Spring straps revisited

[simbrooks]

I had to put it in a bench vice, hold the fin by hand and try to squeeze the shackle around the post, took a few tries to get it right. I couldnt manage it with regular vice grips. After about 5mins a piece of trying to continue to tighten them and the occasional slip, i managed to get them tight enough to my satisfaction.

This was also done at 6am on my way out diving whilst passing work on a saturday morning, so very last minute. I am still loving these straps i made after 10 dives in the last months and should be fine for 10 more this coming weekend.

 

[JohnF]

How are you guys bending the shackle so it's tight around your fin posts?

I use a large pair of channel locks and squeeze on the flat tongue (the drilled area) carefully. I leave them so they will turn under pressure. If you crimp too much the holes don't line up properly. Some fins have a large enough rubber protrusion that no crimping is necessary.

Are you replacing the shackle bolts with ss screws to eliminate the protruding drilled and fllattened ends? They're much cleaner that way and there's less chance of entanglement.

JohnF

 

[pipedope]

I used channel locks to squeeze.

To keep things lined up, I install the shackle pin first, then squeeze, then replace the pin with a screw that won't stick out to catch on things.

 

[PRL]

I just replace the shackle pin with a ss 3/4 machine screw and using a good philips screw-driver tighten down untill the shackle bends to my satisfaction (about 3 threads show past the shackle)

 

[Tiny Bubbles]

Do you guys with the spring straps on the jet fins (and the like) really need the hockey pucks or other styles of blocks, or are they just for show? I made springs during the winter and never got around to finishing my pucks. Now I've made 7 dives with just the springs hanging on the original shackles without any problems.

-Tiny-B.

 

[pipedope]

To me a jet is a nozzle on the end of a hose.
It is used to move sand and mud and has the advantage of eliminating any of that pesky visability that just keeps distracting the diver from the job at hand.

BTW What is a fin?

Where did I leave my lead boots?

 

[mddolson]

Hi Tiny-B,
I don't know if the blocks are really nessessary or not.
The closed loops on the springs are certainly secure enough.
The only observations I can make is 1) the blocks keep the limit cord from falling out of the springs, and possible entanglement hazzard.
2) the Blocks also keep the springs nicely centered, they don''t flop around. (obviously not a nessessity)

I'm into makin stuff, so I machined acetal blocks for my Turtlefins

Mike D

 

[critterc]

I have been fishing and diving saltwater for about 25 years. Every anchor I have used had a galvanized shackle. Soooo to save money I am trying some 3/16 in. galvanized shackles I picked up at Ture Value. 4 was about $3.25 with tax.

Well, to date I have about 42 dives on my fins with the galvanized shackles (all saltwater) and no rust. Also I did not add the cord and have had no problems with stretching. Dives have been both dry suit and wet suit. I use the fins in our boat cleaning business and they are holding up quiet well.

 

[JohnF]

Well, to date I have about 42 dives on my fins with the galvanized shackles (all saltwater) and no rust. Also I did not add the cord and have had no problems with stretching. Dives have been both dry suit and wet suit. I use the fins in our boat cleaning business and they are holding up quiet well.

When I first decided to make my own springstraps I was too impatient to wait for the SS springs so I went out to Home Depot (and CTC for Canucks) and bought a pair of galvanized door closer springs for about $4.50 Cdn each, threw away the extra hardware and installed them on my fins with the SS shackles that I was able to pick up at many hardware outlets for about $4 each. The galvanized springs fit fine and are the right tension. Some were impervious to rust, even in salt water. Others rust instantly. I guess there isn't the same consistency in them that you get with Stainless.

The SS springs aren't that expensive and are worth the extra if only for the aesthetic value. Orange gunk oozing outa yer vinyl spring covers is unsightly. Although I haven't tracked it down there is apparently a Canadian source for McMaster-Carr stuff. Someone here may have the addy.

JohnF

 

[rickyd]

So has anyone found any black PVC tubing?
I am thinking that would look good.

I also ditched the line in my springstraps, overstretching does not appear to be a problem.

Mike

I didn't think the line in my spring straps was needed either, until I got hung up in some very thick kelp a Casino Point a few weeks ago, and pulled a fin off. Spend the next 40 minutes looking for it ( found it just before we all gave up ).

I tighened the springs a bit, but I also put in the line. Now, there's still enough stretch to get my foot in, but, the line stops the stretch so it will be pretty difficult to pull it out when I don't want to.