Swapping to new mouthpiece U/W?

Do you leave a big tail on the end of the new tie wrap after installing or do you have a pair of snips for this?
Well, we're still talking hypothetically here as I haven't actually tried this yet. But, I'd probably snip the end off if it was annoying me.

Same snips :)
 
Well, we're still talking hypothetically here as I haven't actually tried this yet. But, I'd probably snip the end off if it was annoying me.

Same snips :)

Which snips?

I have a stupidly sharp Spiderco knife only that's not going anywhere near my jugular while wearing dry gloves trying to cut cable ties.. I can see myself with a OC reg stuffed into my DIY tracheotomy....... :(
 
Trauma shears

Like these (in the picture) Sea Snips? I was considering that but I need to experiment with how hard it is to cut the tie wrap off. I use the "no Bump" tie wraps on my mouthpieces and will experiment with how hard it is to cut off with theses.
 

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Inspired by this debate, I just popped-out to my garage and tried it. One cut and the tie-wrap was off.

1. Those things rot apart at the pivot unless you work for the NHS and take a new set every dive.

2. How did you get that splayed tip up and under the existing cable tie to cut it?

I have a set in my hand and they won't do it sorry....
 
Like these (in the picture) Sea Snips? I was considering that but I need to experiment with how hard it is to cut the tie wrap off. I use the "no Bump" tie wraps on my mouthpieces and will experiment with how hard it is to cut off with theses.

Sea snips in a cave?.....

Must be a sea cave...
 
1. Those things rot unless you work for the NHS and take a new set every dive.
They last for ages with a bit of grease on the pin.

2. How did you get that splayed tip up and under the existing cable tie to cut it?
You don't. Just cut the head off the tie-wrap and job's a good-un.

I have a set in my hand and they won't do it sorry....
Pussy, put some effort into it.

Seriously, one snip and it was off. I'll video it if you need proof.
 
You gota remember I am Mr Gello finders with my dry gloves and there is no such thing as 'a vice like grip' 'a bit of wellie' or just plain 'manning up'...

:withstupi
 
Been following this topic and it is enlightening. I do not carrier a spare mouthpiece because I can breath from the stub if I have to. Also don't carry a spare fin, and if you think loosing a fin would not cause a problem, try swimming without one sometime. It also can be done with practice. I know one old cave instructor that put that in his class. Now I DO carry a spare mask. Had to use it once at Ginnie when a rock fell and hit me in the head and shattered one of the lens. I know I can follow the line without a mask but I can't see the computer for my deco obligation. Arriving at the surface and then getting bent because of no mask would not be good. This was a solo dive.


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Well, I don't carry a mouthpiece or cable ties on the dives with me, even after having two incidents with the mouthpiece underwater, both on the CCR and it was always SeaCure mouthpieces.

One literately split after 2-3 months of faultless diving, so be aware not to overstretch even when warmed. There was no mouthpiece on my Meg DSV for almost 140min and it was a pain in the ass. It obviously worked, but sucking straight machined parts or plastic is not the most comfortable thing to do and I had loads of water getting into the loop, so had to flush my exhale lung a lot - pita without the mouthpiece as you had to close the loop each time. You blow a bit of dil in the process, but it's survivable.

Second time, I was diving in Grand Cayman and it was a rather sunny day, despite having the unit in the shade, it must have been pretty warm as my almost 2 years old mouthpiece was suddenly deformed/loose and came straight off my Shirmp after about 5min into the dive. This time and I took a lung full of sea water. No panic, just shiver as I though that my whole loop got flooded and it's going to be a caustic cocktail, but luckily it wasn't. I grabbed the loop, closed it then pushed my mouthpiece back on the BOV and flushed the exhale lung after going back on the loop.

Just stay coolheaded when it happens and there won't any drama with or without a mouthpiece. :)
 
I have a mouthpiece in my deep bailout and another on my shalow bailout.

Both would fit on a Golum BOV

So id just nick the one of the bailout i didnt imediatly need and swap it back if i had to go OC for any reasion.

That said carrying a spare isnt a great hardship, so why not. I already have cable ties in my wet notes.

ATB

Mark
 
I have a mouthpiece in my deep bailout and another on my shalow bailout.

Both would fit on a Golum BOV

So id just nick the one of the bailout i didnt imediatly need and swap it back if i had to go OC for any reasion.

That said carrying a spare isnt a great hardship, so why not. I already have cable ties in my wet notes.

ATB

Mark

Which cutting device do you use for removing old mouthpiece and or cutting tail off of cable tie?


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Which cutting device do you use for removing old mouthpiece and or cutting tail off of cable tie?


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I can just pull off the mouth piece without using a cutting device.

Once off you can crush it to remove the zip tie

Id probably just put up with the tail rather than risk trying to cut it with a knife but I have one of thos stubby DIR serated things that I generly use for cutting cable ties on the boat so id probably use that underwater if I had too.


I must however reitterate if thers any stress or presure involved enough to make me screw up such a simple task?

I'd just go OC and go home.

ATB

Mark
 
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I can just pull off the mouth piece without using a cutting device.

I can't, but trauma shears will do the job in under 2 sec. Yes, I just tried both - although admittedly not in the water :doh:.

To keep them going, apply vaseline or silicone liberally.

Edit:
2. How did you get that splayed tip up and under the existing cable tie to cut it?
Try sideways: bend tip under the cable tie, then rotate the blade under it, cut; works here...

Matthieu
 
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Did having a new tie wrap that is not trimmed bother you?

I don't have any mid-dive experience but previously was about to jump in on piddly OC dive instructing when caught and tore mouthpiece on crappy hardboat bench, luckily had spares box to hand but no trimmers so did dive with Ziptie tail hanging out the side- no big deal just shifted lip positon slightly to account for it.

Don't think I'd bother for most rebreather dives, maybe for planned long deco hangs it'd be worth considering as its so easy to carry and change. You'll find even a fully intact mouthpiece can be ripped off by hand and once the mouthpiece is gone the cable tie is no longer tight and falls off :-)

Don't think all the ranting about pre-dive checks is valid, a brand new out of the packet mouthpiece could fail due to unseen moulding fault, ditto mask strap. So I think its a personal call but I'd only consider it for monster dives.
 
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