DIY selfinflate blob bit

[Ben Panter]

Hi Folks,

I'd like to try to make a CO2 inflate blob from a self sealing AP valves blob. I've got the old blob, and a supplier of various sized CO2 cylinders. I reckon the volume is about 15l, so will need about 30g of CO2 to be full on the surface. That's two of the little ones, or one of the bigger ones. The bit that's missing is the 'pull string to inflate' bit which I will seal onto the blob. I've seen lots of bicycle tyre versions, but the only time I've seen the raw part is on an airline lifejacket. Don't fancy nicking one of those, but does anyone know where I can get one, or something that would do a similar job?

I think this might fit, but I'm trying to work out whether it is entirely manual or also a 'fire on contact with water' job, which obviously isn't what I'm after!

http://shop.lifejackets.co.uk/acatalog/Hammar_rearming_kits_and_parts.html

Cheers,

Ben

[Adrian Kelland]

Hi Folks,

I'd like to try to make a CO2 inflate blob from a self sealing AP valves blob. I've got the old blob, and a supplier of various sized CO2 cylinders. I reckon the volume is about 15l, so will need about 30g of CO2 to be full on the surface. That's two of the little ones, or one of the bigger ones. The bit that's missing is the 'pull string to inflate' bit which I will seal onto the blob. I've seen lots of bicycle tyre versions, but the only time I've seen the raw part is on an airline lifejacket. Don't fancy nicking one of those, but does anyone know where I can get one, or something that would do a similar job?

I think this might fit, but I'm trying to work out whether it is entirely manual or also a 'fire on contact with water' job, which obviously isn't what I'm after!

http://shop.lifejackets.co.uk/acatalog/Hammar_rearming_kits_and_parts.html

Cheers,

Ben
I think the third one is the totally manual fitting Ben.

Adrian

[Jamie]

Ben,

http://shop.lifejackets.co.uk/acatalog/Hammar_rearming_kits_and_parts.html

Seems a lot of messing to me when you can buy a whole new CO2 blob for £30!

Hope this helps,

Jamie

[Ben Panter]

Can you? The best I've seen is about £40+p/p, but they don't have the option of a reg inflate should the CO2 cartridge have gone pop when you didn't notice. If I can get one for £30 straight off I'd certainly take the easy option!

Cheers,

Ben

[Woz]

Where from? I've been looking at doing exactly the same. Maybe Ben and I are actually the same person.

[Jamie]

Perhaps you are, I demand to see you both in the same room together before I reveal my source of cheap CO2 DSMB's!

However I could also be Ben or Woz as well - do we actually know who we really are?! Or perhaps just a figment of my own imagination............

[Ben Panter]

Blimey. From past experience if you have Woz and I in the same room there had better be plenty of pies on offer.

And a reinforced floor.

And party hats.

Ben

[Mark Papp]

Just because I like sticking my oar in:

I've owned my CO2-powered emergency blob for about five years.

You need to check the CO2 cartridge regularly as the end can corrode and let its gas escape. Despite liberal coatings of grease on the thread and pierceable end cap it still corrodes. I found mine empty on one occasion, so now I replace the cartridge regularly.

[Ben Panter]

cheers Mark - this was exactly why I wanted to have the option of filling it from a regulator too.

Ben

[Jamie]

Blimey. From past experience if you have Woz and I in the same room there had better be plenty of pies on offer.

And a reinforced floor.

And hats.

Ben

Would this be the real reason the ice cracked and you fell in?

I specialise in reinforced floors; you and Woz, probably a 15N point load (assuming sat next to each other gobbling pies) therefore a 600mm re-inforced concrete slab using C50 as a design mix. Can you please both confirm attendance at DOC and I'll make sure the correct structural upgrades are undertaken. ;)

[Woz]

cheers Mark - this was exactly why I wanted to have the option of filling it from a regulator too.

BenYep same here. Or at least one of those direct feed doowhotsits. Or an oral inflate. Anything that I can use as well as the CO2 bang-and-go.

Pies.
Reinforced floors.
Party hats.
Pork products.
A sofa.
Some continental fighting lager.

So come-on then? Where are these magic £30 blobs, then? Saves me trawling the NEC on Sun for them.

[gordon mackie]

http://www.aquatec.co.uk/pages/location/signalmark.php#Auto

Not the one I have - bought it years ago and keep it as a spare in my pocket, name has long since faded away. CO2 cartridges can be bought from bike shops. Robin Hood have these ones on their site but no price.

Drawback is paying 75p every time you fire it off :-)

Must be a few places with some gathering dust on shelves

[Chris aka divingchef]

http://www.aquatec.co.uk/pages/location/signalmark.php#Auto

Not the one I have - bought it years ago and keep it as a spare in my pocket, name has long since faded away. CO2 cartridges can be bought from bike shops. Robin Hood have these ones on their site but no price.

Drawback is paying 75p every time you fire it off :-)

Must be a few places with some gathering dust on shelves

I bought 50 for 4.50 last year from Nisbetts catering supplies, Aztec Park, Bristol.
They were reduced mind you because the box had broken and they were in a poly bag.

If these are what your looking for .4 each ie 20 squids for 50

http://www.nisbets.co.uk/products/ProductDetail.asp?productCode=J448

they dont have a srew nozzel

Chris

[gordon mackie]

My one needs screw fitting which is the same as mountain bike 16g cartridge..have sometimes found them for 45p a go

[Chris aka divingchef]

Hi Folks,

I'd like to try to make a CO2 inflate blob from a self sealing AP valves blob. I've got the old blob, and a supplier of various sized CO2 cylinders. I reckon the volume is about 15l, so will need about 30g of CO2 to be full on the surface. That's two of the little ones, or one of the bigger ones. The bit that's missing is the 'pull string to inflate' bit which I will seal onto the blob. I've seen lots of bicycle tyre versions, but the only time I've seen the raw part is on an airline lifejacket. Don't fancy nicking one of those, but does anyone know where I can get one, or something that would do a similar job?

I think this might fit, but I'm trying to work out whether it is entirely manual or also a 'fire on contact with water' job, which obviously isn't what I'm after!

http://shop.lifejackets.co.uk/acatalog/Hammar_rearming_kits_and_parts.html

Cheers,

Ben
Morning Ben

Couldn't you use a chemicals to produce CO2 ?
Bicarb and ascorbic acid mixed with water ??
Carbide ?

Just a thought

Before anybody else say it, what about a brewery :rolleyes:

Chris

[Woz]

http://www.aquatec.co.uk/pages/location/signalmark.php#Auto

Not the one I have - bought it years ago and keep it as a spare in my pocket, name has long since faded away. CO2 cartridges can be bought from bike shops. Robin Hood have these ones on their site but no price.

Drawback is paying 75p every time you fire it off :-)

Must be a few places with some gathering dust on shelvesThey don't have a manual inflation option.

Try again :D

[Nigel Hewitt]

Couldn't you use a chemicals to produce CO2 ?
Bicarb and ascorbic acid mixed with water ??Blob?
Say 15L so 30gms of CO2.
So 0.68mols so about 55gms of Bicarb and a similar amount of concentrated acid (dilute to taste).

It's feasible and needed a lot less chemical than I thought it would but it's still probably a bit messy.
Carbide ?Ahhhh... Acetylene. My favourite gas. A genuine high explosive that detonates on a shock wave. I love that moment as you wind up the oxygen when the flame darkens as the energy release moves into the ultraviolet. That's no mucking about chemistry. Hand a blob full of that up to a skipper with a fag on...

[Chris aka divingchef]

Blob?
Ahhhh... Acetylene. My favourite gas. A genuine high explosive that detonates on a shock wave. I love that moment as you wind up the oxygen when the flame darkens as the energy release moves into the ultraviolet. That's no mucking about chemistry. Hand a blob full of that up to a skipper with a fag on...

Is it ? well you learn something new every day,,,:)

Explosive ahhhh then chucking about my old miners lamp may not be such a good idea than :eek:

MMmmmthat explains it, when I was a kid me n ma mates used to make homemade rockets :o

On the other hand my "tempra" batter mix gives off loads of bubbles,,,,mind you the flour and coloring wont half make a mess :D


Cheers

[tris]

hello
first post here !!
ben and woz, ive been thinking along similar lines for a while, as i've got an aqua tek co2 yellow blob , only problem as stated being if it doesnt fire theres no other way to launch it .
anyway this summer i saw 2 life jackets in a bin at one of my local dive sites,
so after a minutes surgery with a dive knife ive now got 2 16gram co2 cartridge valves (identical to the one on my dsmb) and 2 oral inflate tube thingys.
all have some of the fabric (very similar looking to buddy blob material)from jacket around them.
the co2 valves look like theyd be easy enough to fit , but the oral inflate valves are glued to the fabric and i recon youd have to do something similar.
the crux of this is either of you are welcome to one of these valves (i want to keep one of each myself) just let let me know if you find a glue that works on the fabric as i'm at abit of a loss.
tris

[Ben Panter]

Yes Please!

I'll PM you my details.

Cheers,

Ben

[tris]

wow !!!!
that was fast !