airbornescubaguy:
Has anyone made their own BC bladder? I have tried to contact Dacor for a new bladder, but I have not received a response. It looks like the most difficult aspect of the DIY bladder would be the heat seal between the two pieces of polyeurethane sheeting.
I have been thinking of this option, and I've goon as far as collecting some of the hardware, but then I got me a good (and cheap) wing, and stoped.
There seem to be two basic options: Either you make a "tubless" bladder, or you make a two layer one. The first option may be posible with good, high quolaty cordura (not checked, but as far as I can tell it will hold air), with auqa-seal on the seams. A better option - RF wellding - is probably not an option for one-offs like this.
the other option is to get some uritane plastic (when I was in the army, many years ago, we used old Hartman solution bags for sealing water out of gear - they are easy to work with, very strong and where easy to get at the time) and welld in together. Heat may work, and there is probabaly some solven that could dissolve the plastic and weld it together. For this you will need to add a cordura shell - and make sure the shall is slightly smaller then the blader - as you be pruduce a segnificanly stronger shell.
But I have to say I find this less of a desighred option - it's a life support item, professional made versions use equipment you probably can't get hold of, and there are very nice alternatives out there. Try Oxycheck, for one. They seem to make very nice bladders, and do not seem to charge an arm and a leg for them.
