DSMB inflate in cold water - purging

Hi
The last couple of weeks I've been in Stoney, and both times done a bit of
DSMB deployment to keep myself in practice. Being cold though I've found
that I can't actually press and hold the purge down fully because of my
hands being so cold, not enough to purge quickly enough to deploy mid-water
and get any sort of useful volume in the DMSB.
Question is, what is the solution to that? The regs are just generally a
fairly stiff purge from that sort of grip (in the mouth is OK because its
pushing more from the arm than fingers). I don't suppose the purge can be
made less stiff (Oceanic regs, bendy plastic purge, no spring or adjustment
to purge). Obviously keeping my hands warm would be nice but not really
easy to do. I thought maybe one of the little air gun things might be an
idea, just connects to a LP hose - anyone use them, are they any good, easy
to use, likely to freeze open and freeflow, give enough air quickly enough
to inflate a DSMB? I've got enough ports to connect it, on my pony reg, so
thats not a problem.

Any comments? Will an air gun work well, or are there better options? And
I can't afford a self-inflating DSMB at the minute so thats not an option.

Thanks

David

"David Walker" <wbsdavenews@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:buhtj3$s6f$2@wisteria.csv.warwick.ac.uk

> Question is, what is the solution to that?

Try using your exhaust bubbles.

It takes a bit of practice to get it right, but it's well worth the
effort once you've got it sussed.

HTH

Vic.


--
Posted via Mailgate.ORG Server - http://www.Mailgate.ORG

try a air gun it should be safer than a purge or as Vic said your own
exhaust, you may end up in free flow and who needs that ?:)

David Walker wrote:
> And I can't afford a self-inflating DSMB at the minute so thats not an
> option.

Best £80 I ever spent on dive gear... get a twist and go, because you know
you're worth it! ;)

Al.

> Best £80 I ever spent on dive gear... get a twist and go, because you know
> you're worth it! ;)
>
> Al.

Had one got rid of it I found it just too large a bulky and trying to pinch
air off people with full cylinders is always a problem.

Switched over to using one that you inflate from your drysuit or wing
assuming they have the same fittings found it very simple to use and you
dont risk putting your second stage into freeflow or getting it tangled
round the line like you would using your regulator or exhaust bubbles.

Halcyon makes a variety which connect to the inflator hose, it also has an
overpressure valve, it will not explode if you over inflate it at depth.
Tucks nicely behind your plate, clips to your left D ring. Works very well.
Mine is just over 4 feet long and has over 40 pounds of lift. Its
closed-circuit.

"David Walker" <wbsdavenews@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:buhtj3$s6f$2@wisteria.csv.warwick.ac.uk...
> Hi
> The last couple of weeks I've been in Stoney, and both times done a bit of
> DSMB deployment to keep myself in practice. Being cold though I've found
> that I can't actually press and hold the purge down fully because of my
> hands being so cold, not enough to purge quickly enough to deploy
mid-water
> and get any sort of useful volume in the DMSB.
> Question is, what is the solution to that? The regs are just generally a
> fairly stiff purge from that sort of grip (in the mouth is OK because its
> pushing more from the arm than fingers). I don't suppose the purge can be
> made less stiff (Oceanic regs, bendy plastic purge, no spring or
adjustment
> to purge). Obviously keeping my hands warm would be nice but not really
> easy to do. I thought maybe one of the little air gun things might be an
> idea, just connects to a LP hose - anyone use them, are they any good,
easy
> to use, likely to freeze open and freeflow, give enough air quickly enough
> to inflate a DSMB? I've got enough ports to connect it, on my pony reg,
so
> thats not a problem.
>
> Any comments? Will an air gun work well, or are there better options?
And
> I can't afford a self-inflating DSMB at the minute so thats not an option.
>
> Thanks
>
> David
>
>

Rudy Benner wrote:
> Halcyon makes a variety which connect to the inflator hose, it also
> has an overpressure valve, it will not explode if you over inflate it
> at depth. Tucks nicely behind your plate, clips to your left D ring.
> Works very well. Mine is just over 4 feet long and has over 40 pounds
> of lift. Its closed-circuit.

Yes but it's 96 bucks in the USA. It's probably going to be
more than the Buddy self inflator by the time it gets here.

nigelH

David Walker wrote:

> Hi
> The last couple of weeks I've been in Stoney, and both times done a bit of
> DSMB deployment to keep myself in practice. Being cold though I've found
> that I can't actually press and hold the purge down fully because of my
> hands being so cold, not enough to purge quickly enough to deploy mid-water
> and get any sort of useful volume in the DMSB.

Try shorter run times. If you can't operate kit because you're too
cold you're putting yourself and your buddy at risk.

- Keith

On Tue, 20 Jan 2004 00:42:33 -0000, "David Walker"
<wbsdavenews@hotmail.com> wrote:

>I've got enough ports to connect it, on my pony reg, so
>thats not a problem.
>

I'm not sure I'd want to use my pony to inflate a DSMB. AFAIC my pony
is for breathing off, full stop. I'm assuming your primary is as stiff
as your octo, if not, you could use your primary. But the
self-inflating DSMB looks like the less messy set-up.

"David Walker" <wbsdavenews@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<buhtj3$s6f$2@wisteria.csv.warwick.ac.uk>...
> Hi
> The last couple of weeks I've been in Stoney, and both times done a bit of
> DSMB deployment to keep myself in practice. Being cold though I've found
> that I can't actually press and hold the purge down fully because of my
> hands being so cold, not enough to purge quickly enough to deploy mid-water
> and get any sort of useful volume in the DMSB.
> Question is, what is the solution to that?

Three finger mitts are the warmest gloves I've ever come across - Try
getting a pair!