When diving doubles we sometimes use a V weight made of lead between the tanks and the wing to add a little extra weight.
It is possible to fill an STA with some lead to add extra weight to a single tank rig also... Shane uses one of Koplin's weighted STAs that weights 6#.
The other day I decided to play around with the forge and melt some lead... and see what I could come up with for the inside channel of the plate since I do not use an STA.
I took a bare plate and used it for a form... blocking the ends of the channel with angle iron and plugging the holes with plumbers putty. To make room for the cam band straps I cut two pieces of aluminum 2" wide and put them through the cam band slots. I then dammed on top of them with more plumbers putty.
This was all done it a hurry and the finished product is rather rough but it weighs 6# and works like a charm... the cam bands hold the weight in place and it feels great on the back.
I took this out diving today and of course took 6# out of the belt... the belt is so light now I hardly notice it. The combined weight of the rig is still within the ability of the 27# wing to carry.
BTW: Shane's tank is almost 1" further away from his plate using the weighted STA than mine is without the STA and I still have the 6#.... 1" doesn't seem like much until you try to reach your valve.
Here is a picture and I apologize for the lack of quality but it is all I have.
Oooops.... next post....
It is possible to fill an STA with some lead to add extra weight to a single tank rig also... Shane uses one of Koplin's weighted STAs that weights 6#.
The other day I decided to play around with the forge and melt some lead... and see what I could come up with for the inside channel of the plate since I do not use an STA.
I took a bare plate and used it for a form... blocking the ends of the channel with angle iron and plugging the holes with plumbers putty. To make room for the cam band straps I cut two pieces of aluminum 2" wide and put them through the cam band slots. I then dammed on top of them with more plumbers putty.
This was all done it a hurry and the finished product is rather rough but it weighs 6# and works like a charm... the cam bands hold the weight in place and it feels great on the back.
I took this out diving today and of course took 6# out of the belt... the belt is so light now I hardly notice it. The combined weight of the rig is still within the ability of the 27# wing to carry.
BTW: Shane's tank is almost 1" further away from his plate using the weighted STA than mine is without the STA and I still have the 6#.... 1" doesn't seem like much until you try to reach your valve.
Here is a picture and I apologize for the lack of quality but it is all I have.
Oooops.... next post....
