Why home build? Vote

narked at 90 · 25th September 2005, 12:14

for me it started because i was fasinated with the concept of rebreathers long before i know they were atuly feasable i could see the big waist with o/c but did'nt have the cemistry to work out what was needed for co2 removel.

building has taken my life in a differant direction where i now spend a massive amount of time thinking, working, designing rebreathers for myself and even more for others to the piont where i've been asked on the team of a new commeral rebreather.
it has given my diving a new lease of life and given it a new sparkle(a death wish some might say!!)
there are some on there that say rebreathers are only to be built by big companys with massive budgets or the military, these people should perhaps step back from there own self worth and importance and take a look at there own bullshit they spout

building is fun and challenging but it's deffinatly not for every one
do you except the risks? do you trust your own work with your life? are your skills there to save your own life when your work is not good enothe?
if you answer no to these then maybe think of a new hobby!

kindest regards john routley

onetime · 25th September 2005, 14:36

It seems that some think homebuilding and buying a commercially available unit are mutually exclusive. That's not necessarily the case. Personally, I dive a Classic KISS and if I wasn't spending a big chunk of money on a wedding (three weeks and counting) I'd have a Meg as well. Both are very well designed units but it only took me a few dives to see things on the KISS that I wanted to change and did. There are still some changes I'll be making to my unit to get it just right for me. Now, that's more about homebuilding pieces, homebuilding a full on Rebreather from the ground up is a project for me precisely because I like the idea of having a unit designed with RB bailout from the start (AD, I can't wait to see what you guys come up with!). Seems to me that there are better options than big tubes stuffed with RB internals. Of course that means a lot more design and custom fab but as I said, I'm not really looking to become an RB manufacturer.

E-man · 27th September 2005, 15:11

Can I pick almost all of them??
X I do it to learn more about rebreathers.
X I think I can learn more about how RBs can kill me than on courses.
X No existing rebreather does what I want so I have to start from scratch
X I believe a good route is to modify an existing rebreather
X I want to design and sell a great rebreather to make money
X Risk analysis has never been my forte
X I can´t afford a pucka rebreather

Plus its just fun to go somewhere with something that you made so you can show it off.

Yankee Rebel · 30th August 2006, 03:09

Quote: (Originally Posted by Scuba_Vixen)

You left out the option:

"I'm a bit short of cash to purchase one right now, but if I build one, I can defray the cost over a longer time span, have the experience and understanding that comes from hands on working, and also learn a lot more about Rebreather's and what I want and don't want in the process".

Or perhaps I'm the only one who'd pick that option.

Darlene

im with the lady with the avatar of my dreams.... easier to defray the cost over a longer period of time, that life seems to prevent me from saving up lump sum to buy a KISS. besides that, the knowledge and insite gained from building your own rig, understanding how it all works, the ins and outs and whys of it all, well personally i think that knowledge is priceless. then again, theres that cool factor.. "I Made This!!!" and "This pile of scrounged parts is actually keeping me alive!!!!" and God willing not "ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz" underwater.

denzel · 30th August 2006, 08:13

I'm with vixen and rebel.
To buy a cheap CCR will be about 2500$US(plus) for a sporty, or about 4000$US(plus) for an inspo.

That's quite a bit of money.

Now, if you could buy a second hand scrubber for 150, and a kiss valve for 150, and DS4's on special etc etc, you're spreading out the cost, have the fun of sitting behind ebay auctions hoping to get the right part for the right price, and building your unit up.

I don't believe it'll work out cheaper in the end, but I do believe in Mr. Murphy looking into your bankaccount, seeing an amount big enough for your complete unit, and he'll blow up your car engine of bust the fridge, setting you back to square 1.

Denz.

Loneshark · 30th August 2006, 12:46

I would agree with others that it is probably a combination of several options...

For me, 1, 2 and definately 8!!

Duncan Price · 30th August 2006, 13:18

Quote: (Originally Posted by lizardland)

<sNIP>I've wasted the cost of the KISS, a VR3 and probably a Hammerhead trying to do it. I also damn near killed myself in the process.

Unless you really know engineering, have access to a good workshop and don't mind spending more time tinkering than diving then I really wouldn't bother. I learned my lesson, bit the bullet and bought a KISS. Finally, ask yourself do you trust your own engineering ability to support your life? And maybe the life of someone else who might have to get you out of the poo?

On the plus side I do know my way around a rebreather and it was damn good fun but it was a total money pit.

How about an "I didn't know any better" option? That was the one that applied to me.

Please don't take this as a criticism of homebuilding, there are some excellent homebuilds out there. But if you want to dive regularly and more importantly, today then go out and buy one.

I agree mostly with Stuart - though I have more faith in my engineering skills and have dived with only one O2 sensor and the others left below:

Quote: (Originally Posted by AD_ward9)

3. No existing rebreather does what I want so I have to start from scratch

5. Rebreathers alone are not risky enough so I want one that has just one O2 sensor
6. I want to design and sell a great rebreather to make money

Besides, the fact that I don't have any formal diving qualifications debars me from doing most CCR courses.

25th September 2005, 12:14	#11 (permalink)
narked at 90 John Routley Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Dolphin Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Dolphin Home Build Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: middlands uk Posts: 1,074	for me it started because i was fasinated with the concept of rebreathers long before i know they were atuly feasable i could see the big waist with o/c but did'nt have the cemistry to work out what was needed for co2 removel. building has taken my life in a differant direction where i now spend a massive amount of time thinking, working, designing rebreathers for myself and even more for others to the piont where i've been asked on the team of a new commeral rebreather. it has given my diving a new lease of life and given it a new sparkle(a death wish some might say!!) there are some on there that say rebreathers are only to be built by big companys with massive budgets or the military, these people should perhaps step back from there own self worth and importance and take a look at there own bullshit they spout building is fun and challenging but it's deffinatly not for every one do you except the risks? do you trust your own work with your life? are your skills there to save your own life when your work is not good enothe? if you answer no to these then maybe think of a new hobby! kindest regards john routley __________________ *WWW.NARKEDAT90.CO.UK* *http://www.grpservices.com/pursuit/* Supporting Shearwater Research Products in Europe Narked at 90 Go Military
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25th September 2005, 14:36	#12 (permalink)
onetime Classic KISSer #138 Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 684	It seems that some think homebuilding and buying a commercially available unit are mutually exclusive. That's not necessarily the case. Personally, I dive a Classic KISS and if I wasn't spending a big chunk of money on a wedding (three weeks and counting) I'd have a Meg as well. Both are very well designed units but it only took me a few dives to see things on the KISS that I wanted to change and did. There are still some changes I'll be making to my unit to get it just right for me. Now, that's more about homebuilding pieces, homebuilding a full on Rebreather from the ground up is a project for me precisely because I like the idea of having a unit designed with RB bailout from the start (AD, I can't wait to see what you guys come up with!). Seems to me that there are better options than big tubes stuffed with RB internals. Of course that means a lot more design and custom fab but as I said, I'm not really looking to become an RB manufacturer.
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27th September 2005, 15:11	#13 (permalink)
E-man On the loop! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Optima Other Rebreather/s: Titan Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Eastern Coast ;) Posts: 212	Can I pick almost all of them?? X I do it to learn more about rebreathers. X I think I can learn more about how RBs can kill me than on courses. X No existing rebreather does what I want so I have to start from scratch X I believe a good route is to modify an existing rebreather X I want to design and sell a great rebreather to make money X Risk analysis has never been my forte X I can´t afford a pucka rebreather Plus its just fun to go somewhere with something that you made so you can show it off.
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30th August 2006, 03:09	#14 (permalink)
Yankee Rebel Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Home Build Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: California Posts: 147	Re: Why home build? Vote Quote: (Originally Posted by Scuba_Vixen) You left out the option: "I'm a bit short of cash to purchase one right now, but if I build one, I can defray the cost over a longer time span, have the experience and understanding that comes from hands on working, and also learn a lot more about Rebreather's and what I want and don't want in the process". Or perhaps I'm the only one who'd pick that option. Darlene im with the lady with the avatar of my dreams.... easier to defray the cost over a longer period of time, that life seems to prevent me from saving up lump sum to buy a KISS. besides that, the knowledge and insite gained from building your own rig, understanding how it all works, the ins and outs and whys of it all, well personally i think that knowledge is priceless. then again, theres that cool factor.. "I Made This!!!" and "This pile of scrounged parts is actually keeping me alive!!!!" and God willing not "ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz" underwater.
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30th August 2006, 08:13	#15 (permalink)
denzel Holiday diver Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Perth! Posts: 358	Re: Why home build? Vote I'm with vixen and rebel. To buy a cheap CCR will be about 2500$US(plus) for a sporty, or about 4000$US(plus) for an inspo. That's quite a bit of money. Now, if you could buy a second hand scrubber for 150, and a kiss valve for 150, and DS4's on special etc etc, you're spreading out the cost, have the fun of sitting behind ebay auctions hoping to get the right part for the right price, and building your unit up. I don't believe it'll work out cheaper in the end, but I do believe in Mr. Murphy looking into your bankaccount, seeing an amount big enough for your complete unit, and he'll blow up your car engine of bust the fridge, setting you back to square 1. Denz. __________________ My deepest so far, 558.50 mtr, my rig a LF90D...
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30th August 2006, 12:46	#16 (permalink)
Loneshark RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Other SCR Other Rebreather/s: Other SCR Join Date: May 2006 Location: Hull East Yorks Posts: 64	Re: Why home build? Vote I would agree with others that it is probably a combination of several options... For me, 1, 2 and definately 8!! __________________ www.lonesharkproductions.com
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30th August 2006, 13:18	#17 (permalink)
Duncan Price Sump Monster Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Wells, Somerset, UK Posts: 335	Re: Why home build? Vote Quote: (Originally Posted by lizardland) <sNIP>I've wasted the cost of the KISS, a VR3 and probably a Hammerhead trying to do it. I also damn near killed myself in the process. Unless you really know engineering, have access to a good workshop and don't mind spending more time tinkering than diving then I really wouldn't bother. I learned my lesson, bit the bullet and bought a KISS. Finally, ask yourself do you trust your own engineering ability to support your life? And maybe the life of someone else who might have to get you out of the poo? On the plus side I do know my way around a rebreather and it was damn good fun but it was a total money pit. How about an "I didn't know any better" option? That was the one that applied to me. Please don't take this as a criticism of homebuilding, there are some excellent homebuilds out there. But if you want to dive regularly and more importantly, today then go out and buy one. I agree mostly with Stuart - though I have more faith in my engineering skills and have dived with only one O2 sensor and the others left below: Quote: (Originally Posted by AD_ward9) 3. No existing rebreather does what I want so I have to start from scratch 5. Rebreathers alone are not risky enough so I want one that has just one O2 sensor 6. I want to design and sell a great rebreather to make money Besides, the fact that I don't have any formal diving qualifications debars me from doing most CCR courses.
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