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Post by vedanta on Apr 21, 2015 7:53:07 GMT -8
Hi All- "Former" Technical Diver who is 53, that sold all my old OMS stuff. Too much weight, cold water and drama! Currently deployed (again) to Middle East, after diving in Key Largo where they would NOT let me use my Royal Aquamaster, despite rebuild. Dan Barringer helped me at Vintage Scuba Supply, and rebuilt a couple of Royal Aquamasters for me carefully purchased from ebay. Then I had a custom harness made at Atlantic Divers but have not used as of yet. Even got a UDT Calypso Horsecollar BC (Used to be Special Forces, but not a Combat Diver)...Now...Where do I get 72 Doubles? Is that what I need? I keep looking at E-Bay, and just cannot guarantee condition. I assume steel is best like old OMS, but where do I find set up to fit into my SS Backplate??
Also, Is there some sort of animosity to Vintage Divers from modern scene? I also fly an old biplane, and think some things were not necessarily improved. I love the old school I will be back in due time, but want to score some solid, affordable tanks. Any advise, while I read through. Code Name vedanta because I teach resiliency and mindfulness to Soldiers, being a Mental Health Officer who was a Green Beret. Educate me gang. TAJ
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Post by vedanta on Apr 21, 2015 7:54:16 GMT -8
I will check back later, due to time differences. Cheers all. I will be reading for sure.
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Post by nikeajax on Apr 21, 2015 8:51:01 GMT -8
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaar, ahoy matey!! Welcome to the ORIGINAL vintage scuba forum: I do hope you're chatty... Hmmmm, if I wanted doubles, I would buy them separately, piecemeal, that way you get what you want, and not stuck saying, "Dang, that manifold is a piece of junk..." Yes, steel 72's are the shiznit: perfectly balanced, neither negative, nor positive buoyancy problems. Yeah, my wife and I are all about old stuff: she's not an "icky girl"! She has a beavertail wetsuit, and her primary reg is a Conshelf-XII. She also has a Voit VCR-5 (1961 Double hose). I'm completely addicted to Healthways gear: I have all of their DH's. Here's an image of most of my regs:  I'm an artist, fine and graphic and a writer. Welcome aboard ship mate, Jaybird |
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Post by nikeajax on Apr 21, 2015 13:44:16 GMT -8
Oh, I forgot to mention that making bands for your twins isn't hard! First make a template with cardboard, a cornflakes or Cheerios box will work really well: you're basically just trying to figure out where the bend and hole for the bolt goes  You can use stainless or galvanized, either one can be drilled out with a normal everyday drill bit, and cut with a hacksaw--really! Anyway, just thought I'd mention it: it's fun when you make your own gear!  Jaybird |
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Post by nikeajax on Apr 21, 2015 14:47:44 GMT -8
Oh sorry: I almost forgot, use a dremmel tool to cut the holes for the straps. Give yourself about an inch gap between the bends so you can get the nut and bolt nice and tight...
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Post by vedanta on Apr 23, 2015 8:54:03 GMT -8
Wow- Even the picture of your regulators seems art deco. Keep me informed. I REALLY appreciate it. Being in Desert, anything related to water seems cool What is weird is Gulf of Arabia so close, but no diving it seems....Vedanta
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Post by scubadiverbob on Jun 26, 2015 7:10:20 GMT -8
I'm surprised someone wouldn't let you use a RAM! Did you have a single hose octo attached to the IP? Some places just require that.
My dive instructor was Special Forces (in Panama), and I have a couple of friends who were ... One doesn't dive anymore; heart problems.
Robert
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Post by surflung on Jul 7, 2015 13:14:18 GMT -8
..."Former" Technical Diver ...Too much weight, cold water and drama! - Man, I'm with you there... I still have to deal with cold water but with Vintage style, diving is liberating and fun. I dive a 3mm wetsuit with 3mm hooded vest to keep my suit compression minimal for easiest buoyancy control with weights. I've been diving some very manageable "Twin 38s" double tanks... Not too heavy on the surface and manageable with weights under water. These are 1800 psi tanks. The 1880 psi tanks are the same capacity but heavier and I have to dive them with no weights.  - Getting the tanks you want can take some patience... The 3 sets above came to me through tips from vintage friends. The yellow ones were found on Craig's list by my friend Retpo (Tom). The military surplus ones on the left were found at the Wazee Dive Shop by my friend Sea Hunt Jerry. I think Rob from Scuba Museum told me about the Sportsways tanks on the right... They were an Ebay score that almost went sour... They flunked the hydro test at first. Then through advice of vintage divers, I was encouraged to try a better hydro tester and the first test was apparently done incorrectly because they passed by a wide margin at the better testing facitility... So there's another example of patience leading to a nice set of tanks. |
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Post by sbfan2015 on Aug 27, 2015 15:06:37 GMT -8
Yeah, my wife and I are all about old stuff: she's not an "icky girl"! She has a beavertail wetsuit, and her primary reg is a Conshelf-XII. She also has a Voit VCR-5 (1961 Double hose). Does your wife's beavertail suit have twistlocks, nikeajax? Is the suit of the smoothskin or sharkskin variety? |
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You can use stainless or galvanized, either one can be drilled out with a normal everyday drill bit, and cut with a hacksaw--really!
