Here's one I threw together for a trip to the carribbean, which has worked out pretty well.
It's made from a scrap of 4"x1"x1/4" aluminum channel (the blue color is Dyken layout blue). All I had to do was cut the slots (with a drill and a saber saw, easy in alu) and drill holes for the bolts. The bolts are SS (well, ought to be SS) carriage bolts, with the holes filed out a little square and the bolts hammered in so they won't turn. After a while they work loose, but the straps keep them from falling out. Not sure if you can make it out in the photo, but there's half sections of vinyl tubing glued to the edges to protect the tank. It may have actually been 2'X4" channel, or something, and I cut down the sides a bit, can't remember. Note the early Halcyon cinch straps - they were actually the cheapest ones I could find when I bought them! - with the noslip strip in exactly the wrong place to be of any use.
How practical this design is depends on the availability of a suitable piece of channel - I just happened to have one around. But welding and fabrication shops will often have scrap on hand they'll sell for a reasonable price.
I was a bit concerned that the bare alu wouldn't hold up in salt water, but there's been no prob so far however I don't do a lot of saltwater single tank diving. If it starts corroding badly then I'll think about painting it or having it hard coated. Or just make another when this one falls apart
I'm a great fan of PVC, but not for an appication like this. Tanks are heavy, and a pain when they come loose. And those cinch straps put a lot of very localized stresses on the adaptor.
kgdiver once bubbled...
Can anyone tell me if they know an easy way to make a single tank adapter? I have a few thoughts, but would like to see what other ideas are out there. They seem very expensive at the LDS and online for what they are.
Thanks