Metal to Metal, or Metal with ability to Cutaway from Stage Bottle

[Jackknife]

I was wondering, I've been diving with my 40 cu ft. stage along with my HP100. and I was thinking about getting the Highland Mills Bands, but I noticed that they are actually an all metal connection, pony bottle band bolted to a snap bolt. Is this wise for any type of diving whether it be cave, deep diving, technical or recreational diving?

I always thought that if you connect something to your BC you should be able to cut away from it just in case you get snagged on something.

Let's hear from the Pony Bottle Staging Experts?

Thanks.

[Hallmac]

I have always used rope leads. never steel.

Thats what I recomend.

Hallmac

[salty]

Right or wrong aside and Im sure many will say which they perfer Ill cast my vote for no metal to metal conections in any diving but one other point I would like you to consider is cost. I dont rember the cost of the highland band but is it less than a length of nylon cord, 2 bolt snaps, some tubing and a hose clamp ? I think it cost me $12 to $14 to do a tank and I have 5 tanks set up for stage and deco bottles.

[MASS-Diver]

I have the halycon stage kit, very nice, although you can make your own for cheaper than whatever I paid from EE.

I think metal-metal is asking for trouble for any type of diving.

[Scubaroo]

I bought the Fifth Dimension kit... probably the same one EE flogs. $34.

I had a look at the Highland Mills setup - I like the clean look of it, but no metal-to-metal connections for me please. If they supplied just the tank band without the brass boltsnap, it would be very nice - just use some rope like used in the EE kits to attach a bolt snap, and you'd have your cutaway connection, and a very clean looking piece of kit.

[large_diver]

The nice thing about rigging as a stage is the simplicity:

- easy to cut away
- easy to remove the tank whether above or below water
- easy to switch over if doing mutli-tank dives, especially on a rocking boat
- ability to hand off to someone else underwater in the event of an emergency
- easy to remove and hand up to boat crew when re-boarding, if necessary

[Jackknife]

That's how I had it set up, that's how I'll keep it. Thanks guys, makes total sense.

[Waterborne]

I'm going to have to agree with the no metal to metal connections. You want to be able to cut it away if you have to. You can make your own rigging pretty cheap or northeast scuba has the Dive Rite stage strap kits for about 20 quid. Last time I checked EE wanted 42 for the Halcyon model.

[MechDiver]

MASS-Diver once bubbled...


I think metal-metal is asking for trouble for any type of diving.

For stages and *most* other connections, I agree. However, I have my argon bottle attached to my doubles and singles using a Pony Tamer. The connection is in between the tanks and shielded by them, shielded by the wing, and I CAN reach back, pull the pin, and remove the bottle using one hand. That cannot be done with the so-called "cutaway" straps. At least not by yourself.

MD

[Duncan Price]

I use metal metal for my sidemounts and stages for sump diving (D-ring holders and metal D rings). For me its more important that the cylinders cannot fall off e.g. when wearing them to climb out of the water in a cave than I should be able to cut them free. I (and my collegues) also use large snap gate karabiners rather than slide bolts (are the former "suicide clips"?) for the simple reason that we can work them with gloves on easier.

I'm probably in a minority of one on this board.

Duncan