How to ID a Non Magnetic Regulator

[NAUI Diver]

how do you ID a Non-Mag DA from a regular off the shelf DA? if its in this forum in a post somewhere, i apoligize , but i just havent found it yet.

Congrats on the reg btw!!

Ray

[Bryan]

I moved your question to the area it should go in. I do my best to keep the forum organized so it's easy for folks to locate what they are looking for.

Non Magnetics are one of my favorite subjects but I think I'll let some of our partners in crime chime in here and give you some tips.

Beware! there are some really good fakes out there....LOL!

[kgehring]

Here is a pic of a Non-Mag DA:

[Bryan]

Karl, show him the good side.....I can fake that side with my eyes closed....Lord knows with your regulator collection you should be able to show all sides in one photo!

[kgehring]

Yoke screw should be black and as you can see the yoke nut is coated brass. The Internals of the reg can be described by Bryan. He is the GURU!

[kgehring]

Sorry for bad pics. My camera is full of saltwater and I am using some old archive pics I had. I should aquire my new camera tomorrow if the price is right!

Some, if not all Non-Mag regs, have a MU Greek stamp on the flat area of the body near the yoke. Also the hooka port is coated and not used.

[Bryan]

Here is what a complete one looks like inside.....There are many variations though. The most common feature as Karl says is the MU Trident stamp and the lack of a finished hookah port on the main body.

[NAUI Diver]

thankyou Gentlemen, that makes it alittle clearer for me. being new to this Double Hose game.. ive got alot to learn. those pics will go along ways twords helping to educate me.
thanks again,
Ray

now to start a thread about IDing a Navy DA Aqua-Master

[1stab]

Regarding that last pic of the overhauled reg -- has it been powdercoated? And if so, does that change its non-magnetic properties? I understand that powdercoating involves electricity to adhere the coating to the item. Yes/No? What change in value occurs?

I'm not a computer guy so this is my first "dip in the pool." I apologize if I've made any errors.

By the way, this is one groovy site!

[Bryan]

The last regulator is mine and the coating is 100% original........It is similar to parkerizing (sp) But looks almost identical to powdercoating.

[1stab]

Thank you, Sir, for your prompt response. That is one beautiful reg you have there.

So it is an SP coating then? Is that something an MC Shop or Gunsmith can do? This topic interests me as I may have just acquired one on Ebay. I can't confirm until it arrives.

Thanks again.

[1969ivan1]

Bryna made me a special to order DA FAUX NON MAG. It is the deal because it looks like a NM but I dod not have to worry about trashing my valuable NM. He took a nasty DA and had it pwdercoated flat balck. I defy anyone to tell it form a real NM until they see the back hookah port. It looks way cool and of course it breathes great like all of Bryan's rebuilds do. All that and he only charged me 1000 bucks !!!!!

[TENNESSEE DIVER]

LOOK ATHE THE PHOTO OF BRYAN'S REG. NOTE IN A NON MAG UNIT THE FOLLOWING PARTS WILL USUALLY BE MADE OF BRASS AND IN SOME PARTS, GOLD PLATED.
THE NOTCHED BODY RING,THE LOW PRESSURE SEAT HOLDER, NUT AND WASHER.AS WELL AS THE LOW PRESSURE SPRING HOLDER, THE SEAT UNIT GOES THROUGH.
ON THE HIGH PRESSURE SIDE, THE H.P. PAD, THE OUTSIDE H.P. NUT WITH THE INSIDE HEX ADJUSTER. AND ALSO THE LOW PRESSURE SEAT, I DON'T THINK I MISSED ANY THING, BUT MAY HAVE, AS I AM GOING FROM MEMORY, AND I AM NOT UP TO MY EARLY YEARS . OTHER UNITS USE STAINLESS STEEL OR PLATED BRASS---GUYS THIS IS THE BEST SITE TO LEARN, AND I HAVE NOT MET ANYONE WHO IS "UPPITTY" IN ANY SHAPE OR FORM. ALL SEEM TO ME TO BE A TOP NOTCH BUNCH OF VERY NICE PEOPLE OF WHOM I AM GLAD TO BE A PART.HOPE THIS HELPS--RON

[Bryan]

Thank you, Sir, for your prompt response. That is one beautiful reg you have there.

So it is an SP coating then? Is that something an MC Shop or Gunsmith can do? This topic interests me as I may have just acquired one on Ebay. I can't confirm until it arrives.

Thanks again.

It is a very special coating...But I would check with gunsmiths that do work on AR-15/M-16's Many rifles of that type have a similar non glare finish. You can powdercoat it and it will look dead on to the untrained eye but would not be correct for a restoration.
Post some photos of the regulator when you get it. We have a lot of experience in this group that can ID a Non Magnetic pretty quickly. You might also check out the nice non mag examples under the post Ron Millers Museum. All three types of double hose non mags are there as well as some rarely seen single hose non mags.

[1stab]

Thanks to all for the info. As soon as I receive the reg, I will try my hand at taking pics and posting them.

And to 1969ivan1-- that's a great idea. I happen to have a DA, (shiny chrome, made in France), that looks horrible inside. I actually prefer the matte finishes of earlier models. $1000? Hmmmm.

Tennessee Diver-- Thanks for the hospitality.