FS: 300 Bar, 316 SS DIN Plugs

[stickydeco]

As John L. would say……”DIN Plugs or Butt Plugs, what a decision to have to make!”

About 3 years ago, a buddy of mine, who is tight with a machine shop owner, sold me some 300 Bar Stainless Steel (#316 stock) DIN Plugs. I quickly found that these babies are not only great in protecting valve threads and keeping wet, nasty sand out of them, but can also save you a possible trip to the ER if you happen to be using the non-vented Delrin version. Because of the captured O-Ring in them, they also keep your gas from leaking out of the valve if one is accidentally cracked just a bit. They go in hand tite and if there is gas against them, close the valve and just use an 8" Cresent Wrench to open 'er up. Plus they just look plain damned “teckie good.”

To see a good discussion on this issue, here is the 2004 CFD thread:

http://cavediver.net/phpbb2/viewtopi...ighlight=plugs

Well, when it was time to get more, I find out that my friend has moved to the Left Coast and is not selling them anymore. So I started searching around and found that the source given in that thread is currently charging $22 each or $18.66 for a six pack. Buckaroos, that’s a little too much for this Boy…give me a DIN Plug break! So, I went to the same machine shop and had the minimum run of 100 made…I needed about 20. I’m selling the other 80: These babies are nice:

http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/...20002small.jpg

http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/...20004small.jpg

http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/...20008small.jpg

http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/...20005small.jpg

$15 each…and I’ll take checks, MOs, first born, an SS Scooter, but NO plastic or Pay Pal. Jackie and I will be at the CDS Live Oak Goat Rope at the end of the month and we’ll bring a bucket of these pups along. They will come with the standard 112 Buna O-Ring. For 100% O2, you can sub with either a Viton or EPDM.

Incidentally, here is the infamous Neoprene Queen and Idiot Boy Crazy Jack on Grand Bahama two weeks ago just across from the entrance to the Old Freetown Cave System (Mermaid’s Lair).

http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/...6_010small.jpg

You want Mexico quality cave diving (and decorations) just 70 miles from Florida, to be able to haul your own gear there to do it without paying a cent for baggage (by taking the Discovery Cruise Ship...a wonderful 4 hr trip with dining and all that great stuff) and to be supported with decent gas fills and the current NACD Safety Officer for the Grand Bahamas.….talk to me sometime about this place..unreal!

[kljones]

If you are talking about [Remember rule #6], he's a great cave instructor also. I'm going over in June to finish apprentice and full cave with him. We are going in at Owl Hole (climbing down a 40' steel ladder in full gear!) and will exit at Mermaid's Lair. It's about a 1/2 mile swim underground and [he] has been instrumental in mapping it and putting in the lines. I'm stoked!!!

[stickydeco]

...We are going in at Owl Hole (climbing down a 40' steel ladder in full gear!) and will exit at Mermaid's Lair....

May I recommend that all y'all enter at the Lair and swim up to Owl's Hole, and then back, as I did with (possibly that same person). One helluva lot easier than the other way around. Look for our "Glory Cookie" on the Owl's side as well as some original Parker Turner arrows in a bunch of spots!

Jack Boy

[John L.]

As John L. would say……”DIN Plugs or Butt Plugs, what a decision to have to make!”

There's no decision to make. I'll take the butt plugs!

[stickydeco]

UPDATE!

Just got another 100 made up...$12 each
Crazy Filthy Jack

[Webmaster]

Someone was telling me that unscrewing a SS plug from a normal tank valve under pressure can ruin the tank valve threads. In removing it the very hard stainless can damage the threads enough in one instance to make it unsafe.

[DeWayne]

Someone was telling me that unscrewing a SS plug from a normal tank valve under pressure can ruin the tank valve threads. In removing it the very hard stainless can damage the threads enough in one instance to make it unsafe.

With a 300 bar valve this should not be an issue given the vent port on them. A 200 bar will depressurize fairly quick once you loosen it a bit. I can see where this might be a problem if you used brute force to unscrew it completely, but I think loosening it enough to vent the pressure will not cause any serious harm.

[stickydeco]

Someone was telling me that unscrewing a SS plug from a normal tank valve under pressure can ruin the tank valve threads. In removing it the very hard stainless can damage the threads enough in one instance to make it unsafe.

I have never had that issue come up in any of my valve classes or Manufacturer Go-By's or Bulletins. Nor have I ever experienced the situation, having removed them under pressure, many times. But, I guess if it were to happen to me I'd be fixin to go out and buy a new valve; i.e. I think I'll worry about hell freezing over first...which is a concern cause I know that them Hell Boys have reserved me a front row seat with my name on it.

Idiot Jack