WTB Stage Bottle and Regs

[TracyN]

Hey all. I'm looking to buy a stage bottle and regs. Anybody have any they want to sell?

[loquat149]

I'd recommend just buying a new reg. I've lost money on all the used regs I've purchased thinking I was getting a deal. After you get them serviced and make repairs you can often just buy a new one for the same price or less. The HOG are more/less decent stage regs, though it helps to be proficient in servicing regulators if you're going to dive them. I think that's why the service kits are so easy to get. You can also get some good deals on higher end regs like Apeks from European mail order companies.

At any rate, don't buy a used regulator until you've seen the condition of the inside of both the first and second stages. Also, make sure you have plenty of hydro left on any used bottles you may buy.

Dave

[Mark Vlahos]

HOG regs are bellwethers based on the ease of learning (with manufacturers blessings) how to service them yourself. There are other brands that do allow you to purchase service kits, but to my knowledge they don't pair that with an authorized channel for getting the requisite knowledge.

My advice echoes the advice Dave gave above. Buy new HOG regs, and learn how to service them. For cylinders I own Luxfer AL80's, but if I had it to do over again I would look long and hard at those AL72's that are now available. They are just a little bit smaller diameter, but that difference sure makes them easier to handle when you are dealing with multiple cylinders. I also like low pressure steel 45's for Oxygen, yes they are heavier but lower pressure for oxygen is not necessarily a bad thing in my book. I have been using a PST LP45 for O2 for years, the only down side is that they are heavy, but then you usually drop the O2 bottle near the cave entrance anyway.

So, New HOG regs, and a used or new LP45 for O2, and new or used AL72's for stages is my advice. Of course you did not ask for advice, you just asked if someone had gear to sell, so take from my comments what you want, or ignore them entirely.

Mark Vlahos

[Sludge]

The HOG are more/less decent stage regs ... higher end regs like Apeks

What makes them higher end? Internally, they're pretty much identical.

[loquat149]

What makes them higher end? Internally, they're pretty much identical.

Tolerances? Quality control? Out of the box they are already tuned and have all the requisite o-rings? The second stage levers in new regulators don't need to be bent in order to work to pearly?

Dave

[rddvet]

Tolerances? Quality control? Out of the box they are already tuned and have all the requisite o-rings? The second stage levers in new regulators don't need to be bent in order to work to pearly?

Dave

Wait, wait. You mean I'm not the only one that had HOG regs missing orings(confirmed by the manufacturer)?

[KevZiz]

I have two Sherwood Blizzard regs that I used for stage...well, didn't hardly use them. They only have about 10 fresh water dives and are less than a year old. I couldn't talk my wife into cave/tech and diving isn't has much fun without her! Anyways, I saw some post saying not to buy used regs, and I would have to agree...except these haven't hardly been used. Anyways, I am asking $400 for both or $200 a piece. Each has first/second stage with SPG (2in) on 6in hose. Both have right angle adaptors and clips. Please email me kevziz@icloud.com if you have any questions.

Kevin

[Superlyte27]

I have a hard time being okay with a reg designed to leak underwater like the Sherwood regs. At some point you might see that steady stream of bubbles and think, "yeah, it's supposed to do that", only to realize later that this particular leak was something more sinister.

[KevZiz]

Might be the case...My wife has been using a Sherwood reg (Blizzard) for ten years now (300 or so dives) with no problems. Nothing deeper than 120, but in cold water (40 degrees)...and it's always been good. I know everyone has their own opinions about regs...I hate Mares. Bought one and had nothing but issues. I dive an SR1 that has been awesome. The DR regs we have are really good so far too. Anyways, environmental port or leak, they have been good for us.

[Superlyte27]

It's a good reg, just not for tech diving in my opinion. Part of our S-Drill as cave divers is to look for bubbles. My worry is that we'll mistake serious bubbles coming from a manifold as the normal bubbles coming from the Sherwood.

I just prefer not to see any bubbles coming from behing my rig.