What is your Favorite Doubles Manifold?

[_Ralph]

To expand on this, the ones I hate are the old dive rite and the halycyon manifolds. They have squared edges and are very uncomfortable to carry with larger doubles. The Thermos are smooth and polished. The Dive gear express ones are also smooth, just not as refined as the Thermo.

Why are you picking up doubled tanks by the manifold?


_R

 

[dogbone]

Hopefully no one minds, but I would be curious if people could add what their favorite bottles to double up are and why.

 

[Rose Robinson]

Why are you picking up doubled tanks by the manifold?


_R

Ralph,

Please elaborate on your objection to pick up method.

Not by the valve wheels, as you may damage the valve stems, but picking up doubles by the manifold is typical/common/standard, has always been typical/common/standard, and will continue to remain typical/common/standard.

I haul with a pneumatic tire hand cart, but always pick up by the manifold.

By the way, my manifolds are Thermo.

Tanks, two sets, are Faber Galvanized HP steel 80's, with original Hydro dates, 2019. Tanks were a recent purchase, replacing 2008, Worthington, Galvanized HP steel 80's.

Rose.

 

[Rose Robinson]

Hopefully no one minds, but I would be curious if people could add what their favorite bottles to double up are and why.

Hello dogbone,

HP steel 80's.

Slinging two 40 cu. ft. deco bottles, get me safely down and back from 150 ft.

They fit my short frame, are easy for me to handle both in and out of the water.

Rose.

 

[rhwestfall]

XS / Worthington LP85 is my favorite for the cold here.

Faber 100's are nice.

XS LP95 again for weight.

Worthington 120's for big gas.

Norris '72 for warmer water

i have been using a pair of AL63 on a military solid bar with my double hose as I can wear them low....



AL80 for summer diving wet in the River..


Trying a pair of LP50's this summer...

 

[dogbone]

Ohhh, those all sound nice...I have a pair of luxfer 80s that I had picked up at a decent price, was thinking about reselling... But then wondered if maybe they would be decent doubled... But now thinking not lol seems the way to go is double steels...I had tried a pair of 98s a little while ago, and had a pair of 120s that I broke down into singles...and man those things are heavy out of the water... Was just debating on the value of getting a double setup vs singles and then what to double, as mentioned

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Ohhh, those all sound nice...I have a pair of luxfer 80s that I had picked up at a decent price, was thinking about reselling... But then wondered if maybe they would be decent doubled... But now thinking not lol seems the way to go is double steels...I had tried a pair of 98s a little while ago, and had a pair of 120s that I broke down into singles...and man those things are heavy out of the water... Was just debating on the value of getting a double setup vs singles and then what to double, as mentioned

Double AL80s are fine for warm water. You see those alot down here in Florida ocean diving (not caves). However, if you will be diving locally in the Midwest you will want steel doubles. They are far preferred for cold water/drysuit use. When I used to do alot of Great Lakes wreck diving you would see steel doubles almost universally. Occasionally you'd see double AL80s but they are rare. They are far too buoyant at 500 psi.

 

[Danny D]

Let’s stay on coarse discussing manifolds...

 

[rhwestfall]

 

[Danny D]

View attachment 648638

Would be nice for the double hoses, which make is that? I slightly remember an Asian company making mix and match manifolds that some of us discussed over on VDH or the Vintage forum here several years ago.