DIY Bungied Second - please post a pic

[Blue Sparkle]

I'm amazed we've got 6 pages of posts on homemade reg bungies when for a mere $ 8 @ Divegearexpress you can just go buy one that's equal to or superior to any of the solutions posted so far:

Regulator Accessories - Dive Gear Express

In addition to what Devon Diver said, I've got bungie just sitting in my bosun's kit, waiting to be used for this or a number of other projects. So for practically no effort and money, I have a necklace that can be made to just the right size for me, plus supplies for more/spares. Not that $8 plus shipping, plus my having to order it, plus perhaps another $8 for a spare is the end of the world, but I'm just explaining why it may not always be "amazing" that people would make their own.

(Yes, I ordered bungie in the first place, but that's a sunk cost since I always have it on hand in the kit anyway, plus, even at a per/foot rate it's fairly inexpensive.)

Many options for how to do it, and not all are "lesser" than the Dive Gear Express one (that said, I have happily ordered from them, so nothing against them either; in fact, I think I got my current supply of bungie and surgical tubing from them).

[awap]

I use the simple knotted bungee without zip ties. To prevent the knot from coming undone, I melt the end of the bungee into a mushroom head up close to the knot. Alternately, a carefully placed drop of glue on the knot but not on the sliding piece will lock it together.

I am a recreational diver and prefer that my alt pull out if yanked hard enough. I explain to my buddy that I will donate my long hose primary and prefer they take that one but, in an emergency, they are welcome to any reg I have.

[TSandM]

I pay ten cents a foot for bungie at REI, and I can make my necklaces in about three or four minutes, in precisely the length I want. I can't even imagine why I would order a $7.95 bungie necklace and pay shipping on it. (Kudos to the Dive Gear Express folks for having the instructions to do it yourself right there on the page with the item.) I did try the Manta necklaces, which looked like such a nice idea, but the orifice for the mouthpiece is too large for many, and the necklace length was way too long for me.

[Jim Lapenta]

The manta necklace is also the cheaper silicone that grabs the hair on the back of my neck. I bought a similar one at DEMA from pure silicone that does not do that. All said and done though making my own works better. I use the knotted version with zip ties around the ends of if I'm feeling energetic,and my the arthritis in my hands is not acting up, I use cave line and lash the ends as seen below:
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[TNRonin]

I think I read where someone was using latex tubing. I've ordered some of the cobra zip ties, I'll try it both ways with the bungee knotted or zip tied.

[LeadTurn_SD]

I think I read where someone was using latex tubing. I've ordered some of the cobra zip ties, I'll try it both ways with the bungee knotted or zip tied.

I use smallish diameter surgical tubing (1/4, 3/8"??? Sorry, can't remember), attached with a 2nd zip tie in the fashion used by Peter Guy in post #32 (and the photo by Devon Diver a couple post's above Peter's post).

I make the zip tie snug, but not fully tightened. The tubing is of course NOT "knotted" on the bitter ends, so that if necessary it can be pulled free from the zip tie.

The friction of the tubing will hold it quite securely (you may need to experiment few times, sacrificing a few zip ties to arrive at the right level of "snugness"). But the necklace will release the reg cleanly with a sharp tug, and not disturb the mouthpiece. Since one (or both) ends of the tubing slip free of the zip tie, the entire necklace is released; nothing remains around your neck.

Be sure to test with the tubing "wet" to make sure it will not slip.

This setup may be "too secure" for the reasons Devon Diver mentioned. It does work well for me in the easy recreational dives I do, and I've found the tubing to be slightly more durable than bungee, but your mileage may vary

Best wishes.

[TNRonin]

This is probably the route I'll go.

I use smallish diameter surgical tubing (1/4, 3/8"??? Sorry, can't remember), attached with a 2nd zip tie in the fashion used by Peter Guy in post #32 (and the photo by Devon Diver a couple post's above Peter's post).

I make the zip tie snug, but not fully tightened. The tubing is of course NOT "knotted" on the bitter ends, so that if necessary it can be pulled free from the zip tie.

The friction of the tubing will hold it quite securely (you may need to experiment few times, sacrificing a few zip ties to arrive at the right level of "snugness"). But the necklace will release the reg cleanly with a sharp tug, and not disturb the mouthpiece. Since one (or both) ends of the tubing slip free of the zip tie, the entire necklace is released; nothing remains around your neck.

Be sure to test with the tubing "wet" to make sure it will not slip.

This setup may be "too secure" for the reasons Devon Diver mentioned. It does work well for me in the easy recreational dives I do, and I've found the tubing to be slightly more durable than bungee, but your mileage may vary

Best wishes.

[dumpsterDiver]

For most people and most diving, it probably doesn't matter much..It is much better around your neck than clipped off somewhere like PADI used to (still does?) teach. Keeping it accessible and out of the mud and in a location where a freeflow will be obvious is a huge improvement.

We have heard of MANY serious problems with zip ties failing and people loosing a mouth piece and haveing very serious problems, so my biggest issue is not putting dynamic stress on a single zip tie hold a mouthpiece and necklace.

I have such an aversion to zip tie failure that for the last 12 yrs or so, I use stainless steel aircraft safety wire to wire my mouth piece on and then I might put a zip tie over for good measure.

Incidentally, I made a neck lanyard for my kid out of bungi and put a fastex plastic clip in it. Very easy for him to manipulate.