Vintage Double Hose

Now that I have been spoiled by the performance of my Phoenix, I have been contemplating trying some other double hose regs that I see come up often like the Snarks, Dacors, etc. Also would like to try a 1 stage Mistral with some low pressure tanks.

My questions for the VDH community: are there any I should not bother with? (Besides the "new" Mistral) What would the breathing be like on some of these regs compared to my Phoenix?
The availability of parts would also be an issue.

Thanks!

Poog

http://ketchikanindependentdivers.blogspot.com/

I find that the my "Old" Mistral and DW Airstream with the Mistral nozzle both breath very well with the silicone diaphrams. I'v had both on tanks with 2,000 psi and they were good, by the time the PSI droped to 1,000 they were great.

I see a lot of the Mistrals on the market and if you go with the Yellow hoses they are very photogenic.

Pete

Last year I bought an aqualung "trademark" model from Robohips77 (If I remember right) ...it likely dates to about 1956 or 57, has the matte chrome finish and yellow hoses. It looks sharp! I have it for my 1950's setup. It is two stage, but doesn't have the hookah port like the aquamaster....it breathes ok, but not as good as the phoenix of course.

I would guess that would be another good option with decent parts availability for you to try.

I'm not sure about the parts availability or how well they work, but I always thought the Dacor R-4 (?) looked cool with all the large exhaust vents in the can.

Fibber McGee wrote:Last year I bought an aqualung "trademark" model from Robohips77 (If I remember right) ...it likely dates to about 1956 or 57, has the matte chrome finish and yellow hoses. It looks sharp! I have it for my 1950's setup. It is two stage, but doesn't have the hookah port like the aquamaster....it breathes ok, but not as good as the phoenix of course.

I would guess that would be another good option with decent parts availability for you to try.

I'm not sure about the parts availability or how well they work, but I always thought the Dacor R-4 (?) looked cool with all the large exhaust vents in the can.

I've got an R-4, but am still trying to find enough parts for a rebuild. Maybe someday. Till then it's a shiny wallhanger..

Pretty hard to beat a DW Mistral. Especially when equipt with a silicone diaphram. Heathways gold label comes pretty close if you use a US Divers hose set. I have a Dacor C3 Clipper thats not bad too. On the other hand, I had a Dacor Diving lung that I couldn't get any kind of performance out of. Now that I've got a little more experience tuning these things, I might lay my hands on another one and try again.. My last one went to Japan via ebay a could years back.

Jim

swimjim wrote:Pretty hard to beat a DW Mistral. Especially when equipt with a silicone diaphram. Heathways gold label comes pretty close if you use a US Divers hose set. I have a Dacor C3 Clipper thats not bad too. On the other hand, I had a Dacor Diving lung that I couldn't get any kind of performance out of. Now that I've got a little more experience tuning these things, I might lay my hands on another one and try again.. My last one went to Japan via ebay a could years back.

Jim

Do you know anyone with parts for R-4s, like diaphragms etc? I'd really like to get my Dacor going and dive it a little..

Fibber McGee wrote: I'm not sure about the parts availability or how well they work, but I always thought the Dacor R-4 (?) looked cool with all the large exhaust vents in the can.

Fibber, I agree! There's a couple Dacors on the bay now but I also like that Mistral Bryan has right now...Swimjim likes his too! Also sounds like parts for the Dacors would be problematic.

Poog

http://ketchikanindependentdivers.blogspot.com

I saw those Dacors on Ebay...they do look nice...I think they were about a hundred each...but you're right, the parts to keep them working would be a bit of a stretch. For now, you'd probably be happier with the Mistral.

...and I suspect if you get to go to any of the vintage dive meets that get posted here it is likely that someone would have one of the other regs that you might be able to try out. (I saw some pics from a meet where someone even had an mk V hard hat suit available to try....one of those odd childhood dreams at an affordable price.)

My vote on the regulator question would be for the USD Mistral. It is my favorite regulator to use if I don't need all the extra stuff (SPG, etc.). The Mistral seems to be rather easy to find. eBay seems to have a few listed most regularly. Easy to service with VDH parts and maintain. There were a few models (sic) Over-Pressure, Jet-Air, Voit Lung, Stream Air, all with basically the same internals that can be modified to a mistral with just a venturi nozzle. Diving one is really fun as the venturi nozzle produces a sound that is neat and reasuring. When the pressure of the tank drops below 1800 psi, they breathe as well as almost any regulator made. Even at higher pressures the work of breathing is not objectionable. As a companion to the Phoenix, the Mistral is a great choice.

My 1st and 2nd choice of 2 hosers. La Spirotechnique Royal Mistral. Good enough for Cousteau at pressures up to 5000psi....Good enough for me at any pressure. I dive this regulator anywhere anytime any depth any conditions.

That Nemrod Snark III is a serious regulator, especially the later models with SPG port. The overall construction, including the hoses, is tougher than the AquaMaster. I used to drill and tap the LP chamber on the back so my friends who used these could install an LP inflator hose for use with the newer horse collar BC's. At the same time, I would tweak the LP setting on the regs for easiest inhalation. I don't remember the exact setting, about 135 psi, I think. It may be that the act of installing a small reservor represented by that hose had something to do with it.

The Snark III and the later Snark III Silver were very nice regs. The recommended IP on them is 10 Bar/145psi.

Jim