Homemade Wing

[dumpsterDiver]

I fabricate a number of things I use for diving: knife sheaths, weight belts, rubber straps for the knife sheath, mask straps, snorkel holders and even fin straps. I make my own light lanyards using monofilament that I cook and coil around a spindle in my wife's oven, I fabricate my own speargun bands and I have also sewn and glued the exterior of a BC and also repaired small holes in the bladder with aquaseal. My regulator mouthpiece is held onto my second stage with wire rather than a zip tie, and I lost a screw to the second stage of my regulator a year ago and it is now secured with steel wire because I had no replacement screw handy. I replace o-rings in tank valves from a generic kit my buddy gave me 12 years ago and have no clue if the O-rings are supposed to be compatible with scuba diving applications.

I recently made my own backplate from scrap platic pipe; I used to have so much aquaseal on the outside of my BC and all over the knees of my wetsuit, that I used to tell customers that I was actually "an offical test diver for aquaseal", I think many people actually contemplated the idea before I would crack a big smile...

I have patched, cut, added to and removed significant portions of wetsuits to make them work, using various glues and also hand sewing. I make my own catch bags, fish stringers, lead weights (sometimes), ankle weights with lead shot and bicycle inner tubes, dry bags for the boat and other stuff I probably can't think of. I sometimes take apart my regulators, try to clean and lubricate them and even replace parts sometimes, even though I have zero formal training in it and no dedicated tools for the job.

However, I would NOT try to make my own bladder. They are made by ultrasonically welding, not by adhesives (as far as I know), this is just not something I would personally mess with.

 

[TechBlue]

I fabricate a number of things I use for diving: knife sheaths, weight belts, rubber straps for the knife sheath, mask straps, snorkel holders and even fin straps. I make my own light lanyards using monofilament that I cook and coil around a spindle in my wife's oven, I fabricate my own speargun bands and I have also sewn and glued the exterior of a BC and also repaired small holes in the bladder with aquaseal. My regulator mouthpiece is held onto my second stage with wire rather than a zip tie, and I lost a screw to the second stage of my regulator a year ago and it is now secured with steel wire because I had no replacement screw handy. I replace o-rings in tank valves from a generic kit my buddy gave me 12 years ago and have no clue if the O-rings are supposed to be compatible with scuba diving applications.

I recently made my own backplate from scrap platic pipe; I used to have so much aquaseal on the outside of my BC and all over the knees of my wetsuit, that I used to tell customers that I was actually "an offical test diver for aquaseal", I think many people actually contemplated the idea before I would crack a big smile...

I have patched, cut, added to and removed significant portions of wetsuits to make them work, using various glues and also hand sewing. I make my own catch bags, fish stringers, lead weights (sometimes), ankle weights with lead shot and bicycle inner tubes, dry bags for the boat and other stuff I probably can't think of. I sometimes take apart my regulators, try to clean and lubricate them and even replace parts sometimes, even though I have zero formal training in it and no dedicated tools for the job.

However, I would NOT try to make my own bladder. They are made by ultrasonically welding, not by adhesives (as far as I know), this is just not something I would personally mess with.

:shocked2:

You must also have a pizza stained t-shirt

 

[FireInMyBones]

Over the course of this last week, I have done extensive research on the topic. It will only be about $70 more expensive to buy a new one from an online store. The parts would be too expensive. Plus, I would be concerned with the difficulty of making a quality bladder. I read a post by Tobin that the process is too extensive.

Thank you all for your help. I do help with a shop and they said they can help me with cost.

 

[aquaregia]

wouldn't you be better off getting a used wing?

Where do you find used wings? I find used jacket BCs all the time, but I've been looking for a cheap wing and it seems like people tend to hang onto them.

 

[TechBlue]

Where do you find used wings? I find used jacket BCs all the time, but I've been looking for a cheap wing and it seems like people tend to hang onto them.

take a look on www.thedecostop.com they come up every now and again

 

[Ed Palma]

I am thinking about trying to make a real basic wing for training dives in the pool.

Anyone ever tried this? Anyone with suggestions?

I did

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/do-yourself-diy/184741-diy-wing-critique-comments.html

I still have the wing. It still works, but have since shifted to a larger capacity wing.

 

[TSandM]

I made my own Danish pastry once, and came to the conclusion that there are simply some things that should be left for professionals

 

[halocline]

I know a guy that used to make his own deodorant.

 

[Teamcasa]

Without knocking your sewing and construction abilities, considering the time and materials you are going to put into it, wouldn't you be better off getting a used wing?

Chris, For many of it's not about saving money or time, it's the process. For me, I just love the process of doing, learning, experimenting and seeing if I can build it better or different.

A wing is not much of a challenge technically but yet remains on my list of proposed projects.

 

[Couv]

I know a guy that used to make his own deodorant.

I noticed you did not refer to him as a "friend."

Wings I get at BW3.
Drumsticks I do myself on the grill.

Note to those who dropped into this thread by accident, this is the DIY forum.

c