Hey Family...
I pulled this alternative o2 method back up because it has helped many and in 3 years have never had any trouble or heard of any. It is a very safe and effective method to use high flow oxygen. High flow oxygen at 15 to 40+ Lpm to support hyperventilation with a "Non-Rebreather Mask" is the key to o2 success and with the regulators that come with this method give you far beyond all the oxygen you need Good Luck Clusterville. John Fletcher



Below is the Alternative oxygen information. Study it well. It is a very easy set up and reasonable... John




Hey All!!
After a couple years with these methods I found that folks liked the  "Hose Barb Method" the best so I got rid of all the gobbldigook from the dive setup and using this simple method to set up quicker and cheaper...

When you go to buy and fill your oxygen tank always tell them (If Asked) that you are learning to weld or use a cutting torch. The oxygen that they use to fill your tank is the same medical oxygen used in hospitals and tanks are regularly tumbled and sterilized but costs much much less. By the time you are done it will cost around $200.00 to $300.00  so it is well worth it in the long run and refills are cheap. I use 4 "Q" 80cuft tanks equivalent to 16 E tanks and they last me up to a month before I need to refill. Each Q tank is equivalent to 4 medical "E" tanks ....
Best of luck to you all and Happy SAFE Breathing!!....John :)

** HAVE YOUR DOCTOR WORK WITH YOU WHEN USING OXYGEN THERAPY. Let him/her know you are using  high flow oxygen therapy at a at a flow rate of 15 to 40 Lpm ...

Summary....(1). 2 large "Q" tanks equivalent to 4 E tanks
(2). Regular welders tank regulator
(3). Opt2mask and 20' of medical tube
(4). 1 roll of plumbers thread tape ** PTFE OR "GREEN" PLUMBERS THREAD TAPE ONLY**

**** all fittings should be brass or stainless steel.         


"Hose Barb Method".....
****The O2ptimask available here at Clusterheadaches dot com on their o2 page is highly recommended to be used
 Just wrench on a 3/8" to 1/8"  female hose barb to the tank regulator and Your in business!! You can get the hose barb  at any hardware store , Harbor freight, Home depot....etc... START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

You can get the medical tubing at any medical supply store, hardware store, or pet store as it is used for fish tanks.
You may need to get a brass cap if your welders regulator has two ports as you only need one and be sure to use the "GREEN PLUMBERS THREAD TAPE" when connecting all fittings. Check for leaks with some soapy water and a tooth brush and  if any bubbles then start over and take off old tape and add a bit more the next time until you have NO BUBBLES....:)

It is easy to get into an oxygen exchange program with your o2 supplier...Here is a link with information on how to get set up...
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**** NO SMOKING OR OPEN FLAME WHILE USING OXYGEN OR YOU WILL BLOW UP!!****

   ******OPEN ALL WINDOWS AND DOORS and VENTILATE WELL BEFORE USING OXYGEN INDOORS AT A HIGH FLOW RATE TO AVOID POTENTIAL FIRE OR EXPLOSION*******

The following video shows how easy it is to set up a tank , obviously you will only be setting up the oxygen tank and you will see the "T" handle coming out of the tank regulator and that's were you adjust the flow.....

P.S. If you need assistance just message me on here and I will reply. It is alot easier than it looks to set up this system I just wanted to give you detailed information....J

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What a COOL post Johnny!...you can rest assured that you have just saved LOTS of people LOTS of pain.....

Best,

Jon

Wow, good idea.

I have a momentary valve hooked up to a welders oxy tank right now but I also dive.  I might try to hook up one of my dive octopuses to it next cycle.

Haa ha... Another bonus, With the compass, I'll be able to tell which direction I am pacing while the O2 kicks in.

Hey Eric!
Did you ever try your dive set up yet? let me know how it goes for you.......Johnny

This is a great setup for those without insurance and is no problem to get the welders o2 but  just tell them you are using it to learn welding.....John
:)Happy pain free breathing! It is also the exact same medical o2 that they fill medical tanks with and the welders tanks are inspected, tumbled and sterilized regularly.

Work together with your doctor when using oxygen therapy...

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Thanks Johnny!  Any chance you could post pics of the other major parts?  Thanks and happy holidays everyone!

Thanks Johnny, have always wondered why scuba equipment didn't get much discussion. 

The best thing about this setup is it puts out extreme high flow o2 and as we are learning the more the better as most docs prescribe it at a flow rate of 5 to 15 lpm  we know now that a minimum of 15 and up to 40 lpm is recommended and this setup can crank out the o2 enough to get your cheeks flappin! HA! Happy breathing....Johnny ;)

***CAUTION***
Not all plumbers tape is safe to use with high pressure oxygen.  Unless that tape is PTFE or "green tape" don't use it.  Other tape types may use oil in their composition which can cause a massive fire. :o

Breathe safe my friends!

Johnny, I have been doing some reading and have a question.  A Hookah regulator differs from a SCUBA regulator in that it has one chamber instead of two.  The extra chamber in the SCUBA regulator is there to lower the high gas pressure in the SCUBA tank from 180-2500psi down to 30-50psi.  How is it that you can hook a Hookah regulator right up to a high pressure tank?  What am I missing?

-Dennis-

No you can't hook a hookah regulator strait to the tank that's the reason for the tank regulator so you can adjust the flow to 50 to 75 psi for a hookah regulator. Same applies to a scuba regulator (125 psi) but when you hook either up to the tank regulator just adjust the tank regulator slowly to give you the pressure and flow you want...... Sorry i should have been more clear about that. As far as the plumbers tape goes are you saying that an oil based tape will leak? I'm trying to figure out how you get a fire without a source of flame are you saying the tape can self combust?? If so I have never heard of that before and i know it's never happened on any of the at least 27 dive boats that have used it for up to 20+ years nor has there ever been any fire associated with this set up of any kind. I guess it wouldn't hurt to recommend using this tape though so i will.... I modified my instructions a bit to give more detail.....Johnny :)

If you look at a O2 regulator used for medical or welding it'll say NO OIL in red lettering.  There is a good reason for that.  100% O2 under pressure absolutely can cause a fire or explosion when it comes in contact with oil or grease.  The typical use for a Hookah rig is to supply breathable air to a diver.  That is normal atmospheric air which is not 100% pure O2.  So for pressurized pure O2 applications you need to use the right tape.

Here is some reference material


Quote:

13 77 72 START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE 8. Exposure control/personal protection National Occupational Health & Safety Commission (NOHSC) TLV-TWA: None assigned TLV-STEL: None assigned Engineering Controls: Prevent contact with grease and oils. Do not use combustible materials for construction. Always use with a regulator, and pressurise systems slowly. Secure cylinders at all times. Ensure adequate ventilation (same as outdoors) at all times. Personal Protection: Avoid exposure to high concentrations of oxygen during pregnancy. Personal protection to be selected from those recommended below, as appropriate to mode of use, quantity handled and degree of hazard: Safety Glasses, Safety Shoes, Rubber Gloves Flammability: Not Flammable. Will support combustion. Contact with combustible materials such as grease and oil may cause fire. Combustible materials, such as grease and oils, in contact with oxygen under pressure may cause explosion.

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Hope this helps  8-)

-Dennis-

Dennis has it right. We are not talking about "air" or dive mixes. We are talking about 100% pure oxygen.

Pure oxygen at high pressure can make MANY things combustible that you never think of. Like aluminum - yes the metal. 

Aluminum will self combust spontaneously and explosively under many conditions when exposed to pure O2 at typical 2000+  PSI tank pressures. You cannot sell an oxygen regulator in the USA that has aluminum in contact with the high pressure gas. Many, many other materials are problematic also.

Standard grades of teflon tape and pipe dope have caused many, many explosive fires because folks didn't know. Remember that O2 is actually just the oxidizer that makes other things burn - often vigorously.

Marc

Very interesting Dennis & Marc! Thanks for the info as you may have noticed i am recommending the PTHE and Green tape now thanks again!....Johnny :)

Please keep in mind that this setup has no aluminum involved at all. Welders tanks are steel and regulators are brass and or stainless steel or chrome plated brass and the hose barb that you add will be brass also.
I will still recommend using the GREEN & PTHE plumbers tape and NO OIL OR GREASE! ...

The combined knowledge of this site never ceases to amaze me! :)

Joe

Having great feed back from many CHers on these two setups and i'm finding that most are trying the "Hose Barb" method which is so simple to set up and using the optimask with this really works well and around 25 to 40 lpm knocks em out in around 5 minutes! Best of luck to all!! :)

Hey all!
I keep hearing folks being refused oxygen in the UK and other countries from there doctors so this setup may just be your ticket.
The "Hose Barb" method is so simple to put together and takes about 15 minutes and your ready to breath. Just scroll up to the first post for instructions. So i hope this info can save the folks who were refused prescription o2 and end painful days as you can usually knock out a CH in around 5 to 10 minutes with the high flow o2. I highly recommend the O2ptimask available here in Dj's store for best results.....Best of luck to all for pf days!.....Johnny

Hey Everyone!
Just a follow up and I have gotten many emails from folks using this system that have had great success and I am finding that most use the "Hose barb method" for simple setup.
I hope this system was able to help those that had no insurance or any other way to get oxygen for cluster headaches...Best of luck to all!... John  :)