Nice. This is most likely my method too, though I will probably use argon since it's easier to find where I live.
I'm afraid I don't. I've had this thing for years sitting in a box up in the garage. I'm not even a diver (my dad was). When I got to thinking about inert gas I wondered why the SCUBA mask wouldn't work. Jury rigged a hose from the tank to the mask and it worked perfectly. It was a really nice feeling, I must say. If you're going to go out, go out feeling high as a kite.
Honestly, it's the regulator portion for most people, and it's the least talked about portion. Bag/Mask? Totally get it. Tank/connector? 100%. Regulator/flow valve? This is where my issue is.
You just turn the knob on the regulator and watch the scale. Stop turning when it's coming out at the right flow.
That's great:D Did they ask any questions or want to know what you needed the nitrogen for? I have a whole list of excuses made up, but it would be real nice if i didn't have to actually use any of them.
I just told them that my roommate welds and makes beer, and asked me to grab him a bottle. Zero suspicion from them. To be honest, I don't think they cared much at all why I wanted it.
I got a 40, and it weights maybe 15 pounds full?
. Anyway, I carried on reading the rest of the posts and I will have to stick with 15lpm.
Hello Wiltshire -Hello there, I hope someone can help. I have the M dog regulator (I'm in UK). I followed the PPH book to the letter getting everything about two years ago. I have the smallish nitrogen tank - it's for about 25 mins. It's full and I have already tested the process. For some reason, even though I haven't been on here for a long long time, I thought I would just do a quick check in as I feel I can't carry on anymore. I thought I would a kind of final check in. I think I had the frights put into me reading the posts about the litres per minute flow rate needing to be 20lpm and the 60 mins of gas being needed.
The question is really with regards to the size of the tank. I do have the opportunity to collect locally a bigger tank. My current tank is 0.42m3 (Nearly 15 cubic feet). The larger one is approx 3 times that and is a 9l tank at 137 bar. On the M dog brewing site it says "MDB regulators are compatible with 20 cu ft Nitrogen cylinders. Cylinder pressure should not exceed 180 BAR". So I'm clear that the bigger cylinder would not exceed the 180 bar limit as it is 137. And because it explicitly says so I am taking that as a very specific instruction. however, it doesn't say it is NOT compatible with a cylinder over 20 cu ft. The larger 9l tank would be about 42 cubic feet. I have emailed them but I haven't heard. It feels to me like it shouldn't matter if there is more gas in the tank as long as the pressure does not exceed 180 bar - However I could be VERY wrong here. If anyone has a little bit more knowledge about this I will be very grateful. To be honest, I would rather not to go and collect a bigger tank and have to change the regulator from the smaller one to the bigger one. I can hardly get out of the house but I would manage the trip somehow if I had to. On the small tank I had to screw the regulator on really tightly and then unscrew it again and use a bit of Teflon tape on the thread as well as there was a tiny leak.( It definitely does not leak now and it has been dish soap tested). I thought the whole thing so stressful and if I had to unscrew it and fix it to a bigger tank it is causing me significant worry . However what is more important is that I get it right so if a bigger tank is better then I will definitely do that And make the trip. Originally I went with the recommended tank sizes on the PPH simply because I had no reason to question it. I am very grateful for any input specifically to this. Thank you
secondly - the bag I have is an oven bag and it's been tested and no leaks etc. I then became concerned (maybe I'm just worrying too much but of course it's an incredibly stressful time) that it is too ruffled at the bottom. The bags are quite crinkly and they do ruffle up At the bottom. It's still very snug with the elastic and toggle but obviously the ruffles do lead to small gaps. I'm also happy to source an LDPE bag or other medium duty polythene bag and make a new one but don't know if it's necessary. As I say, I was comfortable with everything (well as comfortable as one can be) before I logged on the other day! Now I feel a bit like I'm back at square one. I do have all the SN components but I do t think I could cope with the wait between taking the anti sickness and then the time frame to the SN itself. Also I will definitely need a drink!
sorry for the long post and I am VErY grateful for any input at this stage.
Oh thank you so much. I'm in pieces at the moment - I dont think I can take in any more. . my cylinder was only 400l I think definitely no more - 2 litres at 200 bar. Funny that I only noticed on the M dog brewing site that the regulator was only for up to 180 bar yet my little tank is 200 bar. I'm pretty sure it never said that when I bought the regulator - anyway there has never been any problems during testing when clicking it up to 15lpm. I've used a few minutes up testing it but it is well in the green zone when I switch it on. I saw you had written a lot about this so thank you. I might get a bigger tank if I want to test some more but not sure I can cope with it all at the moment. I really appreciate your reply.
Do be careful with overpressurizing your regulator. The supplier of your regulator is notorious for converting (lower pressure) oxygen regulators into nitrogen regulators (as can be seen on the pressure gauge). True nitrogen regulators are rated at 3000psi.
Ok thanks. I did release a bit at the beginning. I noticed it also says in the pph to let some out till gets to a lower pressure. I think it's fine where it is on the gauge. It has been stored without issue and works ok. Gawd what a mess. Honestly I just didn't know where or how to get one in the U.K. with a flow rate thing i could set so I bought theirs. I think I just wanted it to be easier. I wish it would all go away. Thank you.
Have you actually read the PPH and the detailed thread on this method? For a start a lot of helium isn't pure and might have oxygen in with it, that's why other inert gases are recommended (unless you know your helium is 100% pure). You need to make a proper bag with an elastic drawcord not just an elastic band (there are definitely some links to video's and examples somewhere on the site/thread if you have a good look and do a search. You also let the gas flow and fill up the bag while it is sat around your forehead before you pull it down-that way the oxygen in the bag has already been displaced. It sounds like you really need to read the very specific method instructions.
The fact that you remained conscious for over a minute means that your gas was mixed with oxygen. I would suggest that you consider another gas like nitrogen or argon.
Maybe a very large backpack, but a duffel bag would work though. I have one laying beside me right now.
