V weights

[Mdemon]

Just made a v-weight myself - all the advice above is sound.  The things I did differently were;
- used a barbecue with charcoal to melt the lead (used a hair dryer to spreed things up)
- made a mold using a box of sand and tin foil (+ a tigergear mounting block)
- did it outside, using lots of gloves and an army respirator (had the thing blow up on me last time, which was quite interesting for a few moments...)
- used foil on the pan as a lid - this sped up the melting time no end

I drilled the mounting holes very slowly after casting, but got the spacing right using clay plugs in the mold and this gave a good countersunk effect for the drill bit.

This config gave me a 6.2Kg v-weight which fixes opposite a tigergear mounting block (6Kg).  12Kg-ish, with 2Kg ankle irons in cold water and/or a 1Kg trim weight in front pouch.

Loads of links on this archive, but ask if you need more info.

HTH.  

John

[daz]

<font color='#000080'>Cheers Digger, &nbsp;

Got bored this afternoon so made up a P weight. &nbsp;Just by chance the backplate and P weight come in at a nice round 6kg. &nbsp;

Should be ideal in frsh water and maybe just a couple of 1kg weights on the harness for sea water.

Yeah sorry about the 10l, &nbsp;I would have probably taken it, but it was only Saturday just gone that I made the decision to go twin 10 rather than 12's. &nbsp;Had I gone 12l I would have been looking for a second 12l. &nbsp;

Kirky, &nbsp;Really impressed with the Combro plate, &nbsp;to be honest for the money you can't go wrong.

Daz

[MATTBIN]

Daz, do you have a 15l spare as maybe we could do a swap for my 12l tank.

Matt

[daz]

<font color='#000080'>

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (MATTBIN @ April 22 2003,08:17)]Daz, do you have a 15l spare as maybe we could do a swap for my 12l tank.

Matt

Hi Matt,

Not sure if you are being sarcastic    but here goes anyway.

Are you sitting down !  Sorry I don't actually have a 15l at all.  Yep that's right I admit that I am lacking in some kit

Actually Matt,  I know you will wait for when the time is right,  which you may decide is never but you are probably better off keeping your 12 and hanging on in case you decide twins is the way to go.  

It is an easier transition to make financially as you have a pony.  You already have two sets of regs,  I guess Adam's cylinder is the same as yours (similar test dates ?).  So you could get a cheap backplate/wing, a replacement cylinder for Adam and twin up the 2 12's.  To be honest if you want to do it on the cheap, you could get a set of buddy twinning bands and use your existing jacket (sufficient lift assumed).  Just dive them as independants.

Worth considering,  and with those dive tokens, who knows maybe you could start cashing them in  

Daz,

You are welcome to try my trekwing/transpac if you want to give a wing a try sometime.  The try of the weight harness is also still available if the circumstances permit.

[MATTBIN]

Daz
I wasnt being sarcastic - honest. I thought you might just have one, thats all.

I had considered the idea of twins, some time in the future, I even asked about my jacket at the LDS this weekend, but it is as you say a way off. Twin 12's - my names not Swartzeneger you know! That sounds like something that mad Jock boy would suggest (but he doesnt like me &nbsp; ).

I probably would go Independant to start with, virtually no out-lay, apart from down the gym every night.

Take care
Matt

[Digger]

<font color='#000080'>I still enjoy the &quot;my tanks really heavy&quot;, and &quot;why do I have to carry it?&quot; you get off novices with a single 12 on their back. I've taken to showing them a decent sized twinset with sidemounts, letting them try it on (on land, of course) and then laughing at their whining voices. There was a mate of mine when I was playing with double 12s and an 8 sidey that couldn't stand up. Oh how we laughed...

I've taken to getting dressed on the edge of a boat. No heffing loads of kit, no faff, just a handy ship's mate who brings tank after tank to strap on. And then fall, hopefully with a triple pike on the way down.

Twin 12s aren't that heavy really, the difference if you do twin 10s is minimal. The only way I've found is to use 300bar twin 7s, as the weights go out the window. Makes the walk to the top car park a breeze on a Saturday afternoon at Stoney!

[daz]

<font color='#000080'>Matt,

Like Digger says, the weight difference is not that much really. &nbsp;You would probably lose a bit of weight off the belt and you already dive with a 12l and pony so 2x12's is not that much of a difference.

Well I'll let you know on the weight side &nbsp; &nbsp;My 10's are 12.6kg &nbsp;and my 12l is 13.1kg, &nbsp;so not a lot in it.

Just to give you an idea before you start looking at jackets, &nbsp;combro backplate £40, wing £160, &nbsp;harness webbing and bits and pieces £20 ?? &nbsp;You could even add a ABS backplate for singles and holiday and it would still be cheaper than a jacket.

Daz

[Doug Parker]

This place does some lovely v-weights.   www.Aleutian.co.uk  . Even if it is a bit DIR.