White Residual Build Up

YourName

In the threads of my DIN Regs and Tank I have got a bit of white residual build up which is causing difficulty when screwing the regs onto the tank, what should I use to remove this, is there any liquid I can get to break this down, like a vinegar mix or anything???

Also how can I make it easier to screw on the regs to oil the threads, could I use silicone gel which I have anyway, it says its for zips etc. on you drysuit etc. but I don't know if it would work on this part of my equipment or could it just damage it???

martin6651

That sounds like a build up of salt crystals. I would wash it in hot water to get rid of the salt. You want to be careful as to what lubricant you use silicone spray should work. I would suggest the you leave your reg. attached to your cylinder until it can be rinsed in fresh water.

seadeuce

I use WD40 for threads. Always worked well. It is, after all, a Water Dispersant.



Seadeuce

YourName

martin6651 wrote: »

That sounds like a build up of salt crystals. I would wash it in hot water to get rid of the salt. You want to be careful as to what lubricant you use silicone spray should work. I would suggest the you leave your reg. attached to your cylinder until it can be rinsed in fresh water.

Yes i found this site: http://www.saltx-saltremoval.com/Dive-Gear.html

It seems like it could be a bit of an issue with your equipment and having a bottle of this stuff wouldn't be a bad investment, but I can't seem to find it anywhere here, I would say there has to be a homemade alternative out there, or at least something similar, I must dig deeper when I get a chance.

I took a double check today and I found that most of these crystals are on the threads of the regs behind where the dust cap screws on. So yes in future I must leave my regs on until I get home, as I think the problem is arising because there is salt water in the dust cap before I put it on the reg. Is it safe to be putting hot water on the uncapped reg??? What is the big deal anyway about letting water get into the 1st stage, or are people just to protective of them???

seadeuce wrote: »

I use WD40 for threads. Always worked well. It is, after all, a Water Dispersant.



Seadeuce

Yes that would be my next bet, but I don't want to be breathing that stuff in either, after all one day I did get it in my eye, and everything was blurred for a week, no fun.

martin6651

The reason is to keep salt water out of the 1st stage as said the water will dry up and form salt crystals thus causing the 1st. stage to possible fail. There is no problem using hot water straight from the tap and leave your reg. to soak for a as long as you like. When happy use the cylinder to blast air into the dust cap to dry it out but dont blast air on to the 1st stage as this will force water into the reg. You can also stick it under the garden hose and wash the lot reg. and cylinder together.

loctite

silicone grease the threads...... remove your din fitting from your first stage along with any o-rings, leave for few hours in Vinegar or Coke, if you have a sonic bath, can use that or else scrub with tooth brush and relube with silicone spray or grease.

I'd steer well clear of
oil based lubricants