How tight to pack your scrubber?

***schford*** · 18th July 2006, 10:33

Following on from the other thread I just wondered how people usually pack their scrubbers and If any one has had any probs.

I jam my Meg Scrubber as full as I can get it and have never had any probs with WOB or breakthrough.

Stuart

dave t · 18th July 2006, 10:40

If I remember correctly Molecular products released a fact sheet saying that their sofnolime products should be packed as tight as possible in a rebreather application.

there is an agument to say that if you pack the granules too tight you may loose some surface area where the granules are crushed together but I have always packed my scrubber very tight and never had a problem

Dave

MHD · 18th July 2006, 11:14

the azi scrubber with it's fine mesh walls dislikes over packing and fine grain sorb, both can cause the fine mesh holes to become blocked resulting in reduced gas flow, increase WOB and user CO2 retention. have done both once, the over pack I failed on the pre-breathe (was alsmost sick on the loop after 5 minutes) the fine grain gave me wonderful CO2 retention and bad memories.

Hence I basically do the mild fill and some tap settling along hte way and let the spring cover plate do it'sjob. never had an issue when I have been happy with this packing technique.

Matt

**RichClark** · 18th July 2006, 11:18

I pack it pretty tightly on my CK, but not so tight that the granules crush when i screw down the brass retaining nut.

The distance from my thumb tip to the 1st crease is the perfect distance for packing my scrubber. I fill a tap until I get the required space and its a perfect fit every time.

Cheers

Rich

Ben Field · 18th July 2006, 11:48

It would seem "most" rebreather allow the user some way of "crushing" in extra slime but on the SK you fill it and thats about it...

I give it a few good whacks to settle it down and refill the space 2-3times until I am level with the pod holes but you can't really "pack it down" like all the others I've seen.... I just pack it till it barely rattles when you shake it... very scientific!

BEN

decoweenie · 18th July 2006, 12:05

Quote: (Originally Posted by Ben Field)

I..."crushing" in extra slime but on the SK...

I am a hard packer (Yes, get your head out of the gutter) and certainly made my mistake the first 2 times packing the SK. It is well documented in the KISS-owner list. So one advice: don't do it!

DaveC · 18th July 2006, 12:11

Being new to all this, I'm still following the guidelines that my instructor set. I pack it to the point where when shaken, I don't hear any rattleing. If you look down the center of the scrubber you can see the sides bulging.

Dave

Mark Chase · 18th July 2006, 12:30

As said before I tamp the can till the screw will not do up any more unless forced too. Then i keep repeating the process until following a damed good side slapping of my scrubber I still cant do the screw up without using force.

I haven't had any problems with C02 or WOB so far.

Having driven for two hours to the docks then been on a boat in a 5-6 punching out for three-four hours crashing up and down on waves I want to be totally confident my sofnalime hasn't settled in the can.

God knows how you over pack a scrubber. I reckon you would need a pair of grips to do it up

ATB

Mark Chase

decoweenie · 18th July 2006, 12:40

Quote: (Originally Posted by Mark Chase)

...Having driven for two hours to the docks then been on a boat in a 5-6 punching out for three-four hours crashing up and down on waves...

A friend packs his CK very tight manually, yet there is so much sorb that there is still about 1/2" gap open between the scrubber and lid.

He drives to the dive site. During the trip, the vibration packs the sorb even more so by the time he arrives, he is able to tighten the nut down to close the gap.

That's VERY tight, more than I have seen anyone packed a scrubber.

***ScubaDadMiami*** · 18th July 2006, 13:41

Must . . . resist . . . making . . . Extend Air Cartridge . . . comments.

View Poll Results: How tightly do you pack the scrubber?
I cram in as much in as I can.	61	45.19%
I pack it well but not too tightly.	71	52.59%
I don't pack it very tightly at all.	3	2.22%
Voters: 135. You may not vote on this poll

18th July 2006, 10:33	#1 (permalink)
*schford* Despotic Overlord Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 3,660	How tight to pack your scrubber? Following on from the other thread I just wondered how people usually pack their scrubbers and If any one has had any probs. I jam my Meg Scrubber as full as I can get it and have never had any probs with WOB or breakthrough. Stuart __________________ Bailout and Kit Management account for Murphy's Law The only bad question is one you did not ask and later wish you had. Use of Rebreather World is subject to the Rebreather World Terms & Conditions of Use
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18th July 2006, 10:40	#2 (permalink)
dave t Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Evolution Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Dolphin Ray Azimuth Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Ray Azimuth Home Build Join Date: May 2005 Location: UK Posts: 610	Re: How tight to pack your scrubber? If I remember correctly Molecular products released a fact sheet saying that their sofnolime products should be packed as tight as possible in a rebreather application. there is an agument to say that if you pack the granules too tight you may loose some surface area where the granules are crushed together but I have always packed my scrubber very tight and never had a problem Dave
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18th July 2006, 11:14	#3 (permalink)
MHD Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Home Build Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Brisbane, QLD, Australia Posts: 235	Re: How tight to pack your scrubber? the azi scrubber with it's fine mesh walls dislikes over packing and fine grain sorb, both can cause the fine mesh holes to become blocked resulting in reduced gas flow, increase WOB and user CO2 retention. have done both once, the over pack I failed on the pre-breathe (was alsmost sick on the loop after 5 minutes) the fine grain gave me wonderful CO2 retention and bad memories. Hence I basically do the mild fill and some tap settling along hte way and let the spring cover plate do it'sjob. never had an issue when I have been happy with this packing technique. Matt
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18th July 2006, 11:18	#4 (permalink)
RichClark Classic KISS No. 226 Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hove, UK Posts: 757	Re: How tight to pack your scrubber? I pack it pretty tightly on my CK, but not so tight that the granules crush when i screw down the brass retaining nut. The distance from my thumb tip to the 1st crease is the perfect distance for packing my scrubber. I fill a tap until I get the required space and its a perfect fit every time. Cheers Rich __________________ The more I learn about women, the more I want to go diving... just don't tell my wife I said that To taste something a little different, try http://www.thechillikitchen.co.uk
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18th July 2006, 11:48	#5 (permalink)
Ben Field CK+Shearwater Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London, England Posts: 1,442	Re: How tight to pack your scrubber? It would seem "most" rebreather allow the user some way of "crushing" in extra slime but on the SK you fill it and thats about it... I give it a few good whacks to settle it down and refill the space 2-3times until I am level with the pod holes but you can't really "pack it down" like all the others I've seen.... I just pack it till it barely rattles when you shake it... very scientific! BEN __________________ www.hugsac.org.uk Beware Fridge Suck
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18th July 2006, 12:05	#6 (permalink)
decoweenie Crash Test Dummy Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cairo Posts: 5,509	Re: How tight to pack your scrubber? Quote: (Originally Posted by Ben Field) I..."crushing" in extra slime but on the SK... I am a hard packer (Yes, get your head out of the gutter) and certainly made my mistake the first 2 times packing the SK. It is well documented in the KISS-owner list. So one advice: don't do it! __________________ "...after a while you get bored offering advice to a bull that like to keep butting the fence with its head rather than walking through the open gate..." - Rebreather World PM
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18th July 2006, 12:11	#7 (permalink)
DaveC New Member Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ontario. Canada Posts: 192	Re: How tight to pack your scrubber? Being new to all this, I'm still following the guidelines that my instructor set. I pack it to the point where when shaken, I don't hear any rattleing. If you look down the center of the scrubber you can see the sides bulging. Dave
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18th July 2006, 12:30	#8 (permalink)
Mark Chase I go down for ages Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kent Posts: 2,410	Re: How tight to pack your scrubber? As said before I tamp the can till the screw will not do up any more unless forced too. Then i keep repeating the process until following a damed good side slapping of my scrubber I still cant do the screw up without using force. I haven't had any problems with C02 or WOB so far. Having driven for two hours to the docks then been on a boat in a 5-6 punching out for three-four hours crashing up and down on waves I want to be totally confident my sofnalime hasn't settled in the can. God knows how you over pack a scrubber. I reckon you would need a pair of grips to do it up ATB Mark Chase __________________ Is it supposed to make that noise ? I took my unit to the dive shop and demanded they bolt on every thing that would fit. Join my elite diving teem and get a Tshirt "Doing It Chasey"Hammerhead Eccr Advanced Diving System
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18th July 2006, 12:40	#9 (permalink)
decoweenie Crash Test Dummy Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cairo Posts: 5,509	Re: How tight to pack your scrubber? Quote: (Originally Posted by Mark Chase) ...Having driven for two hours to the docks then been on a boat in a 5-6 punching out for three-four hours crashing up and down on waves... A friend packs his CK very tight manually, yet there is so much sorb that there is still about 1/2" gap open between the scrubber and lid. He drives to the dive site. During the trip, the vibration packs the sorb even more so by the time he arrives, he is able to tighten the nut down to close the gap. That's VERY tight, more than I have seen anyone packed a scrubber. __________________ "...after a while you get bored offering advice to a bull that like to keep butting the fence with its head rather than walking through the open gate..." - Rebreather World PM
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18th July 2006, 13:41	#10 (permalink)
*ScubaDadMiami* Moderator Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 1,890	Re: How tight to pack your scrubber? Must . . . resist . . . making . . . Extend Air Cartridge . . . comments. __________________ Howard Packer IANTD CCR Instructor Miami Beach, Florida CCRDiveTraining.com
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