DIY Single Tank Adapter?

[ams511]

---------- Post added March 14th, 2015 at 02:14 PM ----------

It is lighter because there is no metal back plate. There is no ridge running down the middle so you do not need a STA and the tank is much closer to your back reducing your profile in the water. The webbing used is much better and it is riveted together so even after decades of use it will not fail. This site will show you the different types of harnesses that are available, I would recommend the standard harness listed there at about $150. The bell harness I showed you would be over kill for your needs, I only use it because I had that type left over from when I worked as a commercial diver.

Commercial Diving Harnesses and Backpacks

Rich,

What is the backplate made out of? Do you know of any sites that have a template of one that Yuri can use as a pattern?

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Thanks for the info. on the Ring. I made a few STA's .. just take some pvc pipe and cut in half with a jig saw. If you heat the PVC up it will become very soft and can be molded to fit the tank. I made my STA hourglass shaped and used an aluminum BP/ I just bolt the thing together with the wing wedged between the plate and the STA. Super cheap and easy

I would not want that commercial harness because the shoulder straps are not adjustable. I'm sure it is sturdy, i would want something that adjusts for different wetsuits.

 

[Yuri_RP]

Mine is from the 80s and was made prior to the wings used today and commercial divers do not usually use BCDs anyway. I just used a marlin spike from a rigging knife to open a hole in the webbing on the harness so a bolt could be put through it in line with the holes in the wing. I use the same type of bolt used on a regular BP/W but it is a little longer as the webbing is thicker then the plate, I also have the bolt going through the cam bands as well and I used larger washers on each side then you would need on a plate. New harnesses may have holes spaced for a wing, if not you could just make your own holes and attach the wing as you normally would. This is what the finished product looks like. I elected not to use the standard holes in the wing so I could set the cam bands further apart but you would not need to do that.

Hello,

I found these :

MK-21 INTERGRATED DIVE VEST - LARGE
MILLER DIVING BELL/BACKPACK - LARGE
MILLER DIVING BELL/BACKPACK - XL

I know that it might be way overkill, but for the price of it, I guess it's a good deal?
What I want to ask now is what size should I use? I looked around and haven't found any size chart yet.
I'm 178 cm tall and weigh 105 kg, will the Large one fit me just fine or do I need an XL?

 

[ams511]

I would not want that commercial harness because the shoulder straps are not adjustable. I'm sure it is sturdy, i would want something that adjusts for different wetsuits.

About a decade ago there was a person (Dr. Bill knows him) selling something called a Jet Harness (I think Halocline has one). It was basically what Rich shows but the plate was made out of metal or plastic. The person selling them made either a custom harness or a Hog harness. My thinking was Yuri could have something similar made fairly easy because there are no bends required. Something like this but with the ability to use conventional harnesses.

 

[Yuri_RP]

Thanks for the info. on the Ring. I made a few STA's .. just take some pvc pipe and cut in half with a jig saw. If you heat the PVC up it will become very soft and can be molded to fit the tank. I made my STA hourglass shaped and used an aluminum BP/ I just bolt the thing together with the wing wedged between the plate and the STA. Super cheap and easy

I would not want that commercial harness because the shoulder straps are not adjustable. I'm sure it is sturdy, i would want something that adjusts for different wetsuits.

Would you care to post some picture of it? Thank you for you info.
Btw, the Nay Mk-21 one I post above has adjustable harness, it's fully packed with features.

About a decade ago there was a person (Dr. Bill knows him) selling something called a Jet Harness (I think Halocline has one). It was basically what Rich shows but the plate was made out of metal or plastic. The person selling them made either a custom harness or a Hog harness. My thinking was Yuri could have something similar made fairly easy because there are no bends required. Something like this but with the ability to use conventional harnesses.

Well that is an interesting Plate.. More things to consider then..
Btw, what do you thin about the Navy Mk-21? Do you think it's good for me?

 

[ams511]

Hello,

I found these :

MK-21 INTERGRATED DIVE VEST - LARGE
MILLER DIVING BELL/BACKPACK - LARGE
MILLER DIVING BELL/BACKPACK - XL

I know that it might be way overkill, but for the price of it, I guess it's a good deal?
What I want to ask now is what size should I use? I looked around and haven't found any size chart yet.
I'm 178 cm tall and weigh 105 kg, will the Large one fit me just fine or do I need an XL?

The MK-21 looks like it is adjustable in the shoulders and waste. The only trouble I see is how to mount the wing also the weight according to the website is 12 lbs which is heavier than a AL plate and STA.

 

[Yuri_RP]

Ah yes, I didn't check the weight..
The standard Bell is also 7 lbs, still above my current setup..
I wonder how much the VDH Universal Back Plate weigh? If it is heavier than the Golem Gear Stramer, maybe I'll just buy the Streamer..

 

[ams511]

Well that is an interesting Plate.. More things to consider then.

To confuse the issue more you could also use something like this which appears to be a knock-off of the razor harness. It is marketed as a sidemount harness but according to UTD (which sells something similar) it can also be used for backmount. UTD does have some videos on YouTube.

 

[Keith.M]

What is the point of going with a commercial type of harness?

The aluminum plate you apparently bought from DGE should meet all your needs regarding weight.

 

[ams511]

Ah yes, I didn't check the weight..
The standard Bell is also 7 lbs, still above my current setup..
I wonder how much the VDH Universal Back Plate weigh? If it is heavier than the Golem Gear Stramer, maybe I'll just buy the Streamer..

Yuri the lightest you are going to get is a fabric plate with plastic cam bands and plastic or aluminium hardware. The Golem Steam is about the same weight as an aluminium plate because it is made out of steel. I am not sure of the weight of the VDH plate, you would need to contact them or Luis (he designed it).