BP/W -- Singles vs Doubles plate

[aquaregia]

I'm just about to cut myself a BPW from SS using Huw's design. He has fold patterns for both singles and doubles. I was originally going to bend it for singles as I didn't really see doubles coming up any time soon, however so far everything SCUBA related has come up much, much sooner than I expected. My budget's fairly limited, so I was considering folding it for doubles and making myself an STA for singles. On one hand, I was thinking that if I ever go doubles I'll be in for so much cash that a second plate wouldn't be a big deal, however I said the same thing about tanks and regulators and I already have several of each of those.
I know that double+STA increases failure points, decreases elegance and decreases some of the advantages of the BP/W over my existing BCs. I'm trying to balance that with $100-$200, which will directly affect my ability to dive/take classes. Plus the whole tiny apartment thing.
Any comments?

(ps couldnt decide whether to put this in the BC or DIY forum)

 

[JBRES1]

How much is this plate going to cost you in time and materials ?

You can get a SS Dive Rite plate from Scubatoys for abour $90.00.

I use one plate for both singles and doubles. I just bolt on the STA for singles.

Jim Breslin

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

How do you plan on cutting your stainless?
Have you priced out a piece of stainless?
How do you plan to put in the bends required to form a channel?
I'm not familiar with Huw's design. could you enlighten us.

 

[huwporter]

I'm probably the wrong person to ask, I have four of my plates currently in active service (Ali single, Ali double, SS single, SS double...), but if I could only have one I'd go for a double plate and STA to keep the options open.

Good luck, post pictures when you are done!

Cheers,
Huw

P.s. ZKY: http://www.huwporter.com/scuba/backplate_template.html

 

[eelnoraa]

If I was you, I will go for the so call "double" band. With certain brand and model of wings, you may not even need STA, ie Oxycheq/DSS.

With "single" band, the tank will sit closer to your back, it could be a good thing, but you may have issue with 1st stage hitting your head.

edit:
not sure how much it will cost you for cutting and banding your own plate, but check out dive rite SS plate from CaveAdvanturer.com, they are <$70

 

[Scared Silly]

I also use one plate for singles and doubles and I don't need no sinking adapter.

 

[aquaregia]

A former student gave me a suitable piece of 3mm marine stainless as a gift, so the costs are just the hourly access fee to the machine shop.

Thanks for all the input.

 

[TSandM]

The bend differences aren't that big a deal. We have DSS SS plates, which are bent to optimize for single tanks, but we often use them on doubles. The only issue seems to be with some of the rental doubles which have very short bolts. The only place we have consistently found those is at EE in Gainesville.

More important is whether the plate has camband slots. Without them, an STA is required.

 

[aquaregia]

I'll make sure the cam band slots line up right with the doubles fold.

Huw's singles plan has ridges to balance the tank between, sort of like an STA. Looking at pictures of the DSS SS, it looks like it's the same as a doubles plate but with the ridge a little flatter and with cam band slots added. Is that correct? With that in mind, it seems that I could use Huw's without an STA in a similar manner.

 

[TSandM]

Oh, I think I remember seeing the plan for that plate.

I'd prefer a standard bend and using a wing with some kind of wobble-stopper, like the DSS and Oxycheq wings have. Then you have the option of using the plate with doubles someday if you want to. The double-bend plate is not compatible with double tanks, I don't think.