V-weight

[DimitrsiV]

Hi there

I made a P-weight an v-weight a year ago. You can see lot of pics on this greek forum
Ιδιοκατασκευη V-weight και P-weight - Σ.E.A. 'ΤΗΘΥΣ'

The text is in greeks but you can use google tranlator

Thanks
Dimitris

 

[Pullmyfinger]

Dimitris,

That's a great series of pictures!

Thanks for posting that....great first post.

-Mitch

 

[11x]

i hate to be the one to ask a dumb question but here goes. i was wondering why you want the weight back there. i have dove doubles twice and they were horriably back heavy. i would think i would want any weight on the front to counter the rolling over on my back fealing. just a newbie asking questions. thanks

 

[Pullmyfinger]

I'm using them to add weight to a couple of sets of aluminum 80's. I'm diving dry and wanted to more weight as a v-weight and less on my weight belt.

-Mitch

 

[mahjong]

Are you mounting that V-weight on the back of your rig in the way you show in your picture? If so, I'm wondering how that might work with the bolts? You can't get a bite on the lead that is firm enough to lock down your tank bands, I would think. And if you do try it with a large washer (what you would need, I would think) then the center spine of the V-weight would need to flush on the center panel of the bands and the sides of the V-weight cannot at all touch the rounded side part of the bands not to mention the tanks.

If you flip the rig and mount the V-weight on the front (the most typical location for a V-weight--easy to install and better for trim), I wonder if there would be enough space between your BP spine/wing grommet (add the harness grommet on the top, if you are using that kind of harness) and the V-weight to allow the BP edges to lock down against your tanks? That looks like a mighty thick V-weight. Note: The bolt hole opening in the V-weight needs to be large enough to fit completely over the nut that locks down your tank bands.

I have a twin rig with two PST 1800psi 40cuft tanks. Little guys that are light as a feather and very positively buoyant. So I needed two V-weights (drysuit diving). Fortunately, my LDS carries nice 8 and 10 lb V-weights. I put a 10lb V-weight on the front, beneath the BP/wing--this rests perfectly in the space and there is no need for an extra nut to hold it in place. But this is only after I switched off an Oxy BP, which has a deep spine, for a DSS BP, which is much flatter. Only with the DSS plate could I lock down the BP edges against the tanks. The 8lb V-weight I put in the back, but beneath the back center panel (this allows you to lock down your bands as usual). The fit is almost perfect, after I shaved off ~1 pound of lead from the edges, so no need for an extra nut to hold it in place. So with the two V-weights I have 17lbs of weight. These tanks are ~6.84" in diameter and my bands are 8.5" C-to-C, so there is enough space beneath the back band to insert the V-weight (after quite a bit of shaving of the edges). That space on your rig is likely tighter.

I just melted 12 lbs. of lead and poured it into a form I made for a v-weight.
I figured I'd post some pictures.

I'll cut some material away and drill a couple of holes for the tank band bolts tomorrow.

**I just realized I have a thousand posts.....haha.

-Mitch

 

[Pullmyfinger]

Hi Mahjong,

Sorry for the late reply. I didn't mean to ignore the thread, it just took me awhile to finish up the project. It's been good weather for motorcycling lately.

I finished up milling and drilling my v-weights. The original pictures were just some shots I took with them laying on the tanks, it just took me awhile to get around to finishing the drilling. I milled some flats on the back side of the weights to accomodate the bands. They are only needed of the 10, 11, and 15 lb. weights.

I'll be mounting the v-weights between the tanks and plate.
I use DSS rigs, there's room for the weights between the plate and tanks.

Here are the finished weights.

15lbs.-11lbs.-10lbs.-8lbs-and 7lbs.

I just guessed on each one while pouring the lead into the mold.
I wanted a couple of 7 lb. weights, and a couple of 11 lb. weights. Since these are the ones that are usually available for sale.

I took a bunch of extra lead and poured a lot of it for a big one. The 15 lb. one is what I ended up with.

Take care,
Mitch