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Note that Abysmal plates are "not quite standard". They shallow design might reqire the use of specially sized bolts.
James
Backplate / Oxycheck questions
- Thread starter gbrandon
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Note that Abysmal plates are "not quite standard". They shallow design might reqire the use of specially sized bolts.
James
SeaJay
Contributor
...But the colors are cool.
I dig the variety.
I dig the variety.
SeaJay
Contributor
If the colors will stay.
A scratched up red or blue or white or black one wouldn't be as cool as a plain one.
But a red one or blue one that kept it's color might be cooler.
I like the fact that you can buy them polished or not, or whatever.
That said, what really matters is the fact that they fit... And that the cuts and slots and holes are all smooth. Oh yeah... The material has to be "the good stuff," and it has to be the right weight.
...Which is why the Halcyon, FredT, Scott Koplin, and Hoadley plates are all tops.
Actually, the Halcyon is made of a cheaper metal than the others; so I don't know if I'd put it in the same ballpark as the Hoadley, FredT and Koplin plates.
I couldn't tell you anything about the Abysmal plates. Never dived with one.
When I went to purchase mine, I immediately discounted all of the plates that had no center slots for a Halcyon STA-less wing... Which meant no Abysmal, and no Koplin plate. Turns out, that didn't matter... I chose to use a STA anyway. But since I wasn't sure, it was a Halcyon, FredT, or Hoadley plate.
The Halcyon was polished. Cool, but I didn't think it a good idea around sharks and barracuda. Ditto for my first stage... I was attracted to a "matte" finish.
...Which left the Hoadley and FredT plates. I also really liked the idea of being able to order different weights in the plate. Both of these guys offered slightly different sizes and weights. That was another reason why I chose not to get a Halcyon or Abysmal plate.
I settled on the Hoadley plate because I thought it appeared more "finished" and I liked the attention that he gave to the slots in deburring. FredT offers this service, and I've heard raves about it, but it seemed like an afterthought to me.
Bottom line is that either plate would have worked well... I have no regrets buying a Hoadley plate, but the FredT is also an excellent choice. The FredT offers more in terms of variety, because there's more slots for different types of gear... But I liked the look of the Hoadley plate... The shape of it... A little better, and I found a good deal on one. I also liked the fact that the top slots of the Hoadley plate were "tilted" for comfort, whereas FredT's weren't.
...But I do like the idea of color choice, assuming it doesn't flake or scratch off. If it does, then I'd chose to go colorless, like I have now.
melong, you mention that the Abysmal plates are good for STA-less wings like the Pioneer series from Halcyon... But that's not true. The Abysmal plates require a STA, as do the Koplin plates. The rest; the Halcyon, Hoadley, and FredT plates, all can accomodate a STA-less wing.
Know what? Nix that... It looks like they have a new design with STA-less slots in it. Interesting.
A scratched up red or blue or white or black one wouldn't be as cool as a plain one.
But a red one or blue one that kept it's color might be cooler.
I like the fact that you can buy them polished or not, or whatever.
That said, what really matters is the fact that they fit... And that the cuts and slots and holes are all smooth. Oh yeah... The material has to be "the good stuff," and it has to be the right weight.
...Which is why the Halcyon, FredT, Scott Koplin, and Hoadley plates are all tops.
Actually, the Halcyon is made of a cheaper metal than the others; so I don't know if I'd put it in the same ballpark as the Hoadley, FredT and Koplin plates.
I couldn't tell you anything about the Abysmal plates. Never dived with one.
When I went to purchase mine, I immediately discounted all of the plates that had no center slots for a Halcyon STA-less wing... Which meant no Abysmal, and no Koplin plate. Turns out, that didn't matter... I chose to use a STA anyway. But since I wasn't sure, it was a Halcyon, FredT, or Hoadley plate.
The Halcyon was polished. Cool, but I didn't think it a good idea around sharks and barracuda. Ditto for my first stage... I was attracted to a "matte" finish.
...Which left the Hoadley and FredT plates. I also really liked the idea of being able to order different weights in the plate. Both of these guys offered slightly different sizes and weights. That was another reason why I chose not to get a Halcyon or Abysmal plate.
I settled on the Hoadley plate because I thought it appeared more "finished" and I liked the attention that he gave to the slots in deburring. FredT offers this service, and I've heard raves about it, but it seemed like an afterthought to me.
Bottom line is that either plate would have worked well... I have no regrets buying a Hoadley plate, but the FredT is also an excellent choice. The FredT offers more in terms of variety, because there's more slots for different types of gear... But I liked the look of the Hoadley plate... The shape of it... A little better, and I found a good deal on one. I also liked the fact that the top slots of the Hoadley plate were "tilted" for comfort, whereas FredT's weren't.
...But I do like the idea of color choice, assuming it doesn't flake or scratch off. If it does, then I'd chose to go colorless, like I have now.
melong, you mention that the Abysmal plates are good for STA-less wings like the Pioneer series from Halcyon... But that's not true. The Abysmal plates require a STA, as do the Koplin plates. The rest; the Halcyon, Hoadley, and FredT plates, all can accomodate a STA-less wing.
Know what? Nix that... It looks like they have a new design with STA-less slots in it. Interesting.
Seejay, thanks for clearing that up. I got this information from Abysmal or one of their dealers. They had a plate once up for bid on Ebay. I enquire about the STA. They reply that this plate does not require one, it will fit into any wing without it. So much for that.
I like the Koplin plates, especially the travel series ones, but what make me not to buy it is the absence of the tank band slots on the backplates. So I go ahead and got a S&W Hammerhead backapate. I like the way the handle is made. Kind of cool.
I like the Koplin plates, especially the travel series ones, but what make me not to buy it is the absence of the tank band slots on the backplates. So I go ahead and got a S&W Hammerhead backapate. I like the way the handle is made. Kind of cool.
FredT
Guest
My STAs raise the tank less than 1/8" above a STAless route, but spread the contact base by over 2" for much better stability.
Other STAs can raise it as much as 3/4"
FT
Other STAs can raise it as much as 3/4"
FT
the oxycheq version is about the same.. the OMS versions I have seen raise it alot..
but either way its much more stable than those rods.. The people I know with the halycon wing are all using a STA with it.
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Mine is perfectly stable without an STA, which is a good thing because I'd be over weighted with one.
James
(for my two BP setups)
They are about -2.5, and work just fine. I like 'em, in fact, as without them my head tends to bang on the valve or reg - with they're at just the right distance; I can still reach my valve on a singles rig, and the effect on trim for me is nil.
With a steelie single (HP) tank, and a 3 mil full wetsuit, BP + STA, I need 2lbs of lead.
If I want to dive in a bathing suit then its a problem (I need an AL tank and AL BP) but otherwise I've got no problem weight-wise using the SS BP & STA.
They are about -2.5, and work just fine. I like 'em, in fact, as without them my head tends to bang on the valve or reg - with they're at just the right distance; I can still reach my valve on a singles rig, and the effect on trim for me is nil.
With a steelie single (HP) tank, and a 3 mil full wetsuit, BP + STA, I need 2lbs of lead.
If I want to dive in a bathing suit then its a problem (I need an AL tank and AL BP) but otherwise I've got no problem weight-wise using the SS BP & STA.
