How to build a Hooka surface air supply system?

[davekro]

I have been sidetracked for the past month painting my house. Arghhhh! Now back to thinking about a hooka system. The $6 Build Your Own Hooka CD was not specific enough to be of much help. Beside, my 7 year old Porter Cable (oiless) pancake compressor just spit out quite a bit of rust from the tank. THAT does not feel like a wise air source to use.

Now I am leaning towards just buying the small Scubapumps system for $395 +$34 shipping. Besides, I think I can get my neighbor to split it with me. That would be cool. Thanks to all for the input. I'll report back later on what i 'actually' do/buy. ;o)
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-SCUBAPUMPS-...ltDomain_0&hash=item1c160db867#ht_3757wt_1128

 

[Ross]

I once read an article concerning gold mining in the rivers in Colorado with shallow water diving gear. You may check in that direction.

 

[mmerriman]

hopefully you do some careful research before undertaking this. Trace amounts of CO that are acceptable at sea level will KILL YOU under pressure (research Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures). As a matter of fact Oxygen under pressure will also kill you (actually it will make you convulse - which underwater will make you drown). At 33' of sea water the pressure of the gas you are breathing is double that at sea level. So at 0' you're breating 1ATM of air. At 33' it's 2 ATM, and your body reacts to the partial pressure of each gas. So for air (21% O2), its like breathing 42% O2. etc. CO (carbon monoxide) is very deadly. It only takes a few PPM to kill you, and breathing trace amounts (from any form of exhaust) at depth significant magnifies its effect.

 

[gettinthere]

I've been told, no direct experience yet, that the Thomas 1020 compressor is what the bottom cleaners use for their hookahs.

When I looked into 12 volt systems a year or so ago, they didn't seem to have enough power to work well. Things may have changed, or not.

 

[Ross]

Shallow water divers used to depend on two strong men on the surface to man an air pump to supply the diver with breathing air. I have a lung capacity of almost three liters and about 12-15 breaths per minute so I would want a very reliable system on the surface. I hate the smell of exhaust gases anywhere but ten feet down would be really obnoxious.

 

[davekro]

Hooka system tested yesterday

I ended up purchasing a 'second diver kit' from HookaMax ($175). It consists of a Hooka regulator (65lb), 50' of 'breathable air' hose, a weight belt (no weights) with clip on back (to attach hose) and a 5 micron filter. For a compressor, I purchased an oilless 110 volt electric(no exhaust!), 4 gallon, 3/4 HP, 125psi Craftsman compressor for ≈$100.

To clean the tank of any foreign material or oil (from manufacturing process), I first filled it with hot soapy water, shook it around a lot and let it set for 30 mins. Then I filled and drained the tank about eight times.

In use:
It worked very well. My friend on the surface said that is did 'run' most of the time. I had set the pressure regulator on the compressor for 100psi. I never felt a breath was hard to draw (sign the supply pressure is lower than the regulator's pressure (65 psi). the only thing I did not understand was that when on the surface and I took the regulator out of my mouth, when it happened to go into the water, it would free flow air. Dennis at HookaMax (very helpful!) said I just needed to lower the compressor pressure down to 65-70psi. He said that the compressor puts out more air at low pressure than high pressure, so the compressor motor would run a lot less if it's output pressure regulator was set lower.

 

[Ross]

Re: Hooka system tested yesterday

You only NEED about 15 psi gauge to have air at 30 feet. 100 psi would supply air to a diver at well over 150 feet. Not that anyone in his right mind would go that deep on such a system.

 

[Steve Dion]

Dave:

Have you checked out any of the chemical products to control the weed/grass growth. Our marina is up on Cache Slough & Steamboat. We are experiencing the same issue. They are also seeing this happen in Lake Tahoe. I understand that they have put down rubber mat material in the marina area and it is killing the mussels & the grass/weed growth too.

 

[davekro]

Dave:

I understand that they have put down rubber mat material in the marina area and it is killing the mussels & the grass/weed growth too.

Steve,
There is a closed body of water in Discovery Bay (Willow Lake), which they have treated twice with that very expensive chemical. I cannot imagine how this kind of treatment would work when being diluted by the tide flows. I had thought of trying to 'stake' tarps to the bottom around my dock area to keep weeds from growing back after I pull them all.

I would be very grateful if you were able to find out specifically what this 'rubber mat' material is or send info where I can research, call to find out. Reinventing the wheel is a pain in the ass. ;o)

 

[Steve Dion]

Dave:

I think the best thing that could happen to the Delta would be for us to have a drought for about 2 years. The salt water would invade the area and kill all of this stuff off.

We have had problems with our sailboats sucking this stuff into the raw water intake and causing over-heathing problems.

If I can get some details I will let you know. If you find a deal on some salvage rubber cloth/mat, I would suggest that you buy it and try it around your dock.

Our harbor is using a work boat to rip the shit out of the bottom, but it is an on going problem. I assume that the stuff will not grow much during the winter months with the colder water, but will start blooming again once it starts warming up.

Another thing you can try is rock salt that is used in water softeners. This is one of the ingredients in the aquadic weed killers too. About 5-10 bags of rock salt around your dock!???

 

[davekro]

Steve,
What marina are you in? I could call and ask them what they are using for matting.
tks

 

[davekro]

i might try that rock salt idea too.

 

[Steve Dion]

Dave:

I am trying to find out what the matting is that they are using at Lake Tahoe. Our marina is just raking the stuff out.

 

[davekro]

Thank You.

 

[dscribner]

I went to Ebay to check out the CD. Couldn't help but notice the "Build your own Bong" instructions on the same page. I wonder how many times the two projects have been combined.

 

[davekro]

I ran out of air. It was No Big Deal.

On my third day of surface supplied air diving, I was under my dock (≈ 7' depth at low tide) when I noticed breathing was taking a little more effort. I stopped my weed pulling activity, noticed my next breath was also more effort. I was still able to draw air through the regulator (due to 50' of hose and a 4 gallon tank), though I really did not 'need' to.

After surfacing I noticed the problem. I had moved the compressor to the opposite end of the dock and had forgotten to plug it back in to the extension cord, duh! I was very pleased to have this event happen. Now I know that even if the compressor stops for some reason or I have a senior moment again (I doubt that , there is no danger. That I have plenty of air to surface without concern. Remember, where I dive the maximum depth of my bay is ≈ 20' and I am 'weed pulling' only to about 15' max depth.

When I was at Grainger's I saw a 5 micron air filter /water separator for $25. It has a clear plastic bowl so I will be able to 'see' if any particulate is trying to go towards my air hose. My HookaMax regulator & hose assy. already had a 5 micron in-line stone filter. Now I have two filters. I will feel more confident about the health of my lungs being able to confirm (see) that no 'stuff' is in my air supply. )

I am researching that rock salt idea for killing the areas these weeds grow around my dock and shore (thanks for the idea Steve!)