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Post by vance on Nov 18, 2019 10:17:24 GMT -8
I 'm wondering what equipment people on the forum think is under-rated and under-valued. Looking at eBay listings for vintage regs got me wondering why some stuff is going for peanuts, while other similar items are getting big bucks. I'm starting it off with regulators that don't get the respect they deserve, but the question is open to any diving equipment you'd like to discuss!
One example, Dacor single hose regs. The Olympic 4/800s, are bullet proof and very good breathers. So is the Pacer, and several other models. There are a couple of dogs, especially the early ones, but in general, Dacor regs are high quality and work very well.
The same goes for the Healthways GL. This is a great regulator which might out-perform the USD Mistral, but isn't considered to be as good as the USD offerings.
Other somewhat under-rated regulators are the Nemrod Snark III and Silver DH series.
Is anyone else mystified what/why certain things just aren't popular, but should be?
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Post by snark3 on Nov 18, 2019 10:55:04 GMT -8
I will certainly agree with you Phil about the Snark III. I've said before my first Snark III #05486 is the best breathing reg I've ever used. I've used some "pretty good" regs too. Conshelf SE2, Conshelf 22, RAM, Magnum Blizzard, original Aquarius, just to name a few.
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Post by nikeajax on Nov 18, 2019 14:19:15 GMT -8
White stag and Waterlung equipment from the 1970's.
JB
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Post by snark3 on Nov 18, 2019 15:00:57 GMT -8
JB- Waterlung from the 70's huh, maybe I need to make one of those my next project.
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Post by herman on Nov 18, 2019 15:37:36 GMT -8
Limited parts and information are likely the major issues, esp with single hose regs. While the Dacor second stages use common parts (and are quite good) the first often used odd ball parts that are almost impossible to find. Why bother with it when you can get every part you need, new, not old stock, for a Conshelf. Same goes for most other brands. Even for wall hangers (DHs at least) hoses and mouth pieces are not usually good but at least for Voit and USD you can get replacements and if you extend this to a divable reg then USD/Voit is really the only way to go assuming you want the reg to be in top shape for diving. Old seats and hard diaphragms don't cut it for diving unless you are really hard core about diving one.
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Post by nikeajax on Nov 18, 2019 15:46:13 GMT -8
Skip, yeah, easily as good as my Conshelf! With the 4K yoke it may be '80's but this thing rocks like a Dee Dee Ramone bass-riff! JB
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Post by nikeajax on Nov 18, 2019 16:11:39 GMT -8
...Why bother with it when you can get every part you need, new, not old stock, for a Conshelf... Because challenges are fun and exciting and using what everyone else uses can get boring really fast: that's why. Vive la différence!The thread is about "Underrated equipment", not industry-standards. But yes, I totally agree Connies are great regs... JB
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Post by crabbyjim on Nov 18, 2019 16:19:12 GMT -8
Lurch dances like a white boy.
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Post by nikeajax on Nov 18, 2019 16:40:02 GMT -8
Another really nice one is the Healthways Scubair-II: Scubair-II-J by Gray Pine, on Flickr It actually shares some components with the USD Calypso-III+ JB
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Post by SeaRat on Nov 18, 2019 18:02:33 GMT -8
Getting away from scuba for a moment, I think dive knives are highly undervalued, and can be picked up at a fraction of what I think should be their value. I don't know how many times I've cut fishing line off my equipment or myself, and recently had to cut a nylon throw line off me when it tangled around my thumb it high current. The dive knives I really like or either the early Sportsways knives, or the Wenoka knives. The USD knives of the period stated, "Stainless Steel, Made in Japan," and within a very short time had rust over the lettering; the USD knives also did not hold an edge, while I used my Sportsways knife to cut two dead Korean pilots out of their parachute lines and risers when in the USAF in Korea in 1969. Here's my collection: IMG_8687 by John Ratliff, on Flickr This shows them with their sheaths. IMG_8688 by John Ratliff, on Flickr Here are the knives with the sheaths below. IMG_8689 by John Ratliff, on Flickr Closeup of the knives. I particularly like the serrated edge, as I used it early to cut through a 2" rope (1960s) that had tangled in a boat's prop. All of these knives will hold a razor-sharp edge. There are currently 11 of these Sportsways knives available on E-Bay, for about $30 and up to $50. John
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Post by tomcatpc on Nov 18, 2019 18:38:45 GMT -8
Not much to add, other than I really love my Healthways Scubair and Scubair 300. I also like my early-mid 60's Voit single hose regs. Takes a bit of work with the exhaust in the centre of the diaphragm, but worth it. Mark
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Post by vance on Nov 18, 2019 18:43:13 GMT -8
Limited parts and information are likely the major issues, esp with single hose regs. While the Dacor second stages use common parts (and are quite good) the first often used odd ball parts that are almost impossible to find. Why bother with it when you can get every part you need, new, not old stock, for a Conshelf. Same goes for most other brands. Even for wall hangers (DHs at least) hoses and mouth pieces are not usually good but at least for Voit and USD you can get replacements and if you extend this to a divable reg then USD/Voit is really the only way to go assuming you want the reg to be in top shape for diving. Old seats and hard diaphragms don't cut it for diving unless you are really hard core about diving one. Yes, I agree. Parts availability is a big issue. However, the Dacor 4/800 first stages, and others, use common parts that are easily available. I have rebuilt several. Dacor dh regs have the relatively unavailable diaphragms, hoses/wws/non-return valves, which make them very difficult to restore. This will limit the popularity, for sure. But, for DH regs don't rule out Healthways line, esp the GL, which also have readily available repro parts. The Deluxe is a very diveable regulator, esp if you pair it with a USD 1 1/2" hoseloop. The Scuba is also quite diveable if you can overcome the exhaust diaphragm issue.
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Post by herman on Nov 19, 2019 3:51:56 GMT -8
The 400/800 has several difficult to find parts. The inner filter for one but the main issue is the seat. This is true for most diaphragm regs unless they used the USD seat. Orings are common but many don't want to have to figure out what they are. I have rebuilt several of these for a project I did a while back.
The GL is a great reg, I have one but again there are parts that are not available, mainly the HP seat. I know there are a few NOS ones around but are hard to find, luckily HW seats seem to hold up well.
Other than a collector, most are looking to put the regs back in service, this is esp true of DH. To do that you either have to find or make parts, most people are not equipped to make them.
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Post by vance on Nov 19, 2019 8:23:48 GMT -8
True, again! You are correct that these parts are difficult to find, but they are often not needed. That inner filter can be cleaned sonically, if no corrosion happened inside the HP valve, and the soft seat can be cleaned up. But, in the event these things are bad or missing, you'd need to scavenge from a donor or luck out finding NOS. I guess I'm used to being able to and unworried about fixing and figuring things out. I understand that most people aren't.
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Post by nikeajax on Nov 19, 2019 8:40:30 GMT -8
...I guess I'm used to being able to and unworried about fixing and figuring things out... That's the fun part: you never know what you can do until you are pushed. John, here are some more knives: JB
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