hehe I was thinking we had wandered pretty far from your question, but interesting discussion none the less.
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Try to stick with 8-12 grade sorb (sofnolime preferrably) it is a better scrubber medium than the 4-8 stuff. There have been some accidents with the medical grade stuff used in anesthesia machines (sorry don't know what to call them). Most manufacturers will recommend only using either dragersorb or sofnolime, some just sofnolime. You will get more time from the 8-12 grade also.
Sorry to take the OP so far off track.
There was a time when most RB divers "thought" that, but the facts - over the last 3 to 4 years, from my personal observations and from all the forums I read - don't seem to bear it out. The mechanical properties (size) of the 8-12 granules are better suited for deeper stuff, for sure, but lots of divers are using the bigger stuff and getting excellent results on very long and deep dives. Sure don't want to sidetrack this thread with another useless discussion on which size everyone "thinks" is better, as we've had too many of those, but did want to mention that you might want to poke around on RBW, for example, and see what is being said. You may be right about longer dive times with the 8-12, but it's just going to be marginal at normal depths.
I've also got a buddy diving the same unit I am (same size scrubber) and he's pushing his unit just as hard as me, using the bigger 4-8 stuff. He's the one that made me stop and look at what others are really doing with the larger stuff. Having been taught that 8-12 was the only "safe" sorb, it took me a long time to "unlearn" that BS.
I still use 8-12 because I have so much of it, and I'm older than most of you so figure I'll err on the 8-12 side. But the 8-12 really isn't necessary for routine dives. If I had it I'd dive it.
If you decide to go with the Medical 408 Sofnolime give me a yell.
I bought a Half pallet earlier this year and only have a couple left (I expect to be out by end of year)
I buy from AirGas, however they indicated that they would not order any more unless it was a full pallet.
I'm guessing as a technical LDS, I should be able to get it cheaper than most. I'll let you know what I find out. I'll want to unload some of the pallet.
I'm probably getting a bit ahead of myself. Who's to say I'll actually pass the class. And I haven't decided if I'm going to wait and save for the CCR or put it on a credit card :D . I guess I should talk all of this over with the wife.
Well, the class is already paid for. I've gotten permission for the class, and my wife knows I'm buying a rebreather, but she thinks I'm buying it in March or February. I don't want to forget everything I learn in class, so I'm tempted to CC it.