New Triple Manifold Design

[Bryan]

Or just click the little envelope to the right of the PM button and you can send E-mail directly.....

[Robohips77]

I have had most of the parts and had worked on it some but my rehab did not allow me to complete the project just yet. I was abole to get outside and work on the bands today. I have one drilled and started to form and have a picture of it here. I am hoping to complete the project tomorrow and start the new year off right!

I ended up using 1 inch aluminum bar stock cut in half and then cut into 1.5 inch pieces and drilled with a 5 /16 inch bit. So far the first fitting and holes drilled seem to be right on while following following tom's great instructions. Once a gain I will shoot a couple of pics of the finished product. Only problem for me may be the weight of the final project may be prohibitive to wear them. but we will see. I have really enjoyed making these.

[swimjim]

It's a ways off Roger, but if you can get these to Portage I'll haul them into the water for you so you can don and doff them in chest deep water. Hmm, maybe I should fit some balloon tires to the cherry picker I have out in the shop. That could work pretty slick!

Jim

[Gilldiver]

Are those 30's or 40's?

If I can make Portage, work permitting, I might haul out the monster (3x72's) for people to play with.

Pete

[1969ivan1]

They look great Roger!

[JES]

Very nice!

[SurfLung]

Where did you learn how to form tank bands?

[Bryan]

Where did you learn how to form tank bands?

This is one of the proficiency tests for level III in NAVED

[swimjim]

Whooooooooo, I read Captains post about making my own bands and I'm a heart beat away from level III Naved? I'm almost a Ninja vintage diver!!! LOL

Jim

[Gilldiver]

I had always liked the look of a set of triples, ever since I saw the set that an old diver in my club had. But they were the original 1950’s with ½” valves and I always remembered the problems we could have in getting every connection to seal, so just put it off and off.

Then I saw Captains design and knew it was time to start putting together a set. So I looked over the welding gas nipples and parts I could find at my local shops and had Captain do the machining after scraping my first J-60 valve trying to do it with hand tools. When I showed what Captain could do with the parts I had found, I made a stupid comment about triple 72’s and Rob put up the contest for a new reg – I had the parts and tanks, so Rob ended up giving me a new reg – thanks Rob.

But the triple 72’s were never to be the final set and really are not practical due to size and weight, so it was either triple 30’s or 40’s. Well 2 weeks ago four 40’s with full cave rigging fell into my lap for $300 and Last night I finished making the bands. I used 49.5” strips of 1.5” wide 16 gauge stainless to make the bands. The first set for the 72’s took 3 hours to make, this set took just about 2 hours total. Tools needed for the bands are:

Drill – 3/8” bit
Hack saw
Various measuring scales including my wife’s cloth dress makers tape
6” long 5/16” threaded rod with nuts
For the half rounds, McMaster has ¾” half round bar stock that they will cut to length – machining it is another story – drill slow.
1 soft steel 60” pierced strap from Home Desperate.
¾” Bolt as a mandrel for pre-bending the bands
Rat Tail file
A long hose clamp and wood blocks to hold the tanks

Use Captains method to make a pattern using the steel strap. I found the dress tape measure to be the most useful in approximating the center to center distances as it conforms to the tanks much better then any other measure I had.

Once I had the pattern I straightened it out and transferred it to the stainless strips, dimples the holes and drilled them over sized (3/8th holes for a 5/16” bolt). I found that elongating the holes with a rat tail file where the bands overlap helps and keeps you from marring up threads on the rod and eye bolts. I then pre-bent all of the ¾” radius bends on a 3/4” bolt in the vice by hand and formed the 2 full bends for the outer tanks using the tanks as the mandrel.

The last items I need are some good quality stainless eye bolts or just bolts – the ones from Lowe’s and Home Depot will gall as you look at them – I know this.

I should have photo’s up later today.

Pete

[1969ivan1]

I can't wait to see your latest pics Pete!

[Gilldiver]

Here are my triple 40’s all ready to go and play. I think I will lower the top band so that I can get the freedom plate's top strap above the top band.



But my problem is that I have way too much of this:

[DaleC]

Great job Pete!

I've also felt the lust for a triples set up after looking at Ryans display at last years Tacoma show.









Oops, those last ones were Quadruples.

[Gilldiver]

A little fussing and here is what I have now:



Pete

[Robohips77]

Ok so you all inspired me to get mine finished today.




I have started another triples project and will post when I get further along.
Again thanks to Captain for the manifold and bands directions, Simonbeans for the harness,and Bryan for the Stickers.