Tank band wear from STA

[mahjong]

Hi.

After only four dives on my new BP/Wing/STA set up, my Scubapro tank bands are already fraying from friction on the edges of my Oxycheq STA slots, and the bands already look much worse than the Scubapro tank band on my Classic, which has more than 150 dives on it and is about 6 years old.

I currently use the lightweight travel Oxycheq STA. I have just purchased a Halcyon STA, but the edges of the slots have about the same sharpness as those on the Oxycheq.

Does anyone have any advice for minimizing wear to the tank bands when using an STA? How many dives do people tend to get from their tank bands with these STAs (or similar ones)? (Incidentally, I went for the Oxycheq and Halcyon STA's because they run shorter than the Dive Rite and OMS STAs--I dive a short LP95, and after you take account of the tank boot, neither the DR or OMS STA fits on the tank).

Many thanks,
Mahjong

 

[SangP]

Hi there,

I have a similiar problem but here is what I did, I first removed the strap and deburr any sharp edges on the sta, then I slid a 24cm piece of 2" bicycle inner tube to the space on the cam strap where the cam strap goes through the STA, I did the same for every part of my BC where the strap meets any slots. Hope this helps.

SangP

 

[drbill]

Pretty disturbing to me that products would leave the manufacturer in this state considering this is a known, and frequently discussed, problem. I think Deep Sea Supply does the best job I've seen on protecting its harness webbing from wear and tear. I can't remember if they do the same thing for the tank strap holes.

Dr. Bill

 

[scubadobadoo]

I agree with Bill. Anything that we divers pay good money for should be READY to use from the start. I hate having to "fix" something AFTER I buy it. BOOOOOOH!

 

[SangP]

Hi guys,

Although I agree that stuff should be ready to go, diving gear isn't a mature refine market like power tools where lots of R&D has gone into making most of the gear.

Lots of time, we get plates, straps, and things from suppliers who's main business isn't related to scuba diving.

This is especially true of plates & STAs.

If I wasn't paying a lot, like in the case of Hammerhead's stuff, I'm ok with it. I do expect a lot more from the likes of Oxycheq, Halcyon, DiveRite and OMS.

$100++ for a piece of metal... come on give me a break!

I mean look at TripleL, they can make a full back inflate for bout USD $167! Jus how expensive is it to bend a plate cut some holes in it and combind it with a sta? And don't get me started on $400 wings.

SangP

 

[The Kraken]

Whenever you buy and STA or a back plate, be sure that you inspect the webbing slots very closely. You should not be able to detect a corner on any of the edges.
You should be able to identify, easily, that all of the edges are radiused.

I take particular pains when finishing my STA's and B/P's to make sure that the webbing will not be worn unduly.

If worse comes to worse, smiply buy a small ******* file and set to work finishing off the edges. It's a pain in the butt and laborious, but at least you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that the job was done properly.

 

[mahjong]

Thanks all...I will try and sheath the tank band webbing with some inner tubing...great idea...it will also help to grip the tank...

I recall that, when I complained to the guy at Oxycheq about the edges on the STA, he told me to get file and file them down myself...I think I paid ~$60 for the STA--a piece of SS steel--and I was supposed to put labor into it in order to bring it into shape...they also sent me 2 short SS bolts that couldn't even accommodate the thickness of the BP and two grommets...when I complained about this, he told me to go to any boat store and buy longer SS bolts (I live in Colorado, not too many boat shops around here).

The only radiused edges on all the BP/STAs I have seen are those on my Scubapro SS BP. I have seen Oxycheq, Halcyon, and Dive Rite edges--they are not radiused. I wish Scubapro would go back into the BP/Wing business...

 

[kidspot]

I have heard of some using a strip of sandpaper - and after a light filing, running it back and forth in each of the slots. I have about 60 dives on my DiveRite bp and the straps are a bit roughed up, but nothing more than slight fraying so far. The STA is plastic, so it's not a problem.

I agree that DSS really does seem to have a great product in their BP witht the rubberized slots...

btw - per a note on their forum...Triple-L is currently testing a prototype BP/Wing model for release...

 

[cool_hardware52]

Pretty disturbing to me that products would leave the manufacturer in this state considering this is a known, and frequently discussed, problem. I think Deep Sea Supply does the best job I've seen on protecting its harness webbing from wear and tear. I can't remember if they do the same thing for the tank strap holes.

Dr. Bill

Hi Dr. Bill,

Thanks for the kind words. On our plates the molded in grommets are used only on the harness slots. We do however address the tank strap slots in a couple ways.

The cam strap slots (and all the other holes) are deburred, and we also furnish a pair of elastomeric "Wedge Blocks"

see http://www.deepseasupply.com/page12.html (Scroll down a little)

These elastomeric pads do three things.

First they provide a compressible element so the cam strap stays tight.
Second they "lock" the tank strap into the plate so it does not slide around the tank as you adjust it.
Lastly the Wedge Blocks as sized so as to prevent the camstraps from even touching the edges of the slots in the plate, so there is zero wear on the straps.

I must apologize for the small photo of the wedgeblocks. I'll try to find and upload a better pic.

Regards,


Tobin

 

[Hoosier]

So, is your wedge Blocks compatible to any BPs, such as Halcyon, Hammerhead, or Fred T ones? For SB members, how much do you ask for? I can't find any info at your website.

Hi Dr. Bill,

Thanks for the kind words. On our plates the molded in grommets are used only on the harness slots. We do however address the tank strap slots in a couple ways.

The cam strap slots (and all the other holes) are deburred, and we also furnish a pair of elastomeric "Wedge Blocks"

see http://www.deepseasupply.com/page12.html (Scroll down a little)

These elastomeric pads do three things.

First they provide a compressible element so the cam strap stays tight.
Second they "lock" the tank strap into the plate so it does not slide around the tank as you adjust it.
Lastly the Wedge Blocks as sized so as to prevent the camstraps from even touching the edges of the slots in the plate, so there is zero wear on the straps.

I must apologize for the small photo of the wedgeblocks. I'll try to find and upload a better pic.

Regards,


Tobin