Dive Slates

[kkoski]

What is the name of the type of plastic dive slates are made of?

Does anyone know where you could buy it in bulk by the sheet?

Thanks,

Katrina

[Big-t-2538]

4" pvc pipe available at you're local harware store should do the trick....or custom fit one by sticking your arm inside of pipes remembering to allowr for and exposure suit :D

[kkoski]

I can see myself getting my arm stuck in a pipe in Home Depot. :D

What about for flat slates? Can you get flat sheets of PVC? Are the flat slates PVC or another type of plastic?

Thanks,

Katrina

[canuckdiver]

may sound stupid, but I have often wondered about those small kitchen cutting boards at the dollar store.

They are white plastic, non-stick material, have a nice big oval hole to grip them by, and it seems to perform the same with a normal pencil.

They are a fair bit bigger than a standard dive slate, and cheap enough ;)

[Iruka]

I found a broken handicapped parking sign on the road (broken/typhoon debris/of no use to anyone!) with a plain, white back. It was a bit thin, so I glued 2 "printed" sides together, and had a free dive slate. Speaking of which, I can't understand the reason for those little, rough-sided white slates..(the smooth ones are ok)...hard to write on, hard to erase. Maybe ok for big words (Shark!) but not for small print with a lot of data from the dive, fish seen, etc.




Chris
dive@letsdiveguam.com

[Padipro]

They do sell flat sheets of PVC but it's not widely available and if I remember right it's kind of expensive for the size.

Another option for flat sheet PVC is to buy, or scroung from a construction site, a lenght of tube, cut off a piece that will fit in your home oven, cut it down one side from end to end, heat your oven to 400 degrees and place the tube in the oven for about 5 minutes. PVC turns to rubber when it's heated and produces little if any smell, as long as you don't burn it. Once it's hot and flexable take it out and quickly, as it cools fast, place it on something smooth, flat and capeable of withstanding the heat, place a piece of plywood on top and set something heavy on top of the plywood, I used a few bags of mulch I had laying around.

When everything cools the PVC will be a flat sheet and you can cut it to any size and shap you want. You could use this same technique to form a piece to the shape of your arm if you wanted to make a wrist slate. Of course you wouldn't want to use your own arm as a mold, maybe your dive buddy's. :wacko:

Scott

[Tim Ingersoll]

Just a thought but I have been using a kid's toy: Its a mini magna doodle. They cost $6.00 a piece at the toy store and work great.

[Big-t-2538]

Yeah, they are mini-quests or quest slates available at a number of dive shope, but all they are is a magna-doodle.

see if you can't find something at toys-r-us before dropping 30 bucks on a diver's version.

here's a link
http://s1059kxm.leisurepro.com/webapp/commerce/command/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=1624&prmenbr=946

[pcscuba]

The only bad thing about the toys-r-us magna doodle is they don't look as cool as the quest. Not like that will make any difference though.

[ScubaToneDog]

Go to the bath section at any home improvement warehouse and look for the shower surrounds. The sheets vary in size and thickness (not to mention price). If you only need a small piece then stop in about 20min before they close and ask if they sell any small pieces. Tell them you bought a shower kit the day before, installed it, but you accidentally cut out for the shower head on the back wall piece and you wanted to patch it. They will probably just give you a hunk for free from an open return in the back if they have any. The secret is to be "willing to pay anything" or "try any alternative". They are pretty cool and willing to help especially right before closing.

:spaninq:

[Johndog]

!" mini blinds make the best quick slates. Either scrounge or buy
the blinds(a 3 X 5 window size will give you and all your friends a life time supply and probably cost about $4.00). Cuts strips from the edges into just past the elongated hole that the cords run through (or shorter/longer if you prefer, you will just have to drill a new hole) , stack how ever many you want: 5-6 strips gives you lots of area, and thread them on a split ring. A bit of line and a golf pencil and you are set to go. They tuck nicely into the sleeve of your wetsuit since they are form fitted, put them in a pocket, clip them on a D ring. Write deco info on them (plenty of room as they stack book like... Keep up with photo info... You get tired of the writing on them...just rip out the strip and toss it and replace it with a new one (remember you have a lifetime supply) Write skills instructions for your students... LOTS of uses.

[Braunbehrens]

Another option is to use some kind of underwater note pad, a few companies make them.

Otherwise you can try any place that sells signs...if the material is thick enough, and white on the back, it should work.

Stuff like this can often be scrounged for free if you know where to look. A sign maker probably has scraps.

I was in need of a few sheets of rubber a couple years ago and went to a local place that produced them. They gave me several huge rolls for free, to them this was just waste material.

You could probably also use the material that is used to make computers and other such parts out of. Most major urban areas have stores where old electronic components end up, along with various other treasures. A stroll through one of these might be worthwhile, and usually everything goes cheap.

Good luck.

[ebbdiver]

You can use the back of those plastic "For Sale" signs you buy at the hardware store. They're easy to cut and make a good writing surface for pencil.

[gazzahawkes]

Here on a island in Thailand we do not have the luxury of
giant home depots so we go for recycling stuff,

Ideal for us has been old oil containers, often recovered from reefs (plastic) scour the printing of or simply use the inside for you wrighting surface.
If its to shiny use lowgrade paper to ruff it up.
As for the shape cut to size.
quite often we will then strap our new cheap slates to a tin of beans then leave them in hot water so they retain shape then after cooling they fit your fore-arm perfectly.

As for attaching old oxygen tubing is ideal as is any quick snap bcd fitting .

cheers gary
:out: ;)

[DIR Tec Diver]

Look at wetnotes. Easy to get anywhere (even in Thailand), reusable and allows you about 1000% the storage space in the same thickness as a traditional slate. Not to mention that it is flexible and easily stowed.

Wrist slates are a solution to a problem that shold not be present to begin with proper dive planning, and traditional slates can (not always) be cumbersome, hard to clean off, bulky and limit the area needed for recording information or communicating

[Charlie99]

As others have noted, Wetnotes is a good alternative to a slate.

I use the similar Rite-in-the-Rain waterproof paper. www.riteintherain.com The plastic paper DuraRite is best, but the waterproof paper works also.

Rather than bring a whole notebook, though, I just wrap a few sheets around a 3x4" or 4x6" signal mirror (available at most boating stores).

[blacknet]

Hello,

goto a local plastic company and get the 6 foot square sheets and take sandpaper to them, you can get them in 1/16" or 1/8", both will work fine. If you want printed material on them you can find someone with an offset press.

The other option is to get a pack of paper from rite in the rain (last post) and use that in a laser printer.

Personaly I do both. I make a 'booklet' and have printed material and use key rings in the side. you have a hard outter shell and the paper in the middle. the paper is made the same way paper is but instead of wood pulp it's plastic fibers.

Another popular option is to use PVC pipe and cut to have a non-circle to fit over your arm.

Ed

[pcscuba]

That's a good idea charlie, I've never thought of that.

[WVMike]

Thanks for the info. I had a pad of rainwriter that I used for camping and started using while diving ( on the shore) to get dive info from computer. Did not think of trying it UW.

Last night I took a sheet UW and wrote on it with a pencil and it worked great. But I was using my slate to back it up and the whole process was awkard. So how do you attach the paper to the mirror?

For my test I wrote "Now I need a mini clip board"

As to PVC pipe for arm slate, 3 inch schedule 30 cut in half seems to be a good fit. I think when attaching webbing an old piece of neoprene or some kind of foam strip under end closest to wrist would even it out.

Mike

[DIR Tec Diver]

What will you do when you need to communicate detailed information to your dive buddy? Will you hold out your arm and hope that he can read the writing? What if you have your deco schedules taking up most of the room? What if it entangles on something.

Not trying to be a jerk, but ditch the wrist slate and stick with wet notes...

[blacknet]

WVMike,

make/use a slate that's slightly bigger than the paper as a clipboard. Use keyrings to hold everything together.

Ed

[Charlie99]

WVMike once bubbled...
Thanks for the info. I had a pad of rainwriter that I used for camping and started using while diving ( on the shore) to get dive info from computer. Did not think of trying it UW.

Last night I took a sheet UW and wrote on it with a pencil and it worked great. But I was using my slate to back it up and the whole process was awkard. So how do you attach the paper to the mirror?

I just rip a 2 or 3 sheets of DuraRite paper from a notebook, wrap the sheets around the mirror and simply use a rubber band to secure it. Sometimes I get real high tech and use a couple tiny strips of bicycle innertube -- aka DIR rubberband. I rarely have a need to write more than a few lines, but having a couple extra pages in reserve doesn't take up any more room.

It's also all kind of held together by the lanyard that goes through a small hole in the mirror to clip off the pad to a bungee in my pocket, and also another small lanyard for the pencil.

The DuraRite notebooks from Rite-In-the-Rain are totally waterproof plastic sheets and extended submersion doesn't affect it at all. The rite-in-the-rain paper is waterproofed paper, but get a more limp after being wet for a long time.

[Hooked4Life]

My Buddy (Girlfriend) and I use the mini-magna doodles. I think we paid $6 at Wal-Mart. This thing works created for quick communication. I wouldnt use it to record dive info, but wet notes is good for that. :)

[Charlie99]

I tried the MagnaDoodle, but didn't like it's bulk. So I ripped one apart and extracted the writing surface/screen. The screen is flexible enough that it tucked into my BC pocket nicely, along with the magnetic pencil tied to it on a lanyard.

Unfortunately, the naked screen wasn't very rugged. After 4 or 5 dives it developed a leak and started to ooze a milky white substance --- apparently the carrier fluid in which the iron particles are suspended.

Does anybody have any suggestions on how to cut down on the bulk of a MagnaDoodle while still being reliable?

[mddolson]

Made from 4" pvc piping.



Mike D

[mddolson]

made from 4" pvc piping

Mike D

[FLL Diver]

I've run a couple of Magna-Doodles now - the $5 cheapies don't seem to like the water to well.

I've been looking at these (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3616458949&category=1300) recently on ebay. They look like copies of a DiveRite model I've seen before, and the pricing seems good.

I'd much rather buy something as I'm not the handiest guy around. I have visions of sending the house up in flames trying to soften PVC pipe in the oven. :D

Marc

[dvas]

hi,
i made my slate from the plastic top used by electricians and air-conditioning people. They are using these plastics for putting the cables in side and then connecting them to the floor or wall. I used the wide top from them and then put it under hot water and made them round to fit my wrist. Cut the wholes for the BT, and another 'page' like on dive-rite slate, added a pen and a strap from velcro.

hope you get the idea.

sasha

[Narced-on-Land]

I can hardly wait,
to make a new slate...

[el-ninio]

dvas once bubbled...
see attached picture

you just had to photograph the slate with the plan for the a trimix dive ;)

This slate is really lelgant - the photograph dose it little justice. it's solid, the "pages" flip well, and is vey well built.

[i]And it sent me to a wild goose chase - the plastic looks as if it was cut from a pipe, but pipes of white plastic are no-where to be found around Jerusalem. I actualy did find a small section, mind you, but it took me so long I'm now afrade to damage it when I rut it into shape. :mean: [\i]

[ScubaToneDog]

DIR Tec Diver once bubbled...

Not trying to be a jerk, but ditch the wrist slate and stick with wet notes...

We are exploring options and alternatives. We all know your way is the only correct way to "do it right", but we kinda like doing the Sinatra way....Sing along "I did it myyyyyyyy wayyyyyyyy".

:spaninq:

[LVX]

The best thing I have found are wet notes. You can find them here if you want to order online - http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=36778. The best thing about them is that they are so cheap you can be several.

With those, I like to use the pop up lead pencils. I find these in the school supplies at my local grocery store. They are great too because when I break a lead, I can simply push it out the top and place it in the the bottom and a new lead pops out the top.

thanks

LVX

[Narced-on-Land]

You can do that with gloves on? Try a 7mm mechanical pencil. You just bump it against yourself when you need to get more lead, and you can get whatever type of hardness refills you like at any office supply store.

;)

[divermasterB]

I could see myself going nuts trying to grip one of those things with my heavy dry gloves on.

I barely have the dexterity to open a bolt snap with one hand.

[LVX]

Believe it or not, I can. I have tried mechanical pencils and they always seem to give me problems.

Too each his/ her own I guess. As far as pencils are concerned anyway.

LOL

LVX

[divermasterB]

I think the yellow disposables with a long piece of .7 mm lead and a twist at the base would work pretty well.

The spring in them is only used to guide the lead down as you twist them. I wouldn't think you would have to worry about rust or anything like that.

[ScubaToneDog]

Carpender pencils work great. Pretty hard to break the tip off and they are big and easy to handle. Dont roll around either.

:spaninq:

[dvas]

thanks for your kind words....


it was nice to see you yesterday and all the other 60 members of the israeli forum on the diving forum meeting....

[scubascout2000]

i have tried what you said and it works great. thanks lots.

[Rick Murchison]

I use plastic license plate blanks, cut to desired size. You can get 'em from just about any screen printer - they are cheap, white, the right thickness, and you can write on 'em "right out of the box."
I also like wet notes.
Rick

[junior diver]

I found an old keyboard. I took the back off, cut it in half and stuck it back to back, voila, a dual sided slate. I then drilled two holes, one to attach to my BCD and one to attach a pencil, I used that curly wire what phones have when they are not wireless.

[DiveTyme]

BuoyantC made me a wrist slate made out of white vinyl siding. He cut it to wrist size and drilled two holes in it. He ran rubber tubing thru the holes. Tied a knot in one end and slide a golf pencil on the other. I slide my wrist thru the loop and pull the pencil end to tighten. Works better then my regular slates.
Tim

[GoBlue!]

The DuraRite notebooks from Rite-In-the-Rain are totally waterproof plastic sheets and extended submersion doesn't affect it at all. The rite-in-the-rain paper is waterproofed paper, but get a more limp after being wet for a long time.

Neat. Has anyone else used these? I especially like the looks of the hip notebook (https://durarite.safeserver.com/DURA-NOTEBOOKS.HTM) (4x6", polyethylene cover, wire bound, 50 lf giving 100pp). Before I order a bunch o' notebooks, I'm just wondering if any of you have submerged these for a long time, pencil works on them well, etc.

Jim

[critterc]

Fish cutting boards from Wal MArt work well.