Chlorine etc

[nemrod]

This is something I normally don't worry over. Gear is meant to be used and I use it even in the pool and just wash and rinse it all. BUT--since I now have a small fortune in antique masks and fins and rubber regulator hoses and all that what should I do to protect them or should I ask do they need any protection from chlorine? I was in the pool most of the afternoon with my DA and Mistral and various equipment trying to get up to speed for our vintage trip.
Somehow, I lucked out and scored a nice blue rubber oval mask in perfect condition--new in fact and it worked great. Nothing like the real thing. I sucked my tank nearly dry swimming around.
It is strange but even with a 3 mil suit, I don't need weight, I sink like a rock, always been a problem.
Well, hope the chlorine don't kill my hoses and mask and DuckFeet.
Just one thing, I had on my ForceFins, say what ya want but when ever I use those things I notice the bottom flying by at prodigious rates with no effort. DuckFeet UDTs doing okay as well with my fin socks. Chruchills, used them also, not much power there by comparison. There is a lot of power in those UDTs if I still had the muscle to push them hard---woe is me but I don't. Nemrod

[Danny D]

Well I don't know about the chlorine hurting the hoses duckbill ect. , but it should kill any bacteria in you hoses ect. ..so that is a plus!

[John C Ratliff]

Nemrod,

The chlorine will hurt the duckbills, older rubber masks, gum rubber on the Duckfeet, and older rubber hoses on the regs. The best things to do are to soak them in fresh water (not pool water) for a period of time after exposure. Then use either silicone grease, or Armorall (I've used both) to regenerate and protect the rubber. Finally, ozone also attacks the rubber. So anything that generates ozone can be a problem, and storing the rubber products in a plastic ziplock bag will definately help.

SeaRat

[John C Ratliff]

'Forgot to say, be sure to store them dry. Hang the regs so the water drains out the mouthpiece (or disassemble them to dry them). Let them dry, then put them in the ziplock bag. We used to use talc to store rubber products, but talc in harmful to breath; corn starch does the same job, but is not harmful.

SeaRat

[nemrod]

John, you said it would hurt the rubber of older hoses, howabout the rubber of the new hoses? Is it a different formulation?
Yes, I cleaned everything in freshwater but disassembling these regulators every time they are used is tiresome.
Oh well, I hate taking the hoses off, they are quiet a wrestling match getting them back on the intake port on the box due to the thicker than old type duckbills and hoses. Nemrod

[cstmwrks]

All dipped rubber goods and heat compression molded rubber goods be they new or old are affected by chlorine. As I recall pool chlorine levels are at the 4 to10 PPM and the "baths" used to treat new dipped goods is in the 165 to 225 PPM range. 30 minutes in a 225 PPM bath would distroy the rubber item.
Any exposure to chlorine reduces useful life. Pool chlorine does not have that dramatic of an effect.. but over time it does take its toll.

[Buzz]

I have been using a product called Lexol Vinylex for a long time. It is similar to ArmorAll but won't form a built up layer that will start cracking over time like ArmorAll.
I had seen a web site that compared several products and the Lexol came out ahead of them all. When I used it, I was very happy with it. I use it on everything now .........car , motorcycle, scuba stuff....etc.
It may be hard to find tho.....but I can get mine at Pep Boys. Other auto stores may have it too.

Buzz