Old Navy Aluminum tanks

[captain]

I did some expermenting today. With a DA Navy mounted on the tanks they are between 0 and -1 negative with 500 psi in fresh water. A DA Navy weights 3# 6 oz and is 4oz negative with dry hoses so tanks alone are about 3# +/- a few ounces positive in fresh water. They should dive similar to twin steel 72's just about 2# more negative than the 72's when full.

[WD8CDH]

Hi Cap'n,

Do you notice any difference in drag or maneuverability compared to flat bottom aluminum 80s?

[captain]

I have never dived double al 80's These seem about the same as double 72's.

[captain]

Charged up and ready to go with ex Navy DA Navy Approved.

[Bryan]

That is waaaaay too cool Tom.....Just when I get two sets of triples you go and raise the bar!

[WD8CDH]

Charged up and ready to go with ex Navy DA Navy Approved.

I love the look. Close spaced like doubles should be.

[eskimo3883]

Hi Captain,

I was wondering if you made your bands out of SS or aluminum?

[captain]

Hi Captain,

I was wondering if you made your bands out of SS or aluminum?

3/32" by 2" aluminum, I wanted them as close to the originals as possible. The webbing is original USD nylon.

[eskimo3883]

I could not tell from the photos. The bands look great as does the whole setup. I have a bazaar tank set-up I wanted to put together that would require me to make a set of bands. I am afraid if working with Stainless but I might pull off aluminum. Did you use a special tool to create the shape or simply wrap metal around a form?

[captain]

The Navy tanks are 7&5/8 " in diameter so I used a steel 72 which is smaller and the aluminum sprung back to about the right size. The bands are made in 4 pieces. A pair of individual bands riveted together in the center comprize each double band. Most of the original bands were made that way and either riveted in the case if aluminum or welded in the case of stainless or carbon steel.
I have made them in stainless before and it isn't much harder because the stainless can be thinner than the aluminum because it is stronger. Cutting the slots for the webbing is harder with the stainless.

[Ron]

Man that looks awesome! I'm politely jealous.

[WD8CDH]

Captain,

What finish was on your tanks when you got them? The first photos look like bare brushed aluminum. Were they in different finishes in the Navy over the years? Mine has at least 3 layers of different paint and some stenciling some of which I am sure was after it left the Navy.

[captain]

Originally they had what appeared to be one layer of gray paint on top of a green zinc chromate primer that had flaked off in large areas. I went back with the zinc chromate sef etch primer topped with gray enamal.

[WD8CDH]

Your picture of the eagle stamp made me think it was bare aluminum. Was that as you got them or after paint removal?

[captain]

I think that photo was after I removed the old paint.