http://www.divethoughts.com/servicing-oms-power-inflator/ A Neil's eye view of the diving world Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:13:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.divethoughts.com/servicing-oms-power-inflator/comment-page-1/#comment-1249 neil Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:57:07 +0000 http://www.divethoughts.com/?p=1643#comment-1249 Thanks for that Nick. I assumed you would have something to say on the subject. Thanks for that Nick. I assumed you would have something to say on the subject.

]]> http://www.divethoughts.com/servicing-oms-power-inflator/comment-page-1/#comment-1248 Taucher Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:13:33 +0000 http://www.divethoughts.com/?p=1643#comment-1248 Aaaah! Please, please, PLEASE, if you absolutely have to have a go at your own equipment - DO NOT use serrated-jaw pliers like those shown in the preceding pictures for Any part of your Scuba gear. They are primarily for plumbers and those serrations are designed to cut into whatever material they grip - no good at all for precision diving equipment. If you do not have a complete range of suitable hand tools, one viable alternative would be a "PlierWrench" from Knipex - the German tool company who make probably the best pliers in the world - but don't take my word for it, I'm only an aircraft engineer... Seriously, the PlierWrench is a "slip-jawed" style plier with SMOOTH parallel jaws which do not mar the surface they're gripping. And their design is such that the harder you push down on their handles, the harder they grip. Expensive? Yes. Available in Hong Kong? Yes - have a look around better tool shops in Mong Kok 's Reclamation/Soy Street areas. Worth buying? Yes - though think of buying tools like this as an investment, rather than an expense. Knipex pliers are also sold by Snap-On, Mac and all the other Aircraft Engineering tool suppliers, with this particular item available in three sizes. So, if you absolutely, positively, have to mess around today with the life support equipment that you may be breathing from tomorrow, at least get the right tools for the job... ... But ideally, if you don't know what you're doing, don't touch it at all. Safe diving, Nick. Aaaah! Please, please, PLEASE, if you absolutely have to have a go at your own equipment – DO NOT use serrated-jaw pliers like those shown in the preceding pictures for Any part of your Scuba gear. They are primarily for plumbers and those serrations are designed to cut into whatever material they grip – no good at all for precision diving equipment.
If you do not have a complete range of suitable hand tools, one viable alternative would be a “PlierWrench” from Knipex – the German tool company who make probably the best pliers in the world – but don’t take my word for it, I’m only an aircraft engineer… Seriously, the PlierWrench is a “slip-jawed” style plier with SMOOTH parallel jaws which do not mar the surface they’re gripping. And their design is such that the harder you push down on their handles, the harder they grip.
Expensive? Yes. Available in Hong Kong? Yes – have a look around better tool shops in Mong Kok ‘s Reclamation/Soy Street areas. Worth buying? Yes – though think of buying tools like this as an investment, rather than an expense. Knipex pliers are also sold by Snap-On, Mac and all the other Aircraft Engineering tool suppliers, with this particular item available in three sizes.
So, if you absolutely, positively, have to mess around today with the life support equipment that you may be breathing from tomorrow, at least get the right tools for the job…
… But ideally, if you don’t know what you’re doing, don’t touch it at all.
Safe diving,
Nick.

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