Reproduction Main Diaphragms

[1969ivan1]

Wow! I work a 12.5 hours shift at work and when I get home all kinds of cool posts are on the forum. Looks like Bryan has another winner with the silicone diaphragms! I think the clear is kind of cool as well. Perhaps Bryan will auction off a few of the clear ones????? That would be really cool if they are the only ones ever made

[1stab]

I gotta say that those diaphragms look pretty "hot". Clear wins in my book so I peek inside without having to open the box.

[simonbeans]

I dove the new diaphram in my Mistral today. Although my Mistral is great, I did notice a difference with the new silicone diaphram. The ease of breathing was better. I think the new diaphrams will be a great addition to replacement parts. Tomorrow I will dive the Phoenix. I am looking forward to it. Wazee is a nice place to dive. Cold below thermocline, but then that is why it is called a thermocline, huh?
Allan

[Bryan]

Here is a shot of the new reproduction center discs for the diaphragms.....Turned out very very nice!!

After the feedback from Wazee, conversations with Ryan Spence and the diaphragm company I think there is still a little performace I can tweek out of the new ones.....I'll have a better idea after Portage Quarry...

[Bryan]

Diaphragm company is doing some samples with the center disc molded in during the mold process.....

If not, the latest Loctite sealant works like a champ! Tore the diaphragm before I could get the sealant to release from center disc....

[treasureman]

Hooya... this sounds fantastic. When do you expect to have the new silicone diapragms out for retail.

[1969ivan1]

The prototype I have in my PHOENIX is still going strong FYI. I hope to retrofit all my regulators as soon as they are avail to the masses.

[Bryan]

Diaphragms are on the UPS truck.....Should have them ready for sale on the site by Saturday.....

[clevelanddiver]

Diaphragms are on the UPS truck.....Should have them ready for sale on the site by Saturday.....

Right at a time when I am trying curb my spending on toys. There goes that idea. Can't wait to try one out on my DA.

[1969ivan1]

So are they clear or black? Can't wait to get my order in. Did you make enough for the stampede that will ensue?

[Bryan]

Well......We may have to postpone the new diaphragms for a few more weeks Seems like the "space age" adhesive that was developed by a specialty silicone adheive company does not want to cure even after 24 hours. ... This could be a problem....

[Creed]

Sell me a diaphragm and an insert, and I'll find my own adhesive

[Bryan]

Sound like a great deal for you.....Then down the road you sell the regulator to someone else and just for arguments sake say that the adhesive that YOU chose to use starts falling apart or does not hold up well and the new owner starts posting a whole line of BS on every forum about how my parts are crap.....See where I'm going with this....

[Creed]

I understand. I am just REALLY wanting to replace the diaphragm in my Pico address DAAM. It's deformed and stiff(and held together with aquaseal), and makes the regulator breathe poorly. Perhaps a stupid question, but have you tried silicone caulk, like aquarium sealant? From what I understand, it bonds well with silicone.

[Bryan]

I have tried lots of stuff .....With good results! But I was doing my best to be 100% sure that the new diaphragms were as perfect as possible and still keep the cost low so everyone could afford to put one in all their regulators.
I used a Loctite product on the test diaphragms that everyone has been diving with and it works great....But it is hard to get it to flow evenly and the working time is very short.....SO ONCE AGAIN I CONSULTED WITH INDUSTRY EXPERTS. A chemical Engineer that specializes in silicone rubber…..Told me without a doubt the product I used was the “BEST” one available to adhere silicone rubber to stainless steel…..I took the stainless discs, roughed up the bottom surface with a side grinder as to give the adhesive something to grab on to…..I wiped the discs down with denatured alcohol and a lint free cloth……So I followed his instructions to a T….Now I have 44 diaphragms and center discs covered in some useless adhesive that is about the consistency of toothpaste.
Anyhow, I saved all the E-mails from the Engineer….I’m boxing up all the ruined diaphragms and sending them to him with a note that says…..FIX OR REPLACE. I’m sure it’s an honest mistake , could have been a bad batch of adhesive? I don’t know but I know I’ve made plenty of mistakes and I’m willing to give this company time to fix theirs. Either way I have another batch of diaphragms that were already in production and if worse comes to worse I’ll just use the Loctite product that I used on the sample diaphragms. I know it works !! SORRY FOR THE RANT!! As you can tell I'm more than a little P.O'd