Delrin cam buckles?

[gismonkey]

I have had very good success with Delrin/plastic cam buckles on home-made cam bands. I'm always using two bands on my BP (DSS Kydex), with one band made from nylon and one from polypropylene. The polypropylene has some stretch in it already (and comes in interesting colors--I use a yellow cam band for easy visibility/ID), and I've been very happy with this setup. That said, I think I'm breaking even with my friends' SS buckles for weight (my two bands compared to a single band with SS).

While you didn't ask for brand names/etc, I though I'd mention that I've had good success with just being careful. The buckles I'm using are cheap-o $5 buckles from LP. They've got about 50 dives on them and are cheap enough I can keep a spare in my kit. It costs me about $8 and 10 minutes to make a cam band (including webbing + velcro). One of these days I'll throw in some compression blocks from DSS, I think.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I've seen quite a few poorly secured tanks and saved one or two myself, but none of these problems were due to plastic cambuckles.

They were all due to improper application of the camband. Most frequently I see cambands that are not square with the cylinder, instead of forming essentially a circle perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder they droop and form sort of an ellipse.

When the tank inevitably shifts this produces slack.

Tell me when you "saved" a diver with plastic buckles did you swim over and sew on a Stainless Cambuckle or did you simply correctly apply their plastic buckles?

Tobin

You are half right - many of them were due to improperly threaded cam bands, not just because they were plastic.

The advantage of the Scubapro style cam band (there are now generic versions) is that you can't thread it wrong, and in addition to not breaking, it also seems to have a bit more leverage and is easier to get it tight enough that the tank won't slip.

In any event, all my "saves" have been people with plastic cam bands. Could just be coincidence or it could be that they just suck a lot more. In any event, I prefer metal cam bands and I recommend them when anyone asks.

I have never sewn one on under water, but I have loaned people replacements on my boat when they broke their plastic one.

 

[diver 85]

Gentlemen; No need to get in anyone's face here. I specifically did not mention or ask for brand names. I simply asked about Delrin/plastic/fiberglass reinforced cam buckles. So please let's keep it civil and not let personal animosity get in the way.

Thanks for all the on-topic replies,

Henrik

Regarding your last statement, You're Welcome.....