Small Doubles?
- Thread starter rds4640
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"how did you get the spacing accurate?"
Use a ruler. You need to be careful with spacing, but microns are not critical. If you're within 1/8 of an inch you'll be fine. I posted directions with photographs here some time ago.
Use a ruler. You need to be careful with spacing, but microns are not critical. If you're within 1/8 of an inch you'll be fine. I posted directions with photographs here some time ago.
oxyhacker
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Hardly a gold mine because like anything, when you homebuild it you are just spending your labor rather than your money. If you try to start doing it commercially, then you got to start pricing that labor and the bargain largely evaporates. Also part of the savings is that when you are homebuilding one can usually tolerate a lower level of cosmetic perfection than a manufacturer can get away with, which further saves time and money. Still if one enjoys making things, tank bands are one of those things, along with O2 analzyers, mixing gear, lights and backplates, where you can save some serious money.
The secret to making cheap tank bands is cheap stock, which happens to be surprisingly easy to obtain. Find a sheet metal shop or scrap metal dealer than handles a lot of SS, and buy some SS shearing scraps - long strips left over when they trim big sheets - which they'll usually sell as scrap for 20-50¢ a pound. Sort through them and you can usually find some already just the right width for tank bands. This is a double bargain - you get the metal dirt cheap, and it's already precut to size. Since the price is trivial, get some extra in case it doesn't turn out right the first try.
The easiest way to get the size right is to borrow a set of commercial bands and simply use them as a guide. If you can get access to a roller and put a nice bend in the strips its a lot easier, but you can do it bending them by hand around a suitable form, then bending the ends in a vise.
The secret to making cheap tank bands is cheap stock, which happens to be surprisingly easy to obtain. Find a sheet metal shop or scrap metal dealer than handles a lot of SS, and buy some SS shearing scraps - long strips left over when they trim big sheets - which they'll usually sell as scrap for 20-50¢ a pound. Sort through them and you can usually find some already just the right width for tank bands. This is a double bargain - you get the metal dirt cheap, and it's already precut to size. Since the price is trivial, get some extra in case it doesn't turn out right the first try.
The easiest way to get the size right is to borrow a set of commercial bands and simply use them as a guide. If you can get access to a roller and put a nice bend in the strips its a lot easier, but you can do it bending them by hand around a suitable form, then bending the ends in a vise.
I used large clamps (similar to those on hoses in a car) I bought at Ace hardware. I used them to clamp the tanks to a frame made from scrap metal.
ericfine50
Contributor
I am looking to set up a set of OMS 45s to use on bech dives. Anyone know of someone selling a few old ones?
Thanks
Eric
Thanks
Eric
ericfine50
Contributor
cute... very cute. I guess I had to much of the Kool Aid. 
or... I am eating way to much chillie before a dive.
Eric
or... I am eating way to much chillie before a dive.
Eric
ericfine50
Contributor
Yea Yea Yea... Chille is the poor man's argon.
Eric
Eric
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