Reproduction Main Diaphragms

[JES]

I only see the single stage model??

James

Maybe he already sold out of these

[Bryan]

They were selling so quickly that I had to disable the dual stage until I could get an accurate count on what I had. I just updated with the last 6 I'll have until the next batch arrive at the end of next week. I also wanted to give everyone the low down on the adhesives I used just in case you have to do a repair to the new ones. These are just MY results and OPINIONS. Not facts.....Your results may vary.

Aqua-Seal…………Don’t Bother
G.E. Silicone 25 year calk……..Works better than I thought!
Sil-Poxy……….Good stuff but 3 ounces was $26.04 plus shipping.
SS-3006T………Good stuff. $19.05 3 ounces two part oven cure…..Rock solid but messy and a pain to bake in the oven.
Loctite Superflex black RTV part #59330…..Took forever to cure but it is my favorite and what I’ll be using on future diaphragms.

[JES]

I just received my silicone reproduction diaphragms and installed the first one in my Phoenix RAM.

After I reinstalled the can and band clamp all I can say is WOW! These things are absolutely incredible.

Bryans Magnehelic results are dead-on. Although not scientific, when I take a breath it feels as if I only need about 1/2 of the effort to inhale on my Phoenix RAM with this new diaphragm.

Thank you Bryan for producing such a super upgrade.

[Creed]

I received mine today. I'll have it installed tonight. Btw, the beverage sleeves are cool, too! Now my beer can wear an Aqualung wetsuit, too!

[Bryan]

I'm really happy to hear that it's not just me that's impressed with the diaphragms......I hate to brag but they do work rather well .....I'm anxious to hear more feedback on the final product.
Thank you for the compliments, they are most appreciated.

[luis]

I got my diaphragms yesterday and tried one of them in my Phoenix. The measured inhalation resistance dropped by approximately 0.3 to 0.4 inches of W.C. (percentage wise that is a huge amount).

They are very nice. It seems like they will work great with the body ring claps (I didn’t actually closed the can yet). I hope to dive one tomorrow.
I will be getting a couple more diaphragms in a little wile.
Just out of curiosity, what happen to the clear idea?

[Bryan]

Well it’s like this……When the diaphragms were 1st bid they were scheduled for 50 durometer hardness and that’s the product I paid for. (small company)….After I tried a couple of those in 50 I decided to drop to 40 hardness….I didn’t want to pay again for a bunch of the 40 durometer until I knew it was what I wanted to use for the whole batch. They had some clear 40 hardness from another job and did my samples from that batch of material. Those are the ones that you guys saw and were diving with at Wazee and Portage. After getting some feedback from divers that used them, setting around pounding my head on the table, comparing the 40 hardness diaphragm to the one homebuilt diaphragm that Ryan made for himself I decided to drop the hardness down to a 30 durometer and take the chance that it would not come out too thin, stretch too much and end up being good for nothing but drink coasters. The problem I was contending with was that I have to pay each time I have samples run in different durometers…..Luckily for me the 30 came out almost perfect! It reacts quickly to demand, is super tough but still remains flexible. The company already had a large run of items that were going to go in 30 durometer black so I just tagged on with them and saved 50 cents per diaphragm over going with my own mix in clear…..
After you guys have purchased the majority of this batch I would consider doing a run in a custom color…..

[Creed]

I don't have any way of measuring it aside from subjective breathing, but the new diaphragm certainly feels like it breathes a lot easier. Especially when considered against the Aquaseal nightmare that was the diaphragm on my Pico DAAM.

[simonbeans]

This will be only a preliminary report on the new diaphram. I dove it in my RAM on Friday, 8 September. The RAM breathes great, so I really wasn't expecting a noticeable difference. Rob and I dove @ 9:44 am on the Islander, a wreck in the St. Lawrence. The depths went to 65 feet. My first impression of the diaphram can be only expessed as WOW!!!!!, there was a noticeable difference. I dove it 4 times that day and was thoroughly impressed. Today, Saturday, 9 September Rob and I dove the Keystorm. The first dive went to 110'. The regulator breathed easy, smooth and all the air I needed. The diaphrams really make a difference. If you have a good breather already, the diaphram will make it fabulous. I will report more completely tomorrow, complete with photos. Thanks Bryan, you did good.
Allan

[1969ivan1]

Finally I got an order in for my new silicone diaphragms. They have been selling faster than mistral seats. I can't wait to try thr finished and perfected product. Allan would not share his for nothing while we dived in NY . Off to the quarry I must go.

[Nemrod]

I finally got around to ordering a new diaphram from VDH and WOW is all I can say. I will be ordering several more but ordered only one now because I am going out of town next week and the banker is holding cash in reserve .

Anyways, I have not used one but I did see the examples Bryan had at Wazee and they looked great but when I held them they seemed a tad heavy and stiff but still better than a stiff old NOS unit. Well, , whatever adjustment Bryan has made since then is like night and day. The diaphram I pulled out of the box with the two free drink holders that look cool on my boat--thanks--was way different from the examples at Wazee. It is lighter feeling, and much more flexible and springy for lack of a better word. This new silicone VDH diaphram makes the BEST new NOS diaphram seem as a stiff board. I will be diving it some next week so I should give it a good test. I will install it in Phoenix RAM 006.

One of the great things about dealing with Bryan and VDH and VSS and the other vinage individuals, like most small buisneses, they have honor and integrity, something that Aqua Lung for example who stiffed me on the free octapus does not have, It is a pleasure to deal with honorable people who give you more than what you expected or even deserve for the dollar.

In one quick move all of the horded up NOS diaphrams locked away in vaults never to be seen have been rendered moot and obsolete

James

[1969ivan1]

I am still waiting on my diaphragms. I am sooooo excited to get it in my PHOENIX. I am planning on a trip to Charleston and will put it through it's paces there.

[fishb0y]

I love diving Charleston... Are you planning to dive the Cooper or are you going off-shore?

[Bryan]

You guys should make a post in the Vintage Diving Trips section so everone can see your thoughts on the dive sites....

[luis]

Last night I made an interesting observation with the new silicon diaphragms. It seams that if you clamp the diaphragms too tight you loose some of the advantage of the flexibility.

Last night I was closing my production Phoenix with the new diaphragm. I also adjusted the 2nd stage spring and the 1st stage IP, it was breathing around 0.5 inWC. I had a hard time putting on the ring clap because I adjusted it (compressed it) to fit with an old diaphragm, where the perimeter lip has been compressed. On new diaphragm, the perimeter lip is full size. As I was closing the clamp I occasionally tested the breathing resistance and it increased all the way to 1.1 inWC. As I was loosening it up the breathing resistance dropped again. I tried this a few times and it was very repeatable.

Finally, I tried a new ring clap (one that has not been modified/ compressed) and it works fine. The diaphragm always sealed with no need for excessive clamping.

I can’t see what is happening to the diaphragm as I am tightening the clamp (it is probably getting deformed, maybe causing wrinkles). Therefore, I don’t know the mechanics that cause the decrease in performance, but it only happens with excessive clamping force.

I am probably not the only one that has had to adjust the main body ring clamps to accommodate old diaphragm (reduced lip thickness). If the same clamp is used with the new diaphragm, it may need to be re-adjusted.

With the use of the new diaphragms (and attention to details), now I have two Phoenix RAMs (the prototype with no LP ports, and the 1st production unit) both breathing at 0.5 inWC or less.