Failed Argon IGA

[ctb7767]

Attempted with Argon and a SCBA setup, saw my O2 drop to around 74% but then either freaked out or felt like i was starting to suffocate. I think i had it on like 15 or 20 LPM on the reg, I didn't feel like passing out at all. Probably was about 30 seconds or something.
I could and might try again, but I am concerned about getting brain damage. Also have SN so might go that route instead but I also have concerns there.

 

[jodes2]

Argon didn't work for me at all. I very quickly felt like I was suffocating

 

[ctb7767]

Seems like we had a similar experience, nothing like what others have shared or what it should be like. Do you think it would be different if N2 was used instead?

 

[FuneralCry]

It sounds so horrible to me failing ctb, it's what I fear. I know nothing about that method but at least you didn't end up with any damage. I hope that you eventually find the freedom that you wish for.

 

[Jarni]

I was interested in Argon in 2020, don't remember the details now, but found my message on here from 2020:

Yeah I understand... :-( Not easy to get rid of the 3 bottles... I ordered Argon too, but cancelled my order at time just after reading on a forum that Argon creates problems to welders and they can't exhale it. As I understood, Nitrogen and Helium was tested by number of people but not Argon. So with Nitrogen it has to be OK (but it is just my reads on deifferent forums, as I said).

 

[GasMonkey]

I think i had it on like 15 or 20 LPM on the reg

That isn't SCBA. SCBA doesn't work on constant flow (LPM), it works by maintaining a positive pressure inside the mask (pumps the gas on-demand).

I suspect that what have you done is connecting a full face mask to a flow regulator, correct?

 

[Superdeterminist]

Gas is not my method (although ideally it would be), but it's very disheartening to hear that argon is ineffective. It's good to know, at least. There are still other effective gases in helium and nitrogen. I assume anyway...

 

[ctb7767]

That isn't SCBA. SCBA doesn't work on constant flow (LPM), it works by maintaining a positive pressure inside the mask (pumps the gas on-demand).

I suspect that what have you done is connecting a full face mask to a flow regulator, correct?

I bought an EM kit

 

[GasMonkey]

I bought an EM kit

What kit? This one?

To use that you have to set the flow rate to 0 and use the pressure port. EM regulators are Medical Regulators for Nitrogen, not Argon. The demand valve is designed for Air (with has almost the same weight as Nitrogen, so it is compatible with Nitrogen).

 

[ctb7767]

Yeah that one. I emailed and he said it should work with Ar
You think it's incompatible?

 

[Endex]

You said you had it set on 15 to 20 LPM when it should be set to the 0 setting. If you purchased the whole kit you could of opted for a consolidation with him. He's a reputable source.

 

[GasMonkey]

You think it's incompatible?

It could be incompatible, you are using 3 components (regulator, demand valve and mask) with the wrong gas.
Also why did you set a 15 or 20 LPM flowrate on the regulator? didn't read the instructions?

 

[ctb7767]

I don't think I got any instructions, could be wrong about that. I guess good to know though thanks.
Which one is the pressure port?

 

[GasMonkey]

Which one is the pressure port?

The 2 ports under the pressure gauge are pressure ports.
The other one (closer to the flow rate wheel) is the flow port.

Also you must pre-fill the mask with gas with the frontal button of the demand valve (creates a constant flow when pushed), to remove all the air from the mask.

 

[ctb7767]

Ok ok that's definitely what my problem was!
Well I can probably CTB painlessly basically whenever I want now, so that's cool.

 

[GasMonkey]

I'm wondering if you have damaged the equipment by connecting it to the wrong port.

So K didn't send you the instructions when you made the order? He sent me a PDF with instructions when I made it. In the web there are also PDF instructions for all the products.

 

[GasMonkey]

Argon didn't work for me at all. I very quickly felt like I was suffocating

Argon (or any inert gas) doesn't cause any suffocating sensation, what you felt was just the Hypercapnic Alarm Response due to your setup not purging CO₂ correctly. The neck adjustment was too tight or the flow rate too low.

 

[ctb7767]

I was interested in Argon in 2020, don't remember the details now, but found my message on here from 2020:

Oh so it like gets stuck in your lungs? What problems might that cause during a failed attempt?

 

[Sparx]

Argon (or any inert gas) doesn't cause any suffocating sensation, what you felt was just the Hypercapnic Alarm Response due to your setup not purging CO₂ correctly. The neck adjustment was too tight or the flow rate too low.

I experienced this with SCBA/N2. The CO2 should've been purged by the one way valve but wasn't for some reason

Oh so it like gets stuck in your lungs? What problems might that cause during a failed attempt?

In my experience it lead to an awful feeling of panic/suffocation and 'air hunger' long before unconsciousness was reached.

 

[GasMonkey]

I experienced this with SCBA/N2. The CO2 should've been purged by the one way valve but wasn't for some reason

In my experience it lead to an awful feeling of panic/suffocation and 'air hunger' long before unconsciousness was reached.

Are you sure that you connected it to the pressure port? Maybe you made the same mistake as @ctb7767.

 

[jojointhebus]

Some news about Argon efficiency ?

 

[GasMonkey]

Some news about Argon efficiency ?

@imcadt99 CTB'd 2 days ago with an Argon SCBA.

 

[Shadowlord900]

@imcadt99 CTB'd 2 days ago with an Argon SCBA.

o___O I knew @imcadt99 CTB'd with SCBA kit, didn't realised it was with Argon.

Well 'grats to them for pulling it off. I'd usually never recommend Argon because I tend to hear more failed attempts with Argon than I do with other gasses.

 

[GasMonkey]

I tend to hear more failed attempts

I haven't seen a single medical report of somebody surviving a proper inert gas setup. Doctors themselves say that the survival cases are basically non-existent except for those who were rescued fast by another person.

By "failed" I guess you mean somebody who aborts the attempt due to feeling uneasy for some reason.​

 

[Shadowlord900]

I haven't seen a single medical report of somebody surviving a proper inert gas setup. Doctors themselves say that the survival cases are basically non-existent except for those who were rescued fast by another person.

By "failed" I guess you mean somebody who aborts the attempt due to feeling uneasy for some reason.​

;^^ Yeah sorry I kind of thought of people not setting the gear up properly or accidentally getting the wrong gas as a failed attempt of sorts, as those are the only ways I can really see someone 'failing' the Inert Gas method.

 

[Ki_Nam]

Thank you this is very informative thread.

 

[lonely man]

can someone tell me where can i get nitrogen shipped internationally?