Faber 120s for SM, how many use these?

[JahJahwarrior]

I think I see more 95s for sidemount than anything, with everyone, everywhere always touting 85s as being the perfect tank for backmount or sidemount. But, that's not much gas, and I've gotten quite used to the large amounts of gas my 120s give me when diving backmount.

Now, I'm looking at seriously moving everything over to sidemount. I could sell my 120s and get some 95s or 85s, but I could more easily dive SM with my Faber 120s.

I won't get a hernia anymore than I would now diving them in backmount. I don't plan on supermanning a tank very much, most places I see I'd like to go to in SM aren't tight side to side, only vertically (bedding planes). I know they get light, but that's not the end of the world. My feet tend to be floaty, so the extra length might actually help my trim, eh?

I'm 6'0", 150 pounds, diving a drysuit most of the time with some light undergarments for 72* springs.

I know there are divers out there who use 120s for sidemount, can any of you chime in and tell me any huge reasons not to use my 120s for SM?

[Kelly Jessop]

I think I see more 95s for sidemount than anything, with everyone, everywhere always touting 85s as being the perfect tank for backmount or sidemount. But, that's not much gas, and I've gotten quite used to the large amounts of gas my 120s give me when diving backmount.

Now, I'm looking at seriously moving everything over to sidemount. I could sell my 120s and get some 95s or 85s, but I could more easily dive SM with my Faber 120s.

I won't get a hernia anymore than I would now diving them in backmount. I don't plan on supermanning a tank very much, most places I see I'd like to go to in SM aren't tight side to side, only vertically (bedding planes). I know they get light, but that's not the end of the world. My feet tend to be floaty, so the extra length might actually help my trim, eh?

I'm 6'0", 150 pounds, diving a drysuit most of the time with some light undergarments for 72* springs.

I know there are divers out there who use 120s for sidemount, can any of you chime in and tell me any huge reasons not to use my 120s for SM?


You can never have too much gas.

Sidemount 120's are a great tank in the water with excellent bouyancy characterisitics. The real negative is carrying them to the water.

[JahJahwarrior]

Also, what size wing are divers with 120s using for SM? My rec wing was too little with a wetsuit so I moved to a Classic, but moving to SM, I'd shed a few pounds: bands, isolator bar, backplate (aluminium), and only want as big a wing as I need, curious to know what others in a similar situation use.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

LP120s aren't as heavy in the water as alot of the other big tanks. Once you get them into the water, everything is gravy from there.

I'd dive a Nomad wing, more lift than the 'Dilla for your heavier steels and stages won't become an issue.

[RN]

Have you tried smaller tanks? I hav e found my air consumption is a lot better in smaller tanksl. I have done the same dive in JB (1st/2nd T circuit) in backmounted 85s and 108s and used 20 cubic feet less gas in the 85s. I have a set of Worthington LP121s that are significantly more negative in the water. I usually only use those on long scooter dives.

Can you swim your 120s to the surface in a wet suit without inflating your wing? Where is your redundant buoyancy? Sure you can crawl out of the cave, but that's no fun. And if you really plan on doing tighter passages the chance of damaging the wing increases.

Get out there and dive several different size tanks. I personally have 72s, 85s, 95s, 108s, 121s, and AL80s that I use, depending on the dive and also in the sidemount course I teach.

[Kelly Jessop]

Also, what size wing are divers with 120s using for SM? .

Dive Rite Trek wing,but I have a dry suit for redundant lift.

[skip]

I have used worthington 120's for sidemount and did not like them. The extra length was just enough to make it difficult to keep my feet up. I also could not accesss the butt ring very easily (short arms?). I now dive LP 95's and carry a stage when more gas is needed. For shorter dives I also dive 72's. I can't really make a gas comparision or penetration distance comparison because I don't write down psi use or penetration distance in my log book.

I use a dive rite classic wing on a homemade harness and sometimes go where it's tight. so far the classic has managed it well. I've seen others put car inner tube inside the cover to protect the bladder and I've seen others simply dive until the cover is shredded and won't hold the bladder!

I also dive a modified transpac with the trek wing sometimes if I want to hang a second stage and/or deco and the going is fairly open.

I typically dive dry, but when in a wetsuit I will carry a safety sausage. I've practiced inflating it and putting it under my arms like a pool noodle. With the mouthpiece and deflator valve it is inflated orally and deflated as needed for buoyancy. Works better than a lift bag type and tucked under your arms leaves both hands free.

-skip

[FW]

I have used worthington 120's for sidemount and did not like them.....
-skip

Worthingtons are much heavier in the water than Fabers.

[JahJahwarrior]

Have you tried smaller tanks? I hav e found my air consumption is a lot better in smaller tanksl. I have done the same dive in JB (1st/2nd T circuit) in backmounted 85s and 108s and used 20 cubic feet less gas in the 85s. I have a set of Worthington LP121s that are significantly more negative in the water. I usually only use those on long scooter dives.

Can you swim your 120s to the surface in a wet suit without inflating your wing? Where is your redundant buoyancy? Sure you can crawl out of the cave, but that's no fun. And if you really plan on doing tighter passages the chance of damaging the wing increases.

Get out there and dive several different size tanks. I personally have 72s, 85s, 95s, 108s, 121s, and AL80s that I use, depending on the dive and also in the sidemount course I teach.

I've done a good bit of diving with aluminum 100s and Faber 95s, but can't compare too well because I was limited to 6ths.

In my original post, I said I am using a drysuit. Only rarely will I use a wetsuit (ie: when I get one that will keep me warm) and if I did, I would carry a sausage like Skip, or a lift bag.

I don't have easy access to that many sizes of tanks for sidemount, nor do I have tons of time. Right now I'm lucky to dive once a month with school and no income to support my hobby. I think my plan will be to break down my doubles and try sidemounting with them. If I find it just doesn't work out well, I can try some 95s and see if that is a ton better. I'd also like to try some Faber 108s, I hear the little bit shorter can make a big difference, but like I said, I know a lot more people using 95s than anything else for sidemount.

Some people say "120s for sidemount? No one is happy unless they are diving 95s or 85s" so I just wanted to make sure that some people do dive 120s happily :)

[Kelly Jessop]

I've done a good bit of diving with aluminum 100s and Faber 95s, but can't compare too well because I was limited to 6ths.

In my original post, I said I am using a drysuit. Only rarely will I use a wetsuit (ie: when I get one that will keep me warm) and if I did, I would carry a sausage like Skip, or a lift bag.

I don't have easy access to that many sizes of tanks for sidemount, nor do I have tons of time. Right now I'm lucky to dive once a month with school and no income to support my hobby. I think my plan will be to break down my doubles and try sidemounting with them. If I find it just doesn't work out well, I can try some 95s and see if that is a ton better. I'd also like to try some Faber 108s, I hear the little bit shorter can make a big difference, but like I said, I know a lot more people using 95s than anything else for sidemount.

Some people say "120s for sidemount? No one is happy unless they are diving 95s or 85s" so I just wanted to make sure that some people do dive 120s happily :)

The type of diving you do can regulate your tank size. Suggestions of 85's or smaller can be good for short dives or shallow depths,but if you are doing deeper dives and longer penetrations,then 120s are great. They are a long tank,but they tend to float,and are easy to manipulate. I have found they work great with a small wing since their bouyancy characterisitcs are light,and I know friends who use wet suits without problems. Pumped 120's come close (9cu ft difference) in cu ft to equaling a set of 95s,and a stage,which I prefer less number of tanks due to minimalism philosphy,and reducing cave impact.

[FW]

I dive PST LP-104s, and they are about the same as Faber 120s.

[skip]

i've seen Marbry sidemount 130's...and he looks just as happy as he ever does.

-skip

[Slüdge]

I can't stand it!

We're talking apples, oranges, and pears here. Some people are referring to LP, some to HP, and some to E-Series/X-Series cylinders. You can't just say "120" and mean the same thing to everybody.

Somebody needs to write a primer on cylinder designations and make it required reading for all technical divers.

[FW]

I can't stand it!

We're talking apples, oranges, and pears here. Some people are referring to LP, some to HP, and some to E-Series/X-Series cylinders. You can't just say "120" and mean the same thing to everybody.

Somebody needs to write a primer on cylinder designations and make it required reading for all technical divers.

Does Faber make more than one type of 120?

I do agree, PST 104s and E130s are almost the same tank.

I don't know about the "required reading" part, but a table of all commonly used cave diving tanks would be very useful. Feel free to start one :-D

I have *some" of the old Faber and PST tables if that will help. One thing that was missing on most of the old tables was some way to correlate the different brands. Internal volume would help a lot, but I don't know where to get that for PST, or Luxfor. Faber has it in liters, in their tables, and it makes it very obvious which tanks actually hold the most at a given pressure.

Weights in and out of the water, at full, and empty is also very useful.

[rchrds]

Ok sheesh. I finally got back so I can respond to this post. haha.
I dive LP Faber 120s, LP Faber 95s, LP Faber 80s, and one set of LP Pressed Steel 120s, but only with high helium mixes. In addition, I sidemount AL80s, 40s, 30s, old steel 72s, and even 2 steel 3 liter tanks.

The gist of this is, the LP Faber 120s (my regular tanks, BTW) are fantastic for sidemounting, and very nice and stable with low helium mixes.

Now, a caveat. With helium above about 25% I find that the Faber 120's are too light. They tend to get VERY floaty in the ass end and I have switched to using the LP Pressed Steel 120s for helium mixes, despite the fact that those tanks are VERY heavy when full. The Pressed Steel tanks feel more solid with high helium mixes when you get towards 1000 PSI, though, they can get light as well.

As for wing and gear, I use a transpac II, with a nomad wing (no nomad plate.) for all tanks aside from the 40s and 30s, when I wear a bat belt and shoulder bungee.

Hope that helps the original poster.

Jason

[JahJahwarrior]

Thanks Jason! I'm a poor college student, no way I'll be breathing helium too soon here :)

Looks like I'll be breaking down my doubles (gotta find plugs for a DR manifold..) and keeping an eye out for someones old transpac and nomad wing.

[Jim Clark]

I don't know about the "required reading" part, but a table of all commonly used cave diving tanks would be very useful.

This link may be beneficial.

http://www.nitroxdiver.com/Tank-Specs.htm

[FW]

This link may be beneficial.

http://www.nitroxdiver.com/Tank-Specs.htm
We have a link to that site under "resources", but it only has currently manufactured tanks. A lot of cave divers still use older tanks, not on that list.

[Marchand]

this is the site I usually use for tank specs

http://www.huronscuba.com/equipment/scubaCylinderSpecification.html

[FW]

this is the site I usually use for tank specs

http://www.huronscuba.com/equipment/scubaCylinderSpecification.html

That one is better, but still doesn't give internal volume.

[Webmaster]

I dive the LP 133's sidemount. No problems other than needing a little extra weight on them since they tend to get a little light as they're breathed down.

[chimie007]

I think I see more 95s for sidemount than anything, with everyone, everywhere always touting 85s as being the perfect tank for backmount or sidemount.

I dove 104s SM for over a year since it is what I had when I started SM. They were heavy but that was nothing new to me since they were my BM tanks. With two stages, I needed to put gas in my suit since I was maxing out the wing (Rec).

I bought 85s back in March with the intend to use them river diving on my canoe. Well, I loved them so much that I haven't use my 104s again. The 85s are so light in the water than I can superman both on one hand. I get almost the same distance in a cave because of the reduced drag (mainly the need for less gas in the wing). I still choose my 85s on big dives.