is dead crowd spare me a moment and consider this:<br />
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When was the last time Vintage Equipment Divers were the <b>feature</b> of an entire weekend festival?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aDBJVCsXzSwDEC-uQHxhoBSS6pNnPSZuUe6fFqSmIQhpxENv8tR1uRZ8H-W_O6tEW8r6rj4rkeTvJRHSnQcTLulzZWEIz3rkCpUU92W_2cHMF89dTehDYBAQdJbqusn1mskfHQVdIYI/s1600/Allan+Youngblood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aDBJVCsXzSwDEC-uQHxhoBSS6pNnPSZuUe6fFqSmIQhpxENv8tR1uRZ8H-W_O6tEW8r6rj4rkeTvJRHSnQcTLulzZWEIz3rkCpUU92W_2cHMF89dTehDYBAQdJbqusn1mskfHQVdIYI/s400/Allan+Youngblood.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Photo from Sea Hunt Forever March 2016, Silver Springs Florida. Photo by Allan Youngblood.</b></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Sea-Hunt-Forever-662357900565800/" target="_blank">March 2016 Sea Hunt Forever, Silver Springs Florida. Appearing at Florida Springs Fest.</a></div>
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<b>The Florida Springs Fest committee unanimously decided that the Vintage Equipment Divers would draw such a large crowd that the festival should be made into a two day event.</b></div>
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For the Chicken Little Sky Is Falling crowd spare me another moment and answer this:</div>
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When was the last time an Emmy Award winning videographer dedicated an entire episode to Vintage Equipment Divers?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5JJEHu49zAKwTMu-JzDDLiOsMwve822vUxm-X4OfR1_S8DfPeaG_9RBr1X0c7Hand0XQBauXGk0arVx0QDKktcbyIaSlo41_dFj1Pnxcvr7p9R1bPDOG8jcNLfZYm9TTdmSSbtlZky4/s1600/Jerry+Porta+Sub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5JJEHu49zAKwTMu-JzDDLiOsMwve822vUxm-X4OfR1_S8DfPeaG_9RBr1X0c7Hand0XQBauXGk0arVx0QDKktcbyIaSlo41_dFj1Pnxcvr7p9R1bPDOG8jcNLfZYm9TTdmSSbtlZky4/s400/Jerry+Porta+Sub.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGww_a74ZljSseTddl1uKbhczsyUqDmdKjtht1vZ8hKVLTLj5Ftu5LGqFBe929ggfKCkb51GZ9h-V0PYyEupCRWoZYpb8yU8GQG5APH604UjW7yyk2x0gxZdX-p6VyDjjy15ezaOfnYvc/s1600/Joe+Torch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGww_a74ZljSseTddl1uKbhczsyUqDmdKjtht1vZ8hKVLTLj5Ftu5LGqFBe929ggfKCkb51GZ9h-V0PYyEupCRWoZYpb8yU8GQG5APH604UjW7yyk2x0gxZdX-p6VyDjjy15ezaOfnYvc/s400/Joe+Torch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Video Clips from <a href="http://www.blueworldtv.com/" target="_blank">Jonathan Birds Blue World</a>'s upcoming episode on the cast of Sea Hunt Forever from March 2016.</div>
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Or lets look at it another way:</div>
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<a href="http://www.scribblemaps.com/maps/view/Argonaut_Location/Argonaut" target="_blank">Click Here</a> to see a map of all the locations the new<a href="http://vintagedoublehose.com/store/#!/Argonaut-2016-CLICK-HERE/p/59429200/category=8222661" target="_blank"> Argonaut Kraken Double Hose Regulator</a> has been shipped to new divers. </div>
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If I had the time, patience, and resources to pull all the orders for<a href="http://vintagedoublehose.com/store/#!/Phoenix-First-Stage/c/1964701/offset=0&sort=normal" target="_blank"> Phoenix First Stages</a> that have been sold since 2006 and put dots on the map where all of them are located the map would look like we covered the world in Swiss cheese!</div>
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Divers around the world are enjoying their new regulators. After diving their Argonaut or Phoenix updated regulator for a while, I'm willing to bet that a great many of them look to the history of the sport and become involved with diving and restoring original double hose regulators and other vintage equipment. </div>
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Since the Argonaut Kraken came out in 2014, I have turned down numerous opportunities from dive shops and other outlets wanting to be distributors. This has never been my vision for Vintage Double Hose nor any of it's product line. Would I enjoy all the money? I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't! But I would lie awake at night worried about how other people were taking care of the Argonaut Kraken Divers and their regulators. As stupid as it sounds, I view every regulator as mine and I adopt them out to new divers with the hope that every dive they do with their Argonaut will be a great one and if it's not I want to be a phone call or E-mail away to help. </div>
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Cave Diving, Tech Diving, Rebreather Diving, Sidemout Diving equipment suppliers all started small and went from homemade manufacturing to some of the largest equipment suppliers in the diving industry today. None of them appeared in hundreds of dive shops overnight. The internet played and still does play a huge part in getting new ideas and opportunities for diving specialty gear out to the public. But the point is, a few individuals picked up the ball and ran with it. They had ideas for sharing the passions they have for a specific type of diving and the market grew around them. </div>
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In November I'll be rolling out something that I have been working on for over a year. Some will view it and simply shake their heads. Other will say I can't believe that crazy SOB did it!</div>
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To wrap it all up I see the cup as half full and the world as our oyster! For the folks who would decry gloom and doom on our little segment of the diving world I would love to debate the issue with you.</div>
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Like Captain Clay Higgins said......I"m easy to find.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03805120013953212886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741753543171691065.post-66404667327290899922016-05-16T20:50:00.000-07:002016-05-16T21:07:58.656-07:00US Divers Deep Star Regulator...not a giant crab thing.<br />
The US Divers Deep Star was an unbalanced, downstream piston regulator. It was the father of the later model Aquarius, and was available in US Divers catalogs from 1965-1969. It had one high pressure port, and 1 low pressure port.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEileLpwEC2awCFR2ichj-tQ50ZzrOM7Vu6Aqf9Opkd1CGISvef0vBSo-Q3oko6d3k9qUqp3-rz74kxzq8vWoUwKnFbkE_AhiSdQppwHOqQFqFLIJzgv4PVEYAmxuHsOj1ulCBvUCbm5S_Kj/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEileLpwEC2awCFR2ichj-tQ50ZzrOM7Vu6Aqf9Opkd1CGISvef0vBSo-Q3oko6d3k9qUqp3-rz74kxzq8vWoUwKnFbkE_AhiSdQppwHOqQFqFLIJzgv4PVEYAmxuHsOj1ulCBvUCbm5S_Kj/s400/Capture.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 1969 catalog photo for the Deep Star, which was 400 dollars in 2016 money.</td></tr>
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It featured the common second stage of all USD regulators made in this time period, which had a 7/8" exhaust value. It had what is commonly called the "short yoke", meant for vintage sized valves. Like many other unbalanced downstream piston regulators, its mechanism is exposed to sea water via the ports on its body.<br />
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I really like diving these little regulators. They are about as simple as a regulator gets, much like the later Aquarius. As a matter of fact, they even share a parts kit in common. If you are a gun guy, then the Deep Star and its descendant the Aquarius would be your truck gun. These regulators make great warm water regulators, backups regs, and are great to keep around for teaching people to dive. As a matter of fact, for years my wife dove either a Deep Star or an Aquarius. She really liked how simple it was, and the fact that due to its design it breathes great on a full tank, then gets a little bit tougher towards the end of a tank. I guess you could say this of all regulators of this design, but on a low tank the lower intermediate pressure almost functions like a sort of warning signal that it is time to go.<br />
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These regulators are pretty common at flea markets and Ebay, and due to how easy they are to work on you can even keep a parts kit in your save a dive kit. I've rebuilt one of these on a picnic table at a dive meet before, using only a wrench, a brass pick, and a multi-tool. I've given them as gifts to my military buddies who were making junior enlisted pay and were stuck in the barracks. Sometimes, simple is really good. Ask a Russian infantryman if he wanted that fancy German Kar98K and its highly engineered gun oil over his crude Mosin-Nagant rifle with kerosene wiped on it after hundreds of Kar98Ks froze shut due to their tight tolerances during the <a href="http://civilianmilitaryintelligencegroup.com/2296/why-the-germans-lost-stalingrad" target="_blank">Battle of Stalingrad.</a> Less parts means less to leak, less to break, and less to lose. I've gotten Deep Stars off of Ebay from the 60s that have never been rebuilt and worked when I put them on a scuba tank.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpWr6uXXje5VwZVb7m3xIFnO4Ui1bxOpfRQNp1nKvFVGG_eki4rD_u1IHpZpSHnxLs81uTQym5sOtxwKRIof3hKG1thy7qK7KieDrQkzO2Bnuwm3qczernIZkmz3_fW0QgT_GtAHe1ED9/s1600/101_0993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpWr6uXXje5VwZVb7m3xIFnO4Ui1bxOpfRQNp1nKvFVGG_eki4rD_u1IHpZpSHnxLs81uTQym5sOtxwKRIof3hKG1thy7qK7KieDrQkzO2Bnuwm3qczernIZkmz3_fW0QgT_GtAHe1ED9/s400/101_0993.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is a Deep Star, rebuilt to original specification, with the later and much more maligned Deep Star II.</td></tr>
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In an odd bit of trivia, there was also a movie called Deep Star, as in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeepStar_Six">Deep Star 6</a>. It featured a monster that looked like this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9PNcm-wB5nLgdTnzAJJ6R91715vxcZbES2we4TTAFvvudUOR9jQl2dIwmYBegNzddvXvPdrJFflxmbvulhE93GLwD0nuvr_MSJx5o-HYXc_GRFo6w3AcEJYQYgKVSiXhYnc8jV6qRKuk/s1600/600full-deep-star-six-screenshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9PNcm-wB5nLgdTnzAJJ6R91715vxcZbES2we4TTAFvvudUOR9jQl2dIwmYBegNzddvXvPdrJFflxmbvulhE93GLwD0nuvr_MSJx5o-HYXc_GRFo6w3AcEJYQYgKVSiXhYnc8jV6qRKuk/s400/600full-deep-star-six-screenshot.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Hello sir, do you have a moment to talk about diving history?"</td></tr>
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That didn't really have anything to do with this regulator blog, but what the hell it does at least have some diving in it. I'm just happy you got this far. Seriously though, this movie is like Friday the 13th part 6 but underwater and with whatever the hell that serial killer crab/lobster thing is. You should check it out when the weather gets bad for actual diving. It's an 80s horror movie so that alone should tell you something.<br />
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Before I get too drunk, let me remind you to join us for <a href="http://vintagedoublehose.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=8699" target="_blank">discussion of the Deep Star regulator at Vintage Double Hose</a>, the definitive authority on vintage scuba diving. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741753543171691065.post-32683895123569838472016-05-15T15:03:00.000-07:002016-05-15T15:03:30.694-07:00Calypso Update.....Danger Will Robinson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhz2gvRpO6PEiHfTbBUE4mOmLy64s6fhpTgW5drFFfFxjc5n64Ws6aOpdPFXwfso9llB6b1lUTh8y2Oml1DZdtq7YBPFUQ6GmYIyNuZdBCOxw-4Ap3BEiwAZtpK44IUPWHQlkMajhRKE/s1600/Calypso+bushing+mark.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhz2gvRpO6PEiHfTbBUE4mOmLy64s6fhpTgW5drFFfFxjc5n64Ws6aOpdPFXwfso9llB6b1lUTh8y2Oml1DZdtq7YBPFUQ6GmYIyNuZdBCOxw-4Ap3BEiwAZtpK44IUPWHQlkMajhRKE/s320/Calypso+bushing+mark.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="http://vintagedoublehose.blogspot.com/2016/05/calypso-iv-and-jbreak-out-tools.html" target="_blank">An important follow up to my blog post here on the Calypso First Stage</a></b></div>
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A big Thank You to Bill and Mike from the Vintage Double Hose website message forum for bringing to my attention a very important recall on all US Divers Calypso first stages dated 09/13/1979. They sent me copies of the actual recall notice and some pictures to help explain what was going on. I don't remember servicing any Calypso regulators that did not have the bushing already but there must be a few out there so please be aware of it when servicing your regulator.<br />
I have my sources looking into an exact replacement for the O-ring that surrounds the high pressure seat as they are not any standard size that we can determine. I will add these to the service kits if I can locate them. I'm also looking for some bushings and will add those to the website store if and when possible.<br />
<a href="https://personal.filesanywhere.com/fs/v.aspx?v=8d6d648d5d6474a8a56d" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="https://personal.filesanywhere.com/fs/v.aspx?v=8d6d648d5d6474a8a56d" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> to go to the file with the notice and pictures.<br />
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<a href="http://vintagedoublehose.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=8691&p=70309#p70309" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> if you would like to join in the discussion on the VDH Website Message Forum.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03805120013953212886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741753543171691065.post-30866522028443608502016-05-13T06:54:00.000-07:002016-05-13T06:54:00.620-07:00US Divers Second Stage.....The Metal Years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGttyAvtibgfll81sn5nhOjDlDfBpMCuBPpdYZ1JkipDRGCcES1tjLy4-HJE2D_x7SzuZ-n5OON61DJzevZTeczvhnGXcJbZfGTk4N16HvM8GcAxQ2YmFFurmR2rdRe88Iu6_2hLlaic/s1600/20160512_100923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGttyAvtibgfll81sn5nhOjDlDfBpMCuBPpdYZ1JkipDRGCcES1tjLy4-HJE2D_x7SzuZ-n5OON61DJzevZTeczvhnGXcJbZfGTk4N16HvM8GcAxQ2YmFFurmR2rdRe88Iu6_2hLlaic/s320/20160512_100923.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
In 1970 US Divers introduced their new second stage (listed at part #1085 in most service manuals)<div>
This simple, tough and reliable stage would serve them well and is still found on the Conshelf XIV today. </div>
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It was used on all regulators in their line for years with only the sticker on the purge button being different. Internally they are pretty much the same with minor variances to the demand lever. The service procedures for them is found in the manuals along with the first stage they accompany. <u>This is the fixed blade knife of second stages. It will work with just about any manufactures first stage and can handle intermediate pressures from 110 to 160 psi with no modifications. </u>Have one of these serviced and ready to go in your bag and if your latest and greatest gee gaw fails at the dive site you can attach one of these and go diving without missing a beat. </div>
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In the 1970 catalog it is shown with an unusual angular exhaust T which I have seen very few of. Next came the exhaust T in the picture above which worked great but the compound it was made from went from flexible to concrete in a very short time and about the only way to remove one was to cut it off with a knife. An updated exhaust T is available which is lower profile and appears to be manufactured from silicone which should remain flexible long after we are gone. </div>
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Servicing the stage is straightforward and over the years I have seen dozens of approaches to doing it all with varying degrees of success. </div>
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You need the ability to hold the poppet still weather you adjust by holding the poppet steady and turn the nut or vise versa.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRs0I9JJV_6eHranuveN0uCuwTusQEJY-exQ-KXUgEJS2XFWLZi5FXXebhETwJBBkdN4cTE0ngchMJ0pKRuhQ2O4PyGFNjdj6HoM2kJm2QPXnKoKVWx_7O0S80ZZSJkWxjRL2bHgwpBvA/s1600/20160512_101316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRs0I9JJV_6eHranuveN0uCuwTusQEJY-exQ-KXUgEJS2XFWLZi5FXXebhETwJBBkdN4cTE0ngchMJ0pKRuhQ2O4PyGFNjdj6HoM2kJm2QPXnKoKVWx_7O0S80ZZSJkWxjRL2bHgwpBvA/s320/20160512_101316.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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Below are a variety of tools that accomplish this. </div>
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Next you will need something to either hold the nut steady or to turn it with.</div>
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You will get varying opinions on setting lever height....Manual says one thread from contacting the demand lever. Others say it's good when three threads are exposed past the nut. One thing is certain, once you have the lever height set it's not going to move on it's own. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUBlDgQs_At-PV7-g1IB6uRqKLemnadj1-MJcVrIfKbmLWYDQE2uxCxFl-M8vxC6vmNx37wIFDH0JEgoirGE8RvQ993B1lUxFnDBkJqXXNgSV4hJXgiwo8ib9_1KDVKE9Xa91a_Vqvh4/s1600/20160512_101217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUBlDgQs_At-PV7-g1IB6uRqKLemnadj1-MJcVrIfKbmLWYDQE2uxCxFl-M8vxC6vmNx37wIFDH0JEgoirGE8RvQ993B1lUxFnDBkJqXXNgSV4hJXgiwo8ib9_1KDVKE9Xa91a_Vqvh4/s320/20160512_101217.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Often divers with a slight hiss or leak <u>due to low pressure seat wear </u>on their second stage will simply depress the purge button while unscrewing the volcano orifice, flip the low pressure seat over, re assemble and go back to diving. Not saying this is the proper service technique but it speaks to how resilient and reliable these second stages are. </div>
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One area to look at closely when servicing is the snap ring that retains the purge button. From my observation they seem to rust and corrode faster than other parts on the stage and should be replaced. No one wants their purge button to spring off their regulator while underwater...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuj1Uk81tDjCW3LaXcot5FEktXiBZEGyJ0KxQV2YAHjx82udHLnpTqMT5lv1kZQxly1EBvVFGGO8-X8r5Ng8484STCodG91j3fFO62u9SpRdDnj6KrPLYnT8zSqfg1ZDxF39DhoWf_ivQ/s1600/20160512_101116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuj1Uk81tDjCW3LaXcot5FEktXiBZEGyJ0KxQV2YAHjx82udHLnpTqMT5lv1kZQxly1EBvVFGGO8-X8r5Ng8484STCodG91j3fFO62u9SpRdDnj6KrPLYnT8zSqfg1ZDxF39DhoWf_ivQ/s320/20160512_101116.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Main diaphragms rarely need replacing an usually respond with a good soap and water cleanup. </div>
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Exhaust valves varied several times over the years and some were better than others, the new ones are silicone, work great and come in the service kit. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5wecXaDJhKO56-SnK47CNMR_r_P3rgGL7SbPHoF57ymP0-TVZcQyKuCNnBxhF9m0Q-bcd_z2r2nv1nnxQR3YHH6aiZ5t3KD6A9D3-VAY8qZi6YBj7DXObL7Ou4ba5KpV-9LkUVs66fA/s1600/20160512_101102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5wecXaDJhKO56-SnK47CNMR_r_P3rgGL7SbPHoF57ymP0-TVZcQyKuCNnBxhF9m0Q-bcd_z2r2nv1nnxQR3YHH6aiZ5t3KD6A9D3-VAY8qZi6YBj7DXObL7Ou4ba5KpV-9LkUVs66fA/s320/20160512_101102.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://vintagedoublehose.com/store/#!/US-Divers-1085-Metal-2nd-stage-service-kit/p/44437150/category=3500127" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="http://vintagedoublehose.com/store/#!/US-Divers-1085-Metal-2nd-stage-service-kit/p/44437150/category=3500127" target="_blank">LINK TO SERVICE KIT</a> </div>
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The US Divers 1085 second stage can be found around the globe and in mass quantities. Aside from being used as a backup they are often used as Safe Second Stages and a popular modification was to cut down the exhaust T's making the profile lower and easier to keep stashed until needed. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-14cJ8ihbnIsmvTehCx8dKCnQaqSucC3LnLWZwWPdXbUe1f5tXXeVe2KtpKVALp5p-Ckl4UhPISA7rV5uRPtuHw26yoPh-4YT_RODHJG9KFFRtskCxjrlp1ufPcTurEm5Cd0kH4OJyH8/s1600/20160512_101913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-14cJ8ihbnIsmvTehCx8dKCnQaqSucC3LnLWZwWPdXbUe1f5tXXeVe2KtpKVALp5p-Ckl4UhPISA7rV5uRPtuHw26yoPh-4YT_RODHJG9KFFRtskCxjrlp1ufPcTurEm5Cd0kH4OJyH8/s320/20160512_101913.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Go out a grab a few.....Share with your friends</div>
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Be Safe....Have Fun....If you don't know ASK</div>
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<b>Pet Peeve 101</b>........The idea that the Bigger the Glob.....Better the Job is good. Slathering on excess lubricant to parts that do not directly specify doing so is STUPID. Packing second stage springs with silicone lube or putting it on diaphragms with a butter knife accomplishes one thing. It makes the perfect substance to adhere every tiny micro minute bit of sand and debris to the part. You are basically making your regulator into a glue board from a roach motel but instead of roaches you get sand and other abrasive material attached to your regulator. </div>
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Don't put lubricant on HP or LP seats, exhaust valves or the sealing and retention edge of diaphragms! It is not some magical substance that by contact turns parts into super sonic Tyrannosaurs Rex Kryptonite. Just move your finger or brush away from the #10 can of lubricant!</div>
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If an O-ring or part calls for lubricant then wipe a little on, wipe 99% of it back off and look at the part. If the surface is shiny then you have enough. Ok....rant over for now :)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03805120013953212886noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741753543171691065.post-44693924503167735002016-05-12T08:49:00.000-07:002016-05-12T08:49:12.873-07:00Age of Aquarius..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAQEhkhX2ArvSGBJg_LDpVxbFMSQr00raxxpNMq3m9xw6LwjaUr7kGpKd45qWIf1yr3qELhiT-CDQzw5EM5qiFQM3DHoxCc2wr6-F2kJtmirsFklhRcMfKU8UD6FE65jjXzLiPw3csQg/s1600/20160512_103004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAQEhkhX2ArvSGBJg_LDpVxbFMSQr00raxxpNMq3m9xw6LwjaUr7kGpKd45qWIf1yr3qELhiT-CDQzw5EM5qiFQM3DHoxCc2wr6-F2kJtmirsFklhRcMfKU8UD6FE65jjXzLiPw3csQg/s320/20160512_103004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Continuing our line of budget classic single hose regulators we have the US Divers Aquarius! Catalog source says it was to be available Spring of 72....For the budget minded diver.<br />
Once again you can get these dozens of places for next to nothing and in short period of time you can have a tough reliable regulator and have some fun putting it together.<br />
You need only normal hand tools and an intermediate pressure gauge<i>. <b>SAFETY NOTE</b> <b>HERE</b>....Anytime you are working on a 1st stage you should have a pressure relief device on it in the event the intermediate pressure swings out of control. This can be as simple as a second stage attached to it or for the tool junkie get an intermediate pressure gauge with a built in over pressure relief. </i><br />
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<a href="https://personal.filesanywhere.com/fs/v.aspx?v=8d6d64895b6371bbaa68" target="_blank">LINK TO AQUARIUS SERVICE INFORMATION FILES</a><br />
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The Aquarius first stage is a one piece unit made from a solid chunk of chrome plated brass. It has 2 low pressure ports and one high pressure ports.....<b>Note</b>. It's a vintage regulator so all ports are 3/8" thread. Don't put a low pressure hose on the high pressure port or your hose will go BOOM. The high pressure port has HP stamped by it.<br />
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Service is very straightforward with the high pressure seat being the only challenging area for those not accustomed to it. The seat is an interference fit and fits TIGHT. Two ways to remove it that have worked for me are....Shoot a blast of air in the base of the piston and often the seat will fly out of the end...Safety Glasses Anyone? Or a bit more controlled is to carefully push a very small straight pick up in the piston and push the seat out from the backside.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-20A8v2q0IfvgfAbqo-yZy0TI7Q0tUMcd9cFzDZTp5SKEhI0YZfizpnOE88bD65QWw4QBi7Q1qoLu55pPOEBSYPc_W3lCGqebP8cTHoISVCHFeMW9GMfGVBi5NwO7d3N3kefa8hMLDT4/s1600/20160512_103045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-20A8v2q0IfvgfAbqo-yZy0TI7Q0tUMcd9cFzDZTp5SKEhI0YZfizpnOE88bD65QWw4QBi7Q1qoLu55pPOEBSYPc_W3lCGqebP8cTHoISVCHFeMW9GMfGVBi5NwO7d3N3kefa8hMLDT4/s320/20160512_103045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
When you insert the new seat it will be TIGHT....It's supposed to be, it's an interference fit. I find the easiest way to do it is to get it started as straight as possible and then push against a soft block of wood till it seats all the way in the piston. DO NOT shave down the high pressure seat to make it go in easier. Just have a little patience and take your time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0oZ17PmHPcdU8s9pmU1vKuWbcA3h4YUK6cfKIrVEcKPJ37gfk8-PGWg2ltNTeL3RD7L5Ybt24X6CEfEJCyUv-IIVyoBy5n8UJZwchjLPMG9F5KxfhnnDBAKVsygfbyz56oV9eVtbldU/s1600/20160512_102610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0oZ17PmHPcdU8s9pmU1vKuWbcA3h4YUK6cfKIrVEcKPJ37gfk8-PGWg2ltNTeL3RD7L5Ybt24X6CEfEJCyUv-IIVyoBy5n8UJZwchjLPMG9F5KxfhnnDBAKVsygfbyz56oV9eVtbldU/s320/20160512_102610.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The rest of the steps to reassembly and setup are covered thoroughly in the USD manual so no need to rehash it here.<br />
The Aquarius came like all other USD regulators of the era with the 1085 second stage.....10' tall and bullet proof. Follow the instructions in the manual to service it.<br />
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<a href="http://vintagedoublehose.com/store/#!/Aquarius-first-stage-service-kit/p/13974801" target="_blank">Link to Aquarius Service Kit </a><br />
<a href="http://vintagedoublehose.com/store/#!/US-Divers-1085-Metal-2nd-stage-service-kit/p/44437150" target="_blank">Link to 1085 Second Stage Kit</a><br />
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Servicing and diving with regulators like this are great confidence builders for those wanting to service their own gear. They are certainly not the most glamorous or "Hi Tec" rigs around these days but like a fixed blade knife you can count on it when needed.<br />
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<b>Pet Peeve 101</b>......Shortcuts when servicing a regulator.....I'm well aware you can save the $9.00 cost of the Aquarius service kit by flipping over the seat and greasing up 40+ year old O rings and most likely get it to work just fine..BUT WHY DO IT? I guess if you see it as a "challenge" that's one thing but if you are planning on going diving with it why would any person with even a tiny bit of common sense not spend the coin and insure everything is up to snuff?<br />
<i>"I've been diving with my XXXX for 30 years and never serviced it and surprise surprise surprise it crapped out on me in the middle of a dive" </i><br />
When you are this stupid it's not a question of IF it will fail, only WHEN it will fail.....Please do it on your own time and don't ruin a dive trip for the rest of us when you become a statistic.....You don't impress anyone but yourself. Best case scenario you end up looking like a fool....Worst case you end up dead. <br />
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Start your Aquarius search now :) </div>
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Have fun and be safe....If you don't know ASK.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03805120013953212886noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741753543171691065.post-7611617997209689852016-05-11T10:20:00.000-07:002016-05-11T10:20:10.384-07:00Calypso IV and J.....Break out the tools!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A frequent question on the Vintage Double Hose website message forum goes something like....I want to service my own regulator. What model should I start with?<br />
Look no further than the Calypso IV or Calypso J....These were made by US Divers forever and can be found at swap meets, Craigslist, garage sales, on line auctions for CHEAP. They are a robust no frills regulator that got thousands of divers in the water and can be easily serviced with a few basic hand tools and a little patience.<br />
<u>At the bottom of the page I'll post links to the US Divers service manual and some service notes I made. </u><br />
Aside from basic hand tools you will need an IP gauge and a few picks to remove internal and external O-rings. Insure that you only use picks made from plastic or brass as damaging sealing surfaces using stainless picks can leave you with a regulator that no longer seals up tight. You can easily make O-ring picks from brass fishhooks of various sizes.<br />
The only worrisome spot on this regulator is it's high pressure seat as it is unique to this model and no longer reproduced. I do have originals but they are not cheap. With a little care and patience you can most likely bring yours back to life.<br />
The US Divers manual calls for an Easy Out from McMaster Carr or Sears to remove the high pressure seat....Seems like a bit of overkill since the only thing holding the seat in place is an O-ring<br />
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I have found that a small wood screw with the sharp point ground off works great to remove the seat. </div>
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The center of the high pressure seat is a hollow brass cylinder and by <i>turning the screw with my fingers only </i>I can get it to grab just enough to pull the seat straight out. </div>
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The center brass cylinder slips out of the nylon section of the seat </div>
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Use a piece of 1500 grit or emery paper on a flat surface and slowly move the seat face back and forth you can remove the groove made by the piston. Be sure to go slow and check your work often. Only remove material until the groove is gone. </div>
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Be sure to re-assemble the seat and brass cylinder the correct way and lightly lubricate the O-ring around the hp seat. Push it back into place till it seats with a pencil eraser or wood dowel. Do not press on the high pressure seat with metal tools!</div>
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The other challenging area of this regulator is the bonnet nut which contain internally the sealing O-ring and backup washer for the piston. In the service kit I have included the traditional PFTE split washer along with the updated version. Either one works fine but the updated one is easier to put in place. <i>When using the updated ring be sure the groove side faces the O-ring</i> Be sure to assemble in the correct order. (follow the manual)</div>
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This model was always paired with the tried and true 1085 second stage </div>
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which is just as easy to service as the first stage and the service procedures for it are in this manual.</div>
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You will find the service kit for the Calypso First Stage and the 1085 second stage (Blue Kit) in the <a href="http://vintagedoublehose.com/store/" target="_blank">Vintage Double Hose website store. </a></div>
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<a href="https://personal.filesanywhere.com/fs/v.aspx?v=8d6d648661676eb9a1a2" target="_blank">CLICK HERE for service manual and parts list.</a></div>
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<u>The Calypso regulator is no substitute for a Double Hose</u> but it is a good choice for a reliable vintage single hose regulator. Your dive buddies may scoff at it's utilitarian features but when their Super Gonkulator titanium 12 heat sink 5 lever greatest regulator ever goes tits up on a dive trip you can slap on your Calypso and go diving. </div>
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<b>Pet Peeve 101</b>.....After your first and second stages are serviced and setup you need to actuate the breathing cycle a minimum of 50 times allowing the 1st and 2nd stage seats to get in their groove so to speak and then do a final check of your IP and lever height. </div>
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DO NOT tap on the purge button like the Space Invaders FIRE button to do this.....Think about it....Is this how you breathe? If you answered yes, give up diving and take up golf....Breathe from the regulator normally or do many slow light purges of the 2nd stage. Banging on the purge button staccato style accomplishes nothing..</div>
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Go seek out a Calypso and have some fun. </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03805120013953212886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741753543171691065.post-14162263990384164502016-05-02T07:53:00.000-07:002016-05-02T07:53:30.060-07:00Argonaut Kraken assembly....last page<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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THIS IS NOT A SERVICE GUIDE OR REPAIR POST....DO NOT USE IT AS SUCH</div>
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The devil is in the details....final assembly is where its at and where everything comes together.<br />
Getting the IP set is the most time consuming part of setup. The average trunk monkey will simply turn the adjustment screw till the IP reaches the desired set point, stab the demand lever half dozen times and call it good. This is wrong on so many levels...Anyway, on to the pictures.<br />
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Main body to can O-ring is put in it's groove</div>
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Put on the ring that holds the body to the can and tighten down with the correct tool (made by Herman) </div>
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Layout of the HPR second stage. </div>
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Install and alignment of the demand lever and the 2nd stage orifice. Then the index tabs are torqued to spec.</div>
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Next a jig is used to correctly bend the demand lever. This step is critical. </div>
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HPR demand lever height is set and checked. </div>
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Screws are put through the exhaust can and O-rings are used to retain them. The tool is used to push the O-rings over the screws in one smooth movement. (Herman made it) Without it you wear off the skin on your fingertips pretty quickly.</div>
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Finally the two can halves are screwed together and torqued down.</div>
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Next the regulators go to the<a href="http://www.scubatools.com/p-599-quick-set-poppet-seat-break-in-fixture.aspx" target="_blank"> Quick Set</a> fixture for a run.</div>
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After that they are put aside and checked in 24 hours and put aside again and checked 24 hours later before they are ready to be boxed up and sent to the new diver. </div>
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I hope you enjoyed looking at part of what turns a pile of parts into an Argonaut Kraken regulator. </div>
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<b>Once again this is not a Repair or Service Post.</b></div>
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There are dozens of other steps and checkpoints I did not cover in these posts.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03805120013953212886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741753543171691065.post-74656069508520840022016-05-01T06:14:00.000-07:002016-05-01T06:14:12.426-07:00Argonaut Kraken Main Body Assembly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5R0OkRxz1PakKsOYD9SiYu6FKV4xZmneBR1lbUWPwaxkmVP-R1BoNCGXUBYjoeJ4K-otYkDzcBmuE3y7TRJKKYeUAV7AX57E2JPm0zWYcnh4X8IRsYiqhggdHf9FbCQGD76EQPl7T2g4/s1600/Kraken+RedBlack+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5R0OkRxz1PakKsOYD9SiYu6FKV4xZmneBR1lbUWPwaxkmVP-R1BoNCGXUBYjoeJ4K-otYkDzcBmuE3y7TRJKKYeUAV7AX57E2JPm0zWYcnh4X8IRsYiqhggdHf9FbCQGD76EQPl7T2g4/s200/Kraken+RedBlack+.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Argonaut Kraken Main Body Assembly</div>
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UP FRONT.....This is not a technical or repair post....This is a very brief overview of the assembly process of the main body. DO NOT USE THIS AS ANY SORT OF REPAIR OR MAINTENANCE GUIDE.....A service guide would contain the dozens of small but important details necessary to follow when assembling the regulator....THIS POST DOES NOT CONTAIN THEM.<br />
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The Argonaut Kraken bodies arrive in their own numbered box. The manufacture assures me they thoroughly clean and dry each one before they are packaged. After I take it out of the box and give it a once over I use various tools to chase all the threads and cotton tip swabs to final clean all the ports and orifice. Next I put each one in the ultrasonic cleaner with some Dawn dish washing liquid and a little Crystal Simple Green for one minute and then use compressed scuba air to dry them. When I assemble the bodies I only use Cristolube in the limited areas where lubricant is required.<br />
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<b>First up are all the internal parts on the HP side </b></div>
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Parts all go inside and a guide for the snap ring is placed on top. </div>
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Next I use the amazing multipurpose Argonaut press made by Herman to gently guide everything together and let the snap ring lock into place. This can be accomplished using simpler hand tools that he makes but I like the feel and control assembling on the press give me. </div>
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Next it gets flipped over and the high pressure diaphragm section is assembled. </div>
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Next the 3 of the 4 port plugs are put in. Put the O-ring on the bottom of the yoke and then the nut is put on and tightened down. </div>
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Finally a modified 2nd stage orifice is temporally installed so the intermediate pressure can be set. </div>
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On to setting the intermediate pressure</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03805120013953212886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741753543171691065.post-16231692397086199162016-04-30T10:22:00.000-07:002016-05-01T06:13:48.997-07:00Assembly and Setup of the Argonaut Kraken<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Assembly and setup of the Argonaut Kraken<br />
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These posts are not meant to be a service/repair guide by any stretch. I had a few requests to post assembly pictures so I thought while I had a little time before they arrive I'd show some of the process of putting them together.<br />
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This is what the cans look like when they arrive from the manufacturer<br />
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Pretty boring stuff. Looks kinda like a burrito waiting to go in the microwave.</div>
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First step is to punch in the 6 threaded inserts into the body side cans. This is my least favorite and usually the most frustrating of the whole process. The outer diameter of the insert and the hole in the can form an interference fit when they are punched in. But when doing this the sharp edge of the insert often shaves off bits of the plastic and this gets caught in the threads and is tough to get out completely. So to help minimize this I use short pieces of threaded rod in the inserts and then remove them after the inserts are punched down.</div>
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you can see all the HIGH TECH equipment used in the process....brass hammer, block of wood, and a special brass punch that Herman made for me. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-t-38R7362sCOmcS2TPUD2XGRABCRFrCXvIsFplYjo01DROkqqAEDL6AqnM_sQZvSb6x-o67RCxybWU9JiVqfmXsgOWiD9ra-hwJlJZwvFZPB7iNQVZ73flqOep-glvwK0npKzKwfy8k/s1600/20160430_121509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-t-38R7362sCOmcS2TPUD2XGRABCRFrCXvIsFplYjo01DROkqqAEDL6AqnM_sQZvSb6x-o67RCxybWU9JiVqfmXsgOWiD9ra-hwJlJZwvFZPB7iNQVZ73flqOep-glvwK0npKzKwfy8k/s320/20160430_121509.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After all 6 inserts are punched in I remove the threaded rod sections and blow out all the holes with compressed air. Next using another specialty tool that Herman made for me I go back though one more time and chase all the threads again. In 2014 on the first run I ruined many can halves during final assembly due to tiny pieces of plastic in the threads and a little too much torque which twisted the hex head in the can and ruined it. I have worn the threads off of the tool in the picture below and it's rusty from the sweat from my hands from holding it so long. I figure I've chased the threads in over a thousand inserts......Did I mention I HATE this part!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyOYWqbl3rxY2P_aNn4fbEzM9x2Z8s4B5oSfIlIYybG3jdKRJf6gg2qIiWSesJkwxtYEAVT66vp5wWtOrb7WxKHBbpt7crvB6oFmoCNZTccS3RN8UY7YVAn0tdAwD6SKOH9wfgYmHPZE/s1600/20160430_122321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyOYWqbl3rxY2P_aNn4fbEzM9x2Z8s4B5oSfIlIYybG3jdKRJf6gg2qIiWSesJkwxtYEAVT66vp5wWtOrb7WxKHBbpt7crvB6oFmoCNZTccS3RN8UY7YVAn0tdAwD6SKOH9wfgYmHPZE/s320/20160430_122321.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Next we move on to the exhaust side can.</div>
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I use a little alcohol based hand sanitizer on the exhaust valve for lubricant when I push it into place in the can. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWUTpK1n0dbAXa1j0_3_JqSrJkpvPnTtscQoX9WsCEup_9Gc5LN0jfbEy7slH5OLXq9MS7akd13ahIW-vVSSBUNs_AllJrdSkuNHQvwDk9Fg_En6a5HScvrxa7IeUt8PUhU5-GN3UbT00/s1600/20160430_123422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWUTpK1n0dbAXa1j0_3_JqSrJkpvPnTtscQoX9WsCEup_9Gc5LN0jfbEy7slH5OLXq9MS7akd13ahIW-vVSSBUNs_AllJrdSkuNHQvwDk9Fg_En6a5HScvrxa7IeUt8PUhU5-GN3UbT00/s320/20160430_123422.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Dave make the can labels for me and it's a very painstaking process so I don't have extras around to spare. Forming them is not a time to be Mr Bumblefingers!</div>
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First the label is placed upside down in a special die that Herman made for me. Next the cap goes on it and it's pressed though the form using the amazing Argonaut multipurpose bench press....Another tool that Herman made for me.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSj48ARbLmFWyarTWAPFxd64u6oLWobhYpnDiB7U9FJbm7WxAwLUGkHxgFEI8NeFaAaE9ZjlpdBoUvLNNeC0ARLmWaiKseWXXEch0g6bJdyUxR1H18fgBRXhW361WN7nJfB3zcp-H-Mnw/s1600/20160430_123525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSj48ARbLmFWyarTWAPFxd64u6oLWobhYpnDiB7U9FJbm7WxAwLUGkHxgFEI8NeFaAaE9ZjlpdBoUvLNNeC0ARLmWaiKseWXXEch0g6bJdyUxR1H18fgBRXhW361WN7nJfB3zcp-H-Mnw/s320/20160430_123525.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOadxJ5ZwtRhLnjQcwhyUIJP6lc3IP2udWXS5Fh95xZYa5oZKFvhHcfoIPSrUdLYNpLMbrXnnCQxFYYallw8jhkIdV5M8zD2FSaeBxQm9p2-3gMTxrcCnl-8PwUBmeF9CNXCue49KMPaA/s1600/20160430_123607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOadxJ5ZwtRhLnjQcwhyUIJP6lc3IP2udWXS5Fh95xZYa5oZKFvhHcfoIPSrUdLYNpLMbrXnnCQxFYYallw8jhkIdV5M8zD2FSaeBxQm9p2-3gMTxrcCnl-8PwUBmeF9CNXCue49KMPaA/s320/20160430_123607.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The tabs on the label come out of the form in a C shape and when I go to attach them to the can I want the tabs at as close to a 90 degree angle as I can get. So I place them on the edge of the press and give them a couple of strikes with a brass hammer where the label and the tab meet to get the angle I'm looking for. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wLAGs4gXAjaUKazTpKQkKlcva1ju2N4ShrAgitf8DUV_qfVChyphenhyphenSKH58lQjBCmlpCiAmHGKGTu_kEcmQs1JZEyF8bgDAjZ1MyxTfpU9GbvsGHGjF2ekizHTELos3hLqmVToK0iMa7y8w/s1600/20160430_123634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wLAGs4gXAjaUKazTpKQkKlcva1ju2N4ShrAgitf8DUV_qfVChyphenhyphenSKH58lQjBCmlpCiAmHGKGTu_kEcmQs1JZEyF8bgDAjZ1MyxTfpU9GbvsGHGjF2ekizHTELos3hLqmVToK0iMa7y8w/s320/20160430_123634.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After that they get set aside and wait for a body to be matched up with. </div>
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Next main body assembly!</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03805120013953212886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741753543171691065.post-62435251967829386452015-11-22T09:45:00.000-08:002015-11-22T09:45:52.269-08:00<span id="docs-internal-guid-368b88c4-300d-400a-cce0-37b09b45fd23"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.38; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">A little history on the quest for a double hose DSV mouthpiece.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have wanted to offer a DSV style mouthpiece for double hose regulators ever since I saw the one that came on the early Northill regulators</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="Northill DSV.JPG" height="227px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/GfjNvb9ry3EfvXVFcVnV021FhGIyDiSKzM5YeivyFTdPg4KJER-0BTIQ2sB6uTomaKOFhPTbryePRW9hFSd1N9eCe_UL2TtSHk-ZpT93ORchSv8QwFj24pVqp2-ybOHPhoNGSS0v" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Around 2008 Luis and Allan came up with a neat idea for one using two straight USD mouthpieces with a PVC insert inside. Problem was you had to cannibalize two good mouthpieces and use a lot of lubricant to keep it working smoothly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="DSC_0087.JPG" height="222px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/D0szlQ_h21IEe54W4R6OL1Za1z9nUPARtvUipXDMwY5bDjGGqo_48I0l-FTCvuq7INCUqiVk3gS8Do7JrQtwWzNVOqLXW9ZkZ7k2nyajIvu4tqe8Zt9wuoRv2z3ezUEUlW1WPwx_" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next I worked with a fellow diver on a completely new mouthpiece that had some promise but also some design flaws that were never worked around. Many of you have seen the video of me testing it in the pool. 3D Models a few years ago didn’t hold up well underwater like the material used for them today so testing was brief. Good idea but too complicated and I’ll skip the details of why it never went any further.</span><img alt="DSVjfhf.jpg" height="187px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/6cz8b-vS8i6zR1quyaLdQZgl1-94d3OLEmNOrrQvCNsJbAxe7xQyxQKDRrKVcX4GmIx2uG-5Xy_fhcwWjMp0LOadiHM8tMdcPNbnob1GSRJCveT-gh4loiApAryxwL14Z4WbKH4d" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I gave up on the idea for several years, Luis and I along with many others concentrated on making the Argonaut Kraken a reality. All along we wanted the Kraken to have it’s own mouthpiece but resources and time were stretched beyond the breaking point and the idea had to be shelved for the time being. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Exactly when my next brain storm came about I can’t say for certain. I had been working with a Drager DSV mouthpiece for a while and trying to figure out a way to make one that was less complicated and that I could make affordable to offer it with the Argonaut Kraken. At the time their DSV’s were over $300.00.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Under my workbench is a big box of mouthpieces and from time to time I would spread them out on the table and try and come up with some idea that showed promise. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Messing around one day with a Hope Page I got the idea to make a simple tube that would go inside the mouthpiece that you could rotate closed or open as need dictated. It would be sealed by O-rings and use the wagon wheels and valves I already had. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="DSC02241.JPG" height="468px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/CkWf9MAIXk95_gYxMEQBAHoP8VXIihMgT1WvJdhlj8ELlXBI9Vt4ymN_ZQRMx8FX3Dd9SKjlDRZZEMSL4Pw7e192I1vZGHy526B1Bpc3CjjzohJSUX2TrxOLcLdeggKsL5prpCU0" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="DSC02253.JPG" height="290px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/tOnRhIWNj3ZE8I824AhWySSOUbnw6GbAp_hFWBzX0CD5tN8Vqa7_gnjwtF_UXojdMfIJqET19tm6kkQID3W3k7VdPTiY3xuYouUSIyYh0W4xH_0P0KpUeosbu0yv5n0LdZlVq4Jz" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tom (Captain) on the VDH Website Message Forum did all the machine work in an attempt to get my crazy idea to work…...It did work and it would shut off air at the surface but it would not seal up and water leaked in it like a screen door on a submarine. Plus I would feel kinda bad cutting up a bunch of classic Hope Page mouthpieces to make them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After we got the Argonaut Kraken up and running Luis asked me to send my crazy idea to him so he could look at it more closely. At this point I was asking him to reverse engineer the Drager DSV so we could simplify it and possibly make a cheaper version. Luis used the Drager on a few dives and proclaimed that it sucked and was not going to make one like it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Drager and every other DSV mouthpiece made for rebreathers we looked at had the same basic flaw….The mouthpiece sticks out straight like the original USD straight mouthpieces and that puts a lot of leverage on your teeth and jaw making them uncomfortable to use for long periods of time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Hope Page mouthpiece did not and follows a curve like the later USD curved mouthpiece does.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luis took my idea and modified it a few dozen times and after a re-design or two felt we had something we could work with and as flawed as it was he did some diving with the Hope Page Frankenstein mouthpiece. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At this point I was happy and was ready to get the 3D’s done and start making it. Luis was not ready to pull the trigger as he knew that with the right idea the new mouthpiece could do more than offer a comfortable bite tab and the ability to close off the hose loop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He started working with the idea of putting a diverter in the airstream that would allow the regulator to maximize the airflow of the venturi without most of it escaping down the exhaust hose. I think we started with 4 different heights and various angles before he settled on one that let the Argonaut Kraken maximize it’s airflow capability without becoming a positive pressure regulator like the Over Pressure Breathing model USD made for a short time did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="DSCN1994.jpg" height="468px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/0d8H2I3Kg-JYgUhhDwrtk7xp2uLxdrRL5CTTy_5LX14Fc0YwdHEi_SBrWUs2UvIJUKH8O-Gyz-HxZKJym2jumJ2vL7HnqPb0C0GTCgC47LyqvDjxZQzlU57zYZpyXp_HyBXe0liE" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After the first 3D model was made, minor revisions were made to the other two and we started diving with them. The first one I used in the pool did not have a diverter but the other features worked flawlessly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luis started diving with them and experimented further with various weights on hoses and the mouthpiece attempting to get the whole assembly completely neutral in the water. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We packed up the whole show and took it to Cozumel so we could dive as much as possible and give other divers the opportunity to use it and get immediate feedback from them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m now ready to build the mouthpiece for the double hose divers of the world and give them a whole new chance to outfit and fine tune their regulators to fit their diving style and needs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once again we have a community that made this happen.Skilled craftsmen like Tom and Herman, professional Engineers like Luis and even a rocket scientist took ideas and turned them into reality. And last but not least I’d like to thank the Caribbean Luxury divers for taking part of their Cozumel vacation to test our ideas and give constructive feedback. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hope on November 27th you will jump in with the team for the big win and help me get the Argonaut DSV into production.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This post is made to be a brief overview of the path VDH has been on. Luis is sharing many more details and data around it’s design and development on the VDH Website Message Forum. Please take the opportunity to come over and join us. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="DSV evaluation team.jpg" height="390px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/BQtUHCY63wxtViQ32KrvlWkPms2Tncfrbq8hvsNtEdIwlJC_XjWcMpgJe1ds8_yHcQnQILH6tP-44kzqahE0PNpqCfal3WEyG2x5hVScOjWukbeAV1bowhs-QZjZd3aEY1HkuLKs" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03805120013953212886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741753543171691065.post-6298610074677286402015-10-01T07:03:00.000-07:002015-10-01T07:03:01.477-07:00Look it up on Google FNG....How not to grow your community.<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
There are no stupid question....Only stupid answers......Getting into any new hobby can be a bit intimidating and comes with a plethora of unanswered questions running around in your head. The internet has made even the smallest niche interest, hobby or sport available to everyone though BB and Website Forums and has allowed us to gather up information from around the world that we may never have known about before. They put us in touch with others with similar interests and who want to share those with others. Let me share a personal aside for an example. </div>
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Most of you think I do nothing but blab on about double hose regulators and old scuba gear 24/7....and to an extent you are correct. But I do have a few other interests and hobbies that I like to pursue with the limited time I have. Recently I rekindled an interests in a particular type of car that I owned years ago and thought it might be nice to get another one so I could have another source of endless frustration and expense other than you guys and my 10yr old. ......I joined what I looked to be the largest community of folks working with these types of cars.....After joining I asked/posted a couple of questions I could not find the answer for and was amazed at the responses I got.....NOOOB....Look it up on Google.....Use the SEARCH FEATURE.....FNG....etc etc......This took me back for a bit and I was a little P.O'd till I realized that on OUR OWN FORUM many of us are guilty of doing the same thing.....Yes my eyes bleed every time I get a question about "Can you fix my double hose" or "does anyone still make parts for double hose" etc etc...BUT to many people these are important questions.....YES they should have read the FAQ and or used the SEARCH feature but if we slam the door to the club after the 1st knock they may not choose to knock again!</div>
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So, what I have done on the forum is put a space for New Vintage Equipment Divers to ask even the most mundane and rudimentary question in a 100% flame free zone. <b> With absolute certainty I will guarantee that a knowledgeable forum member will answer ALL questions in a polite and thorough manner. </b></div>
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No one likes to be the new kid and it can be intimidating but I hope with the addition of this area of the forum more people thinking about diving with our type of gear will feel more at ease asking questions and getting the answers they are looking for. We only grow our area of diving by sharing it and I want the website and message forum to be a welcome and inviting place to learn.</div>
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Now I know all of you reading this know everything there is to know from SPACO to Argonaut...:<wink> BUT you may know a friend or a family member that doesn't yet so I ask that you share the website forum and particularly the new place so they can jump in with the team for the big win.</div>
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Take this with you and share it with anyone who might be interested please. </div>
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When you first look at diving with vintage gear, discard all pre conceived notions, urban legends and related BS told to you by well meaning but ill informed divers you might have talked with on the subject.....Instead ask what can I learn or what new adventures could I have diving this gear? Why does it appeal to so many divers after most of it stopped being made 40 years ago? Take the time to read and research and find your own place in the community. The divers on the VDH website message forum are there to help and I guarantee you will get no better advice on vintage equipment diving than they have to offer.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03805120013953212886noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741753543171691065.post-22977432231965852072015-09-26T07:46:00.000-07:002015-09-26T07:46:43.195-07:00Argonaut 2016 Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7EfZ2jqGx2vspO76hFBqRVxYTPH0Lce1bk28Q6jFQKqeVU7-yG_3mvH5i7fzrBHlc4IJntKiEa-uTPq7l7Zc1ZIhc1tqCW0su0qkqpwTjS0XVRI_Z9uxpM3HZ8-718Uj8LP7rBorXQU/s1600/kraken_anniv_tshirt_v007_REDTEXT.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7EfZ2jqGx2vspO76hFBqRVxYTPH0Lce1bk28Q6jFQKqeVU7-yG_3mvH5i7fzrBHlc4IJntKiEa-uTPq7l7Zc1ZIhc1tqCW0su0qkqpwTjS0XVRI_Z9uxpM3HZ8-718Uj8LP7rBorXQU/s320/kraken_anniv_tshirt_v007_REDTEXT.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><u>With success comes complications and new opportunities</u></i>. For the past decade most of the parts I have been making have be either replacements for existing ones or improvements to them with a few exceptions like the Phoenix and HPR 2nd stages. </div>
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When the Argonaut was ready to be made I went about it in the way I had with all other parts in the past. Submitting requests for quotes with drawings and materials specifications and working from there. Over the years I have developed a good relationship with several manufactures and go directly to them depending on what the part is made from. None of them are in the business of scuba gear and don't know a duckbill from a band clamp ring. In the majority of cases this was fine and played very little in the outcome of the parts.</div>
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The Argonaut was a whole different ballgame. I needed to somehow get the suppliers to understand the concept of what I was trying to accomplish. In some cases this was successful and in some not so much. Manufacturing is a business. Making regulator bodies or carburetors, it all comes down to dollars and cents and getting the HP diaphragm to work harmoniously with the regulator really made no difference to the two companies making the parts. </div>
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Cost to the customer was always a paramount concern of mine and was driven up by my need to go to third party companies to supply parts for the Argonaut assembly. Plus I was always at their mercy as to supply and future availability of parts. After the last of them went to new divers this year I set a goal for myself that I would no longer be at the mercy of third party vendors. A goal I realized 3 years ago was necessary for the long term success of the project.</div>
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Right now I am working with a company that manufactures regulators for SCUBA and SCBA and who fully understand what I'm trying to do. They might not get the reasons we want a double hose in the 21st century but they are game to do it and are on board with the project. I have paid up front for the tooling necessary to manufacture the body of the Argonaut and I am awaiting their sample parts. These are due to arrive towards the latter part of November. </div>
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What this means is that I'll be able to produce a regulator using many of the ancillary parts they currently produce and use on some of the single hose regulators they make. This will allow me a single source to produce the regulator bodies, yokes, screws etc. The other parts I have covered currently direct from the manufacture. All of this cuts down on the cost and headache of juggling 12 different companies supplying parts. It also means the vendor knows what is being manufactured and if there is a problem they can solve it quickly because they have most likely faced it working with other regulators.</div>
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The regulator itself will change very little as to how it functions or performs. We had to make a few changes to accommodate and use some of their existing tooling but overall the regulator will remain as amazing as it already is. </div>
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This is the main reason<b> I don't have an EXACT date that new Argonaut will be available in 2016</b>.....If all goes to plan, I can give the OK to the sample parts, ramp up and get them out in January but I'm not at the point where I can do that. I will keep the Vintage Double Hose website store, Facebook page and Vintage Double Hose Message Forum updated with the latest details on where I'm at. </div>
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Luis, Herman and I along with the test divers are working hard to insure the new DSV mouthpiece and hose assembly is ready in time for the 2016 Argonauts as they will be the new standard for it in the future. </div>
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I can't thank the double hose community enough for their help and support and I ask the future Argonaut Divers have a little patience :)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03805120013953212886noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741753543171691065.post-60844418390417780372015-08-24T06:24:00.002-07:002015-08-24T06:24:51.161-07:00Vintage Scubapro Regulators<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzKDIgo3uYTpYIL6uAUABBc0FGhoIE00UUGLtHBJPsNO7PhVKTVNM4RjTgYohNvO61wtuiVDWWnM2PTvZeYnIGBxJxASFlQCSm6fD0PfLOkf-wmk-BUfy_ullNIWE-IpkvzQHc9U_UzU/s1600/Scubapro+109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzKDIgo3uYTpYIL6uAUABBc0FGhoIE00UUGLtHBJPsNO7PhVKTVNM4RjTgYohNvO61wtuiVDWWnM2PTvZeYnIGBxJxASFlQCSm6fD0PfLOkf-wmk-BUfy_ullNIWE-IpkvzQHc9U_UzU/s320/Scubapro+109.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Scubapro classic line of regulators are undoubtedly one of the most reliable and most copied regulators in the world. Most veteran divers will attest to fond memories of diving their MK 2-10 and 108-109 combination along with a myriad of attachments from black face brass and glass Scubapro pressure gauges, Pennform consoles with SOS depth gauges STAB jackets and the list goes on and on. These regulators were made in various forms and configurations for decades with most only having cosmetic changes. </div>
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These days you can easily find good working examples at relatively inexpensive prices. Most need a bit of service work but when complete they are still as rugged, reliable and easy breathing as they were when new. Many divers never gave them up and you still see them all the time on dive charters and other gathering places of groups of divers. As with the double hose you will always hear someone say<i> "Hey I had one of those, GREAT regulator, wish I still had it....Can you get parts for them?"</i></div>
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Vintage Double Hose has invested heavily in preserving these classic regulators in the same way we have done with the US Divers and Voit Double Hose Regulators. My first dive shop experiences and places of employment were NASDS stores that carried only Scubapro and if you dove with anything else you were diving with second rate gear......Many of you know what I"m talking about :)</div>
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In an effort to spread the word and help get more of these classics back in the water where they belong I have just opened a new section of the VDH Message Forum directly dedicated to the Vintage Scubapro regulators and have given the moderator responsibilities to Mr Greg Barlow. </div>
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Many of you already know him from his write ups and pictures of his showroom condition Voit Double Hose and his expertise with Mares MR12 regulators. </div>
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Greg will no doubt come up with some interesting stuff to share about all things related to Scubapro classic regulators and will be joined in his efforts by other renowned aficionados in the field such as Luis and Robert COUV Couvillan and if we can get him over to the dark side Gary D.</div>
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Along with the new Forum section I have expanded and added as much information as I can get my hands on regarding service procedures, manuals, catalogs and schematics to the free download section of the VDH main website. I am always looking for more information for this section so if you have any to share please send it my way. </div>
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Please take a moment and stop by the new section of the forum and say hello, ask a question or become part of the conversation. </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03805120013953212886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741753543171691065.post-57738618698370901142015-08-05T06:53:00.000-07:002015-08-05T06:53:10.171-07:00Reflecting on the Legends of Diving EventThis weekend in August would traditionally be The Legends of Diving weekend held at Portage Quarry Ohio. Unfortunately and for various reasons the event has been cancelled and as of right now the future looks bleak for it's return.<br />
On the bright side there will still be a gathering of Vintage Equipment Divers at two other quarries in Ohio near Portage Quarry this weekend but it<b> Is Not </b>The Legends of Diving weekend or The Un-official Legends of Diving weekend as has been posted around the net by people who have no right to do so and should just STFU about it.<br />
<b>Let me share a few photos from past Legends of Diving weekends. </b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBAL0huprsFbKlAPwii3lqCjvTz2O5y0aupnvsVNctRgrz7wCP59FB-IaC0STb3T-6gKCVQz3LvzCDZ1vcnLMPgbFC5Zx9Xtj0Z1FIAeUBfhTNWhGl45Z-bk8SEm2BgFMwePd40rLI98/s1600/DSC03799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBAL0huprsFbKlAPwii3lqCjvTz2O5y0aupnvsVNctRgrz7wCP59FB-IaC0STb3T-6gKCVQz3LvzCDZ1vcnLMPgbFC5Zx9Xtj0Z1FIAeUBfhTNWhGl45Z-bk8SEm2BgFMwePd40rLI98/s400/DSC03799.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgX41uGwGCFS0r61ud9M67XZMtz9wDXCewQYChWb5yWhtwtMDWUi8B5d6lzVXPfrNbLkmIJfPyvJb48bsFbqJP59_48ekqmddS68ng5JYOtb1Ls-hzSlP5_U6jE17pv3bhOCzgNnmQOXw/s1600/Zale+%2526+Gayle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgX41uGwGCFS0r61ud9M67XZMtz9wDXCewQYChWb5yWhtwtMDWUi8B5d6lzVXPfrNbLkmIJfPyvJb48bsFbqJP59_48ekqmddS68ng5JYOtb1Ls-hzSlP5_U6jE17pv3bhOCzgNnmQOXw/s400/Zale+%2526+Gayle.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xN2s75M02CRdZP27rvVyW8o41V9mFV8lG9rqOi3k7AuEc3wJMCxHZR8rc3HaU3xVNr-EzfGSjRVLapSRwHbsuHCNI9YD7guGGHQvWvxBk6_r8wGOHr0W1_rbzOpCcwJowS5rNsA9Pi4/s1600/DSC01947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xN2s75M02CRdZP27rvVyW8o41V9mFV8lG9rqOi3k7AuEc3wJMCxHZR8rc3HaU3xVNr-EzfGSjRVLapSRwHbsuHCNI9YD7guGGHQvWvxBk6_r8wGOHr0W1_rbzOpCcwJowS5rNsA9Pi4/s400/DSC01947.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.7272720336914px; text-align: start;">From day one Jeff Rice envisioned his event as a showcase for pioneers in the field of diving and as a way to recognize and highlight their contributions.</span><br style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.7272720336914px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.7272720336914px; text-align: start;">Did many people call him crazy for trying to do this at a quarry in BFE Ohio........Absolutely......Did it stop him....No Way!</span><br style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.7272720336914px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.7272720336914px; text-align: start;">For years he gave us the opportunity to meet face to face many people we had only read about in books or had seen on screen. He brought in priceless collections of original diving equipment and gave us the opportunity to talk one on one with the collectors. All with an outlay of his own capitol with the belief that if he put on the show.....PEOPLE WOULD COME....</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.7272720336914px; text-align: start;">All weekend he kept the event going in Jeff Rice ringmaster style with drawings, vendors, prize giveaways, contests, swap meet, manufactures reps, musical groups.....And who can forget the whole 1/2 chicken dinners!</span><br style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.7272720336914px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.7272720336914px; text-align: start;">These were great times to meet new people and spend hours and hours doing what divers do best.....TALK. We got to meet new people, discuss gear and even found time to do some diving.....Some of which took on an explosive nature </span><img alt=";)" class="" src="http://vintagedoublehose.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif" style="background-color: #fafafa; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.7272720336914px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-align: start;" title="Wink" /><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.7272720336914px; text-align: start;">.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.7272720336914px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.7272720336914px; text-align: start;">Another event may be held to take it's spot.....But it will NEVER take it's place. I would encourage anyone who thinks they can do it to build on Jeff's model and take it even further....Be prepared to have endless headaches, disappointments, failures, frustrations and sometimes financial losses to get it going. </span><br style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.7272720336914px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.7272720336914px; text-align: start;">The Legends of Diving event may be no more but I'm glad to say I was a part of it and wouldn't trade a minute of time at Portage Quarry and with my friend Jeff Rice for anything.</span></div>
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<b><br /></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03805120013953212886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741753543171691065.post-58632694258699203672015-07-31T06:29:00.001-07:002015-07-31T06:29:13.292-07:00CG 45 information Information provided by Tom M (Captain on the VDH website message forum)<br />
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Not very often do we have the opportunity to work with one of these rare regulators up close.<br />
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<a href="http://vintagedoublehose.com/forum/index.php" target="_blank">Visit the Message Forum HERE for more information and to join in on the fun!</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/nus34qu2ssh8j43/Scripps%20Overhaul%201953.pdf?dl=0" target="_blank">Link to 1953 Scripps Institue of Oceanography on Overhauling the Aqua Lung</a><br />
<br style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">I had the opportunity to work on a CG-45 for the first time. Some things I noted, all threads are metric but most other dimensions are the same as the Broxton, DA Navy and DAAM and it uses all the same gaskets and diaphragms. On this one the HP nozzle fit a standard tank valve O ring seat. All Spiros I have worked on have had a slighter larger metric O ring seat. This one may have been resized in the past and re-chromed as it was like new externally. My USD body vise and body ring wrench worked perfectly fine on it.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">Like early Broxtons the body has no can tab cuts outs and the can has no tabs. This complicates getting the body in correct orientation to the can as it tends to turn when tightening the body ring. If the orientation is not correct it is impossible to position the diaphragm tabs so they make even contact on both ends of the horseshoe or will not contact the horseshoe ends at all. Because the hole in the can is not centered the body must be aligned with the 2nd stage seat 180 degrees from the inhalation horn side of the can and the horseshoe ends must fall on a line through the can centerline and perpendicular to the inhalation horn. See photos CG-45, 1, 2, & 3, CG-45 (2) is correct all others are misaligned.</span><br />
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<br style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">The horseshoe adjustment is different from a Broxton or DA Navy. The two screws have a shoulder on them (photo CG-45 (7) ) that is larger than the threads, the Broxton and DA Navy screws do not. You do not use number of turns out to make the adjustment, you screw the screws in until the shoulder bottoms on the body then turn them out only as much as needed to aligned the horseshoe hinge pin.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">It has no IP adjusting screw, photo CG-45 (5). Because the size of the valve on my test bench I could not check the IP at 300 psi but on an 1800 psi tank it was 110. Considering most tanks of the time were 1800 to 2000 psi this is in the ball park.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">It looks as it was designed to be assembled without any adjustments or special tools, just screw everything together and it should be right or close enough.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">I will add that it is almost impossible to tighten the body retaining nut tight enough to prevent the possibility of it turning out of alignment so for anyone who would be diving one regularly it might be a good idea to make an index mark between the can and body so it can be noticed if any movement has taken place.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #323a45; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03805120013953212886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741753543171691065.post-35105006343167955422015-07-28T06:52:00.001-07:002015-07-28T06:52:15.845-07:00Argonaut Mouthpiece ChangeThe First Series Argonaut Kraken regulators were shipped with a copy of the US Divers curved mouthpiece with a chrome plated logo button in the center. I had been selling the blank reproduction mouthpiece for several years and decided to use available inventory and make it special for the Argonaut Kraken owners and a way to identify the original series of production regulators.<br />
Once the First Series of regulators was sold I still used the blank curved mouthpiece without the medallion. But the Argonaut Kraken has sold so well I have exhausted my supply of those mouthpieces. So for a short time regulators will be shipped with the USN version of the curved mouthpiece.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uVWvECuL5UkHmdPCWSTc9Oz4IWoZObpQGoTKXA7G3JpxvHgMRpgJxAGcGVYkFuVAdSfle82etxC9zJ35q-Tabt9bkdoh377LZr1meYEuNTfA5fkQkkgHjul1c5X6F6sD2LbbMCSjpUc/s1600/usn+mp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uVWvECuL5UkHmdPCWSTc9Oz4IWoZObpQGoTKXA7G3JpxvHgMRpgJxAGcGVYkFuVAdSfle82etxC9zJ35q-Tabt9bkdoh377LZr1meYEuNTfA5fkQkkgHjul1c5X6F6sD2LbbMCSjpUc/s320/usn+mp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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BUT.....There is a silver lining to getting your Argonaut Kraken with this unusual mouthpiece.....When Luis and I finish the new DSV style mouthpiece which will be the future standard for the regulator, those who got a USN mouthpiece on their regulator will get the new mouthpiece for FREE....Yes that's right you will be one of the first kids on the block to have the new and improved mouthpiece on your Argonaut Kraken.<br />
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WHY do this you might ask?......Good question.......I have no plans on offering the blank front curved mouthpiece in the future and will concentrate my limited capitol resources on inventory of the new DSV style, USD reproduction curved and re-stocking the straight black mouthpiece.<br />
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WHEN are you going to have the new DSV style mouthpiece done?......Another good question. Luis and I have been working on it as diligently as time allows and at this point the 3D drawings are being finalized and we are almost ready for rapid prototyping. We plan on doing a great deal of testing with the prototypes (and a few other things) when the Caribbean Luxury Divers invade Cozumel this November.<br />
Luis has spent a great deal of time on analyzing ideas we have tried in the past and has a very promising design that I'm anxious to see in the flesh. This is not some mumbo jumbo BS pie in the sky idea that needs 100k to develop. It is based on solid engineering design principals with realistic goals for manufacturing and the ability to work with any double hose regulator that uses 1-1/2 hoses.<br />
It will work with most all mouthpieces currently available for single hose regulators.<br />
That's about all I'll disclose at the moment but when finished I think it will be something that most divers will enjoy using.<br />
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On another subject.........I'm sure you are all sick of hearing about the new website.....But not as sick as I am of working on it!<br />
I mentioned that I have increased the storage capacity of the site and I am now in search of MORE information for the Manuals and Catalogs section......If you have anything at all to contribute please scan them to PDF and send them my way. If the files are large I can send you a direct link to upload to my Dropbox account and I will get them put up as a resource for anyone.<br />
The current Manuals and Catalogs section has over 6GB of information in it and most of it was done by contributions from VDH Forum members like Alan K, Greg Barlow, Karl Gehring, Rob S, and many others who took the time to scan a few pages and send them my way. The Manuals and Catalogs section if free to access and download but it can only grow with more contributions.<br />
If you don't have access to a scanner or don't want to mess with it, most any copy store will do it for you and put them on a thumb drive or disc and it's easy to share them with me after that.<br />
As I've said many times in the past, VDH was built by a community and I need help to keep it growing. If you have questions please send me an E-mail. <a href="mailto:Bryan@vintagedoublehose.com" target="_blank"> Bryan@vintagedoublehose.com </a><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03805120013953212886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741753543171691065.post-29240953622019759832015-06-12T07:07:00.000-07:002015-06-12T07:07:03.166-07:00Shark in a Bus ???The whole month of June we are celebrating the one year anniversary of the<a href="http://vintagedoublehose.com/index.php?option=com_rokecwid&view=ecwid&Itemid=175#!/Argonaut/c/8222661/offset=0&sort=normal" target="_blank"> Argonaut Kraken's </a>release to the divers around the globe.<br />
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The diver you are about to meet is anticipating the arrival of his new regulator and has a very unique and fun way of sharing his love of diving and some of the creatures of the sea in his area.</div>
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<b>Meet Paul Sharp, Museum Curator and soon to be <a href="http://vintagedoublehose.com/index.php?option=com_rokecwid&view=ecwid&Itemid=175#!/Argonaut/c/8222661/offset=0&sort=normal" target="_blank">Argonaut Kraken</a> Diver.</b></div>
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"Shark in a Bus" is our heritage marine museum housed in a <a href="http://sharkinabus.com/pages/bus-history" style="color: #50b3da; outline: none; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="MTT 21 1957 Leyland Royal Tiger Worldmaster Shark Bus">1957 Leyland bus</a>, representing two lifetimes of collecting around Australia. It has it's beginnings in the old Cottesloe Oceanarium, Western Australia's first public aquarium which operated in the 1960's.</div>
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The collection represents all of Australia and was put together primarily in the 1960's and 70's. It features a giant Great White Shark (White Pointer) as well as whaling artifacts, fossils, sharks jaws and hundreds of other amazing exhibits. There's even a sea dragon, vintage dive gear and pieces of the US space station Skylab!</div>
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We love our sharks and our curator Paul is keen to share a lifetime of sharky stories and experiences, as well as answer your questions about these incredible creatures.</div>
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<a href="http://sharkinabus.com/" target="_blank">Shark in a Bus Website Link</a></div>
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<b>I realize that many of us may not have the opportunity to visit<a href="http://sharkinabus.com/" target="_blank"> Shark in a Bus</a> in person but I really like the idea and what Paul it trying to do with his moving exhibit. I hope you will take a moment to visit Shark in a Bus and please share them on your <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharkinabus" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and other Social Media pages. When I was a kid seeing an exhibit like this would have been better than a stack of E-Ticket rides on Christmas!</b></div>
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<b>Photo of Paul's new <a href="http://vintagedoublehose.com/index.php?option=com_rokecwid&view=ecwid&Itemid=175#!/Argonaut/c/8222661/offset=0&sort=normal" target="_blank">Argonaut Kraken</a> on the test bench before it begins its long journey to Australia.</b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03805120013953212886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741753543171691065.post-58215372029568929492015-06-06T09:13:00.000-07:002015-06-06T13:44:53.336-07:00Sea Hunt Forever.....March 19th and 20th 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>March 19th and 20th at Silver Springs Park Florida.</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> As part of the Florida Springs Fest annual celebration, VDH Worldwide LLC will be bringing you a multi faceted presentation entitled, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 32px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Sea Hunt</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 32px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Forever!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">World renowned collector and historian Alec Pierce will be displaying his one of a kind collection containing memorabilia and props from the Sea Hunt TV show and Silver Springs. Most items are found nowhere else in the world and some have not been seen for decades.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meet original cast and support members from the TV series.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Divers in period correct gear reenacting scenes and entertaining guests on glass bottom boat tours and during surface intervals.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jonathan Bird will be filming an episode of his award winning show </span><a href="http://www.blueworldtv.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jonathan Birds Blue World </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">during the event.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fun and entertainment for the whole family with Silver Springs Park hosting vendors, artists and entertainers the whole weekend long dedicated to raising awareness of the need to preserve the natural resources of the Florida Springs. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website for event is being developed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Facebook page </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sea-Hunt-Forever/662357900565800" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sea Hunt Forever.</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter account </span><a href="https://twitter.com/seahuntforever" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://twitter.com/seahuntforever</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Media inquires contact </span><a href="mailto:SeaHunt2016@gmail.com" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SeaHunt2016@gmail.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sponsorship's are available. Please contact </span><a href="mailto:SeaHunt2016@gmail.com" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">SeaHunt2016@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03805120013953212886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741753543171691065.post-5839743149194459862015-06-01T05:37:00.000-07:002015-06-01T05:40:59.083-07:00Argonaut Kraken a year in review<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In June we celebrate delivery of the First Series Argonaut Kraken regulators to all the backers of the Fundable Campaign. Please allow me a little latitude as I wax philosophically about what an amazing year it has been. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A year ago in February I asked my friends, dive buddies, customers and potential new customers to believe enough in our new regulator project to put up their hard earned money to assist me in covering the cost to manufacture them. You can still see the campaign on the Fundables website </span><a href="https://www.fundable.com/vintage-double-hose" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">HERE</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To my amazement we </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">made our funding goal in 5 hours and went on to reach 160% of what our financial goal was! </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>Once again my most humble thanks to those who believed in the project and put their faith and trust in me.</u></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="Kraken Final.jpg" height="428px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/2W9abNBpH9JNg-3nD1dHSwIDhgkOZeCScqyOAZ3L0jrtpLwUDGiGqmqI3U8pZqZrdsZ7bj39yqYX5SSF2Z1skrMP6_s4zsKXhpOKflSiA21U4yCqomnHXyMSHAUfbwI3zuhvxd0" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="389px;" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now that the goal was met the real challenge was getting them all assembled, tested and shipped out to their new owners by the end of June 2014. With a great deal of help from my friend Rob at </span><a href="http://www.thescubamuseum.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Scuba Museum</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I was able to get them completed and we shipped 38 regulators to their new owners and 70 some T-shirts and certificates in a little over 3 weeks.</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/lUSVW8qUARXfKAfqLz64_sgmP3EyDaVBaSML__CZOqk9P7qctlxrBvVCLp0vQiZh2hMc4dlDEZnaUgft_mdGeqgqL4Y66EWZldhMXXhNYu6sg9PJw7ztpdliZf-wtCoKOELxIzE" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="20140620_201458.jpg" border="0" height="378" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/lUSVW8qUARXfKAfqLz64_sgmP3EyDaVBaSML__CZOqk9P7qctlxrBvVCLp0vQiZh2hMc4dlDEZnaUgft_mdGeqgqL4Y66EWZldhMXXhNYu6sg9PJw7ztpdliZf-wtCoKOELxIzE" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="400" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/mx2gy8jW1F5A9tMftA31K05GA2W2rVwBgttJhgCC3h4usZjJGxhBMY-sioArkqMghEMGCwbsf3WS4PZXYt--7T2whKmuukxEZ_UEIS6fhve7uPD4p3LwYa_bSZeFXPzsVVc_fQY" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="argonaut Kraken red hoses.jpg" border="0" height="173px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/mx2gy8jW1F5A9tMftA31K05GA2W2rVwBgttJhgCC3h4usZjJGxhBMY-sioArkqMghEMGCwbsf3WS4PZXYt--7T2whKmuukxEZ_UEIS6fhve7uPD4p3LwYa_bSZeFXPzsVVc_fQY" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="164px;" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/GJROIJiNMYB_QLqdAGMQbFuYU_pH8HT4wAy0bx4dwE8Ld659gNeND_Gkb7BoVKy7WIe2tTMNjGhoIJkSc_w7RsoOkGQ_q_A_0TpZPRhwBwQfNm5lgLqCkn_ohnOmUPalBHCrU_A" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="20140619_210557.jpg" border="0" height="170px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/GJROIJiNMYB_QLqdAGMQbFuYU_pH8HT4wAy0bx4dwE8Ld659gNeND_Gkb7BoVKy7WIe2tTMNjGhoIJkSc_w7RsoOkGQ_q_A_0TpZPRhwBwQfNm5lgLqCkn_ohnOmUPalBHCrU_A" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="193px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: black; float: right; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: black; float: left; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jerry Lang (aka Kemps Cow) takes delivery of his Argonaut Kraken at Portage Quarry</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="20140808_172406.jpg" height="264px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/N91g358D-xoNVI0ExbggisQzroN4_iDKnfPiMpXf7Yi9o_bR_GcEK5CtHWGGGn8FXh4HjQe_XEMKWDniw_nW0vRL7eiUZkYmj4fxZ8kUNQoybcdEfrUd4skMBdSxSjNiW7P4W-M" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="459px;" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Over the last year I have been inundated with requests for information on the new regulator from around the globe and have shipped new Argonauts to 12 countries outside the US. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What I enjoy more than anything is getting pictures and E-mail from divers using their regulator and sharing them with their dive buddies and friends. This is the most rewarding part for me!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="20140808_134654 (1).jpg" height="143px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/gc55Fd5rjd01aEInNWe3FGgFYS6bOp5DY-YJMx0cK78BGPMFJiP7phWbBTUPaQw40Q2sUVbeKu4CdtERg9MIVBoTeZSYlq_OUsKl1d3hCiaGKMotiZ-uqEkYYcpKb2xiA8WYim4" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="167px;" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="12Argonaut.jpg" height="146px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/gMD7h-RC4tY0iiug0e-kakPS26SjwSgRBBrbvy4NRQI5PCMMispIXXYL6_z9DkGxlP4Qtj6RVnwnYZ1ZnZOPH-s1Ew4HH5vCDW327rj6UwMsNFOFJjUV-oT7iuhIHIwZqFKjG04" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="174px;" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="128a.jpg" height="146px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/X5rWNahgdpERjwy6C_DMp6Zhp-F7bdgOYGUnRTBTYReucLMlGicUIZylSbDFN8eSGav42yBZyWt3na14FYbZI_sb6auGijtTObMadhph1yCgHtmICDTQDS-SfJSiSRQtIPsXCfY" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="169px;" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="NCM.jpg" height="111px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/WQznYXF5kQCue6ZuZQhBKBSeOPsXiIMaZ9cJjT1ly8KftxwrL4-queUrO89daD7lEDxJwvh5Hwwt1-VoCe7ZQDZXLXFNytsDKFSv4rM7b8PsU-NeNFugY8YwUOjmPLk76c7e8DI" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="170px;" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="Photo032.jpg" height="113px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/x-L6Ktc-C0tqtBZiXlE9pZbFb8Fo8vUK3LswVMWOkQ04XgnWsbr5TMBBzBW7U11lMAQ9pgbZJnUO8qhtO62gm4xkf3mdtP8vIKo1RlAjpJqZrkjTEncYlemSN0jOaKfTurLN4Q8" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="172px;" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="53b83bfc4b83c29d497720722202393d_zps8202f338.jpg" height="112px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/q9JOcP1dJyxGss48d_krXEf5s0ENCZSe55VtWDXN0dlwFWqynaRimpyBNgMQDU7qbW6kY_bS_-XzKHxrr9xKeWj6nbn_sqcyZhrB7ltTx695zX9jBZ56_YWoFxjBEwoN9jsZ2zY" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="172px;" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We have over a hundred Argonaut Kraken regulators diving the world right now and I hope to double that number this year again.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="Argonaut in it's element.jpg" height="468px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/0Q0OO-jx2s8G1xSxzso4ol-t9RlcJacnd7XgQ6_zaMkwdMNlaswuPmObAOi5VtQcC_JPUnGoMhXqnpQjdLuV6I0gzOyDwfCI8TV-29IPkoViOoRMbU647VGI5Pwkggujx04Y0w8" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Argonaut Kraken in it’s element</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-e5e2b2a8-ac6c-9576-41ae-0671fbbca0d4" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luis and I are continually working to improve the Argonaut and do our best to share these updates as often as possible. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i> What other company provides you direct access to the designer of your regulator as well as the person who assembled and setup each one of them? </i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Below is a photo of Luis monitoring and taking notes on intermediate pressure changes while diving.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="checking IP.jpg" height="468px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/0IpSvU6CUdT8zm4KBbH64om9PzXv1BAcUb2JGr380v_unKG1xc_JC0bk_BumQxgUUhpujrxZgpYsBK9KZ7JcimRCGlXMXWj7xpC16kZBXiviNFgRnbkF5gLxSilRbfZ_jamQNtg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let me wrap this up by once again thanking everyone who helped make the Argonaut Kraken project a reality. Without your support I’m sure we would still be stuck with the few working prototypes only. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are not a member of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Team Argonaut</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> there is still time to purchase one of the original configuration regulators remaining in the website store.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="20150213_111435.jpg" height="224px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Mkutgr-EF97YWWCsfMzzvmtncOb8yKN6BLwUASV_I2gbqVOMT0Ie531jASb1WGJXEfCDhdVStdy-4Ivw62D_dXEMKZuy6J-hQkA_aXeQlgEbBsEJLjaHBbQASs6H04Fv4DxkPTE" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03805120013953212886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741753543171691065.post-46240569019551008432015-05-20T07:02:00.000-07:002015-05-20T07:02:31.829-07:00Sand Dog XII Follow Up<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sand Dog XII was once again a fun event and a great time meeting new divers and getting together with old friends. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-de125431-719b-d35a-2436-6e13e6882027" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friday starts out as is usually does as divers arrive and start to assimlate in the motel parking lot. The veterans of the event are pretty easy to spot as they are normally standing or walking around with various regulators and other gear they want to show off or discuss with everyone. This is the time that the new divers to the group start circling closer and closer and most jump right in with introductions and comments like ….I’m (insert screen name here) on the VDH Website Forum….OH so your the guy or, It’s finally good to put a face with the posts…..Hey tell me about that new flux capacitor you have been putting on your Deathways 2000 that is supposed to double your bottom time…..Or Hey did you get your new Argonaut Kraken yet? And the inevitable….If you are looking for gear, the guy in 207 has some great stuff for sale...Better get on over there before Rob gets here and buys it all up.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This went on and on for hours as people split up and go into little huddles scheming and plotting to get the best deal and make the most of what they brought to trade and sell. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Followed shortly by one or two divers getting in the motel pool and showing off their best Mike Nelson skills as the rest grab a beverage or two and talk diving and catching up from past years events. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eventually and with as much effort as herding cats we all made it to a local buffet restaurant where more 50 Fathom dive stories continue. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Saturday morning comes early as Blue Springs only allows X amount of divers in at once. If you don’t get there early you may have to wait till the afternoon to get a divers pass.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luckily we had rehearsed the drill the night before and were able to persevere through the ass backwards system of diver check in at the park and made it to our assembly area all in one piece. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First I would like to thank Dave, Fred and Fun Size Doug for grabbing a great spot and putting up pop up canopies to help shelter us from the heat!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The day progressed as usual with divers going in and out of the spring trying out various equipment configurations, getting used to the heavy flow from the spring and taking lots of photos and video of all the divers. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At lunchtime we gathered for the traditional Sand Dog cookout mastered and overseen by my lovely wife and daughter and everyone was well fed and rehydrated and ready for another fun filled afternoon of double hose diving. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="20150516_092933 (1).jpg" height="351px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/TolEz60i0mRFNLs1_1tCBbFtjfEarUyPz3prbnS9wdYjdjR57SQIiZ1K0iPEpwRJU5vEwzYHddXn9qotHCrgtEQbvGz4ab4C3QlyBaW03JYQMgn9L9lRKw3URXS5HRIgmi9StI4" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We packed up late in the afternoon and headed on back to the motel to refresh and get ready for the evening gathering at a local restaurant for more hours of tales from the deep and other events of the day. Group had a great time and headed back to the motel for more “Parking Lot” talk, camaraderie and gear swapping till late in the evening. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="20150516_093149.jpg" height="351px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/pltzVeMZW5P8KTeZr39KFoegqzE_K0WlZkA-kIXTPOiXW0WuVLyTkky0yHbCjWjnMCv0B7WgU1ggYSSwtSQPmcdL1VEVOXyu_-7ekI7RKKLLCzN9UEYT-mdW-iEjBYSkVRR-92E" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunday morning took us to Alexander Springs which is about an hour from our host motel and through the genius of GPS directed several of us down a 6 mile stretch of washboard gravel road that was more akin to an episode of Top Gear UK, (not the crap US version) than a diving trip!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Alexander is a shallow spring but allows for many dives and is a great place to try out new gear and configurations. Gives divers the chance to get their rigs dialed in for the season and ready for other dive trips and destinations. Lots of free time to talk and share the common bonds that bring divers together and discuss what was working and how it can work better. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="20150516_093340.jpg" height="351px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/i-yvMa75EAfgv6QkIuAU1QKGwqd5kyHEHRZHdMGBAP4KR2jdJT7PMay7WjuXJpLgpVMobO1-PNISZNkKvPWqvvSf97PpC_nyjiRVWKHXWb-lu1CXu5Y8M-0si0I2kffvRKULIsk" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The afternoon was wrapped up the gear was packed and plans for next years event was already in the works. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m really lucky to have such great friends and customers gather together sharing their passion for double hose diving with my family and I. There are a lot more pictures and video forthcoming and I hope you will visit the VDH Website Forum in the next few weeks as divers have time to get home and post them. I had started a post on the event on <a href="http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/vintage-equipment-diving/506811-sand-dog-xii-starts-tomorrow.html" target="_blank">Scuba Board</a> but The Turkish Turd has made it his mission in life to criticize and demean our group and the event. Envy rears it’s ugly head in every group but no need to be dragged down with it. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hope everyone makes plans to attend our event next time! Keep watching the<a href="http://vintagedoublehose.com/forum/" target="_blank"> VDH website</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vdoublehose?ref=hl" target="_blank">VDH Facebook page</a> for updates and information. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGUn-6W5OK8GrleE2vIeDkKTeempUs2B1baYO-y1plbPoBkBIGGmelhqtKu7f0UqeXz4PBhJDnZzn0SVqcsw3r35zAerKY6efRvmOwIJqwTkC0U58den4JlelLumQEK8EzbgnC9mpQ7k/s1600/20150516_111321+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGUn-6W5OK8GrleE2vIeDkKTeempUs2B1baYO-y1plbPoBkBIGGmelhqtKu7f0UqeXz4PBhJDnZzn0SVqcsw3r35zAerKY6efRvmOwIJqwTkC0U58den4JlelLumQEK8EzbgnC9mpQ7k/s400/20150516_111321+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03805120013953212886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741753543171691065.post-33173873668272875892015-05-08T06:33:00.001-07:002015-05-08T06:33:57.673-07:00VDH Timeline Part Five<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">VDH Timeline Part Five</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-fdca2d7d-33b0-2872-2115-cfc15a140791" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luis and I were talking the other day and he brought up that VDH had been going for more than a decade now a thought it might be nice to share some of the highlights for all the new double hose divers out there who have not been around since day one. My plan is to cover a few things at a time and post them on the message forum so those with a better memory than mine can share some insight and give some other interesting bits of information. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While I was typing this up I kept hearing </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t Come Easy</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Ringo in my head for some weird reason…</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What you see spread before you in the pictures below are parts that 10 years ago were not available new and most not available at all. If you could find NOS parts they were usually sky high and the NEW part of NOS was often questionable.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For example, NOS main diaphragms were sky high and even if they were kept in pristine conditions they were still no better than the original materials they were manufactured from. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you want to see the only new parts that were available a decade ago,pay a visit to Dan at </span><a href="http://www.vintagescubasupply.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vintage Scuba Supply’s</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> store and you can see what 2005 had to offer for the double hose diver. This is not a knock on VSS, Dan is a well known collector and historian and takes a different approach to his business than I do. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And there are still are people out there who scream….Leave the old stuff alone! We like our regulators to breathe like crap...That’s how it’s supposed to be, you are ruining the originality of them…..You kids get off my lawn!!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="20150428_133545.jpg" height="351px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Jf7SwAdcMy7VFYL93YTXe02uXUdZdXV2uaVGagIjmfJNAgt8JxRTYxejnHXTFPsgDNbY6ycigBHmu3BMky01vF1OXyreptqWXgATSWZ9_R6vVtcS2zXgKsT1EYwBFXUWEu_EA_c" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By far the most difficult small part to get right were the high pressure seats. I won’t bore you with how they are actually manufactured but building a rig to test their longevity was a huge undertaking. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I started by putting four identical 72cf cylinder with matching valves side by side and then held them in place on a board with pipe hanger straps. Then I took 4 DA 1st stages with the new seats in them with the pin and mushroom supports all facing up and as perfectly aligned as I could get them. Next I took a dowel rod and put round head nylon bolts through it so they were sticking down like lobes on a camshaft and I aligned each bolt head directly over the mushroom pin support. It took a lot of time to get it all in place properly and finally I attached a small motor to a gear reduction drive that I got from a device used to pull up theater curtains very slowly.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finally I connected it to the dowel rod with a Lovejoy connector and let it rip...The dowel rod turned and the nylon nuts pressed down on the pin supports unseating the high pressure seats cycling the first stages. I did this for days….If I was home, the rig was running. Periodically I had to adjust the length of the nuts so they would keep an even pressure on all 4 valves or some would actuate and some would not. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Did I mention this went on for days? Well it did! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The sounds were similar to steam valves opening and closing and after a while I had to put on hearing protection cause it was driving me insane…….But in the end it worked pretty well and I’ve been really happy with all three HP seats I've reproduced and the <a href="http://www.scubatools.com/p-599-quick-set-poppet-seat-break-in-fixture.aspx" target="_blank">Quick Set tool</a> I now use would have tested the seats durability much easier than the <a href="http://rubegoldberg.com/" target="_blank">Rube Goldberg</a> contraption I built. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="20150428_133601.jpg" height="351px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/A6F_R3JASyvKw03MmI8EfYwMrXUybwLcq_kgbhB2aymVFe2BAQFf5tWpV4ztmXuFamQX6Tu2j1FdNEED3nYTd5JYmUhOuBzrw_pb2NKF817CrWqEiOp31sloJqjKo0QCk49nNFA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another challenge was and still is sometimes are tolerances. Parts for original regulator varied a bit. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. I ran into this the first time when I had the brass and bronze first stage filters done. When I tried the new filters in first stages they fit fine in some and in others not so much. I realized the tolerance when manufactured was on the high side of the samples I used and I should have backed off a bit on the +/-. Quite a few customers had to sand down the outer edge to get them to fit properly. They were also very expensive to make so after I ran out I decided that it was one part that I could skip. Modern filters and backup washers work just fine and unless you are at a concours regulator show no one is the wiser.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another addition to the recycling bin were the first run of HPR 2nd stage levers. The bend angle is critical and the drawings were very clear and explicit but the angle was still slightly off on the majority of finished levers. Now the easy approach would have been to simply flatten and correctly bend them again myself. But after trying a few this way it left marks where I had flattened them and I couldn’t stand the thought of a part that looked so nice and shiny with marks on it….So I scrapped the whole batch and today I still bend each lever one at a time in the jig Herman made for me. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A big issue is fielding E-mails like this…..</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.Could you make XYZ part? If you did make it I would buy one</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">...The operative word here is ONE. Unfortunately I don’t have the skills, tools or machinery to turn out one of any part and no manufacturing company is going to take an order for ONE part unless it’s accompanied by a check with a lot of zeros in it.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are several other companies that produced double hose regulators aside from USD and Voit but as of now no one has really picked up the ball and offered a large selection of parts and support for them. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Take the Healthways regulators as an example….Made in the thousands and easy to come by. Rugged single stage design and can be a good breathing regulator with minimal effort. The achilles heel is the exhaust design. The majority of them were made with a weird two piece exhaust in an effort to keep the Aqua Lung lawyers at bay over the duckbill exhaust design. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Over the years I have come up with several ideas that would work and even had reproducing the original parts sourced for them but no matter how sharp my pencil was I could never get the dollars and cents to line up with the cost of making them. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sand Dog is next weekend May 15th to 17th so I’ll blog about that for a week or so afterwards and try to finish up the saga of getting the hoses and mouthpieces made. It reads more like a comedy of errors that a success story….</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03805120013953212886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5741753543171691065.post-10055761493148810642015-04-27T10:27:00.000-07:002015-04-27T10:27:08.406-07:00Vintage Double Hose Timeline....Part Four<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luis and I were talking the other day and he brought up that VDH had been going for more than a decade now a thought it might be nice to share some of the highlights for all the new double hose divers out there who have not been around since day one. My plan is to cover a few things at a time and post them on the message forum so those with a better memory than mine can share some insight and give some other interesting bits of information. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wrote pretty extensively about </span><a href="http://vintagedoublehose.blogspot.com/2015/03/double-hose-regulators-rise-from-ashes.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Phoenix First Stage</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> earlier in the blog so to save time you can click on the link and I’ll try and share some of the behind the scenes stuff as best I can remember.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Before I go any further let me cover this…. I met Luis at a Vintage Scuba Supply even at Lake Wazee Wisconsin in 2005. For those who don’t know him personally let me share a little as he is way too modest to ever do so.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In my mind I envision that Luis looks at things and sees them kinda like </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Terminator</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in the first movie. Everything his eyes see are in three dimensions with materials specifications, functionability, feasibility, options, assembly procedures, structural drawings, failure point and all sorts of math equations running like a ticker at the bottom of his field of vision…….When Luis talks to you about certain subjects I’m sure he has to dumb it down a bit so the rest of us can keep up.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All the while he is one of the nicest and most thoughtful people you will ever meet. It has been my distinct pleasure of working with him for a decade now and even though we try each others patience from time to time we have always been friends first.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Setting around a campfire one night at Lake Wazee, Luis starts talking about how he can modify a first stage similar to a Conshelf and get it to work on a two stage USD or Voit regulator. I am very intrigued by the idea as it would skip the banjo fitting and allow use of modern attachments to the double hose that everyone was clamoring for…...Not always because we wanted to use them but since the big upsweep of divers using a double hose again there was a lot of pushback from resorts and dive boat operators about using “That Old Junk” to dive with. Well Luis set out to conquer that and ended up doing it in spades.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few months and a million phone calls and E-mails later he had come up with a rudimentary first stage with high pressure ports. At this point he only concerned himself with the ability to use all the ancillary parts that were on the shelf at Aqua Lung that we could implement right away. It saved on design time and materials cost and most of all it used proven parts that were industry standards and were reliable to a fault. Clear through the Argonaut he has stuck to this idea and you will find most parts I produce are compatible with 90% of the original regulators. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He refined it a bit and figured out how to add low pressure ports and had a couple made up in a machine shop local to him. Testing was easy…..It worked flawlessly and when coupled with the new silicone diaphragm made a regulator that breathed exceptionally well. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I started looking for a machine shop that would make a few production first stages….</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At this point it had no name, it was just the thing we were working on</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">…….</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I earlier referenced, NEVER tell a manufacturer you are building SCUBA gear…...I provided drawings and asked only that they be built to plans and that was it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now came the hard part……. I had the $$$ for tooling and brass but could not cover the cost of doing enough first stages to use up the minimum quantity of brass I had to buy.…..So I went to a couple friends that I knew could keep the project on the QT and with hat in hand told them Luis and I had prototypes that worked fantastic but we needed to make a few more just to be sure they were as good as we thought. Asked if they could front me a little cash in return for one of the new first stages and then give us some honest feedback on them. All of them said, “ Hell Yes we want in”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every project started at VDH has been with My Capitol FIrst. I have never asked friends or customers to front me cash for an unproven and untested idea that may or not fly. If I don’t have a working and tested product that I can backup 110% I won’t ask you to buy into it.…</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I got the samples built in naval brass and then turned them over to a friend outside of Chicago that ran a chrome plating business for motorcycle parts that I had known for years and I trusted would get them done right. At this point I felt like I was working with Faberge Eggs!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Later he got shut down by the EPA for dumping stuff down the drains that he shouldn’t have :(</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the same time I was working with my main source to acquire all the parts from Aqua Lung for the internals of the new first stage. There was no way come hell or high water that they would have sold me anything directly….And if not for my source…</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.You know who you are</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">….This new project would have never gotten off the ground like it did.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hope I get this part right…..The first finished parts went to, Rob, Ryan, Tom, James, and Joe…..Please someone E-mail me if I'm wrong on this. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="20150424_082731.jpg" height="351px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/R-BE2ScvOM1lnvgXoeQA8MU6fA616v9TnWvQlQXteu3t0J1_l_8H1f1JzVF1HseT0_jyJ7JtGarBFvLXPvG4fJk_GUvjR9ggygUS45T4uzQktMEzS63zgSGcYQoRvXpE5YOjomc" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The results of testing on the first few went just like Luis and I thought it would and I geared up to make the first run of 50 first stages….Out of this we also came up with the idea to use nylon washers for the high pressure sealing area as you could stack a couple of them and torque the first stage into place in various ways so the ports would align where you wanted them to …</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.You guys refer to it as Clocking….</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="DSC01427.JPG" height="468px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/y0DMjkItcH2FcwV5KmF-SqDchEmgsFQsS4_aDAoIY71jPNSfMAywzXl1WYosHojZ96KJs2dl0_6gsrM68V-X6FTBjZ7VsXAQeUAyF3XM9_lV5TqSxBcGNieBm6m0gRTs2tSj-cg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="Phoenix nozzles.jpg" height="579px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/OuqDc5uxRM4981JvjPfBsCLeZx0L7jKWUnn9L5nAz5w8EDILZlrYzF3N8VV1GeZgZprKXA4h7HmlBBVXtDUsdAjZATwIcln_3zI-sDFXxDh3v4OGzJH0H19HwnzaSZz7qQC_mDo" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Achilles heel in the whole plan was being reliant on inventory at Aqua Lung specifically yokes and screws</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The name Phoenix was one of a few we were thinking of using….Spider was another one since it kinda looked like one when you hooked up all the hoses to it but in the end I decided on Phoenix since it was helping the double hose rise from the ashes.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Side Note:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Luis cares nothing or very little as far as names, colors, advertising, promotion, graphics, packaging, distribution etc…..It could be called X and come in a used milk carton and as long as it was to his specifications and performed as he designed it everything else is just fluff. Most of the time he prefers not to be bothered with this stuff and leaves it up to me. BUT, he is always very cognizant of how it performs in the field and takes great pains to analyze feedback and information we get from other divers. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After the first run of 50 Phoenix first stages Luis made a revision and was able to shorten the height a bit and improve clearance. At the same time he did some changes to improve airflow through it. </span><a href="http://vintagedoublehose.blogspot.com/2015/03/double-hose-regulators-rise-from-ashes.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Info Covered in THIS Blog Post</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At one point I had dozens sold and NO YOKES OR SCREWS to send them out with…..For those who don’t know me I can assure you that this causes me an immense amount of panic and stress. I HATE…..HATE…..having an order from a customer and not being able to deliver it right away but I was at the mercy of AL and you can’t get what they don’t have…..</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bernie Campoli and several other friends came to my rescue once again and went to their dive lockers and shops and dug up all the new and used Conshelf yokes they could find and sent them to me with the understanding that I would send the loaners back once I got resupplied with the new ones. Their hard work and friendship allowed me to get out an entire run of Phoenix first stages that would have otherwise been delayed for two months!!!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My friends and customers have been vital in building the double hose community and I will forever be in their debt.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since 2006 I have changed machine shops and plating companies several times. Not by choice by due to economic shifts and changes in attitudes. Several of the shops I worked with were small and luckily for them they grew and the business of making 50 parts at time became no longer feasible or if it was, they were charging me a much higher price for their service. With these changes have been many failures in production and quality control. The picture below is what I like to call my </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BOX OF FAIL</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">…...and my recycling bin is much larger ! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="20150424_082800.jpg" height="351px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/h0o-bg0ZVy1_gA5s4Kw4tD8uSMOjhGtSGHzr2VZIf7knsH7nZhXLl6b-CdVJ5UORsLZ1Ewsiwh2usIldZ4Msa9niQ-FjrI_R5ELM1-kJRpwhBMKq-nxVnTK_-Xm3bmugSf2n7us" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624px;" /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the Argonaut came out last year I had decided to stop producing the Phoenix first stage as I thought the volume would not equal the capitol I had to tie up producing them. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Boy was I wrong….I’m used to getting hate mail, it comes with the territory but the outrage from the community made me feel like Frankenstein in the village….I could feel the flames of the torches through the computer. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With over 500 Phoenix's out in the diving world it has taken on it’s own cult following. There are even divers with Argonauts that still cling to their Phoenix like Linus does his blanket. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is no need to change the Phoenix nor does it need to evolve. It stands solidly on it’s own. I predict that someday it will be revered in the same light as the Conshelf or Scubapro MK5 with the same adamant supporters still in use decades after it was introduced. </span></div>
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