I have two 40 cu ft. AL stage bottles, what is the best way to rig them?
Pictures would really help.
Thanks,
-Chip
Printable View
I have two 40 cu ft. AL stage bottles, what is the best way to rig them?
Pictures would really help.
Thanks,
-Chip
Here's a pretty good demonstration:
http://www.5thd-x.com/xducation/stages.html
Just don't start taking their ratio deco nonsense too seriously on that website!!!!
Typing "stage bottle rigging" in Google gives some great... and some abysmal answers. The 5thdx approach is pretty good. Here's another reasonable one:
http://dir-diver.com/en/equipment/st...e_rigging.html
Thanks!
I notice both of the rigs you referenced have nylon rope rather than a strap like the dive rite stage kit. Is this so it can be cut away easily? Or just because it is cheaper to make?
Another question related to stage setup. What is the truth regarding regulators with higher O2 (like 85-90%) deco mix? Can you use a regular reg (40%), does it have to be specially cleaned, or do I need to be looking at buying a special reg?
Thanks,
-Chip
i use a regular dive rite reg for my oxygen bottle, and I didnt oxygen clean it and I have had no problems with it. It is designated as my oxygen reg, so I dont ever use it with anything else though. I would suggest getting a 40% reg and designating it to your higher deco mixes to keep it clean. The oxygen cleaning is up to you, ive heard it go both ways.
The rope is the result of the DIY nature of those straps (just knot it together, no need to sew it as with web straps.) Both work equally well so use what strikes your fancy and be happy. O2 cleaning is a good thing and it is not that difficult to perform at home; minimally you should ensure that the reg you will be using has O2 compatible orings and has been lubed with aa O2 compatible grease (such as is the case for those regs rated for 40%; most manufacturers will not call them O2 compatible to avoid liability issues.)
I mainly use mountaineering rope. I've tried using webbing and I just prefer the rope - easy and quick to set up and the webbing just doesn't seem to offer any real advantages. At a push I've used yellow polyprop rope during a trip, with a cam band at the bottom to hold it in place - worked great.
Many people don't ever bother to O2 clean a new reg from the major manufacturers (don't want to break rules here!). But iO2 cleaning is pretty easy - Ivory dish detergent and a bit of shaking and scrubbing will do it. Just go easy - the internals are made of bronze and damage easily.
Hey!!, I kinda like the idea of mountaineering rope. Do the size of the knots pose any problem? I would think you could get away from using the rubber covering with the mountain rope too.
Thanks all for your replies.
-Chip
I find the rope mind-boggling. The first time I saw that one site I was convinced it was satire. "Don't use the handle as a handle." Priceless.
My instructor showed me a cheap and easy way to rig a stage. However, in a never-ending attempt to reinvent the wheel, I have tried several other methods. But several years ago I realized none of these were any cheaper, or as good.
My instructor's stage strap can be made in about thirty minutes, for under ten bucks. You need about two feet of 1" webbing, two stage clamps, two clips, and a 2" ring. Plus a needle and thread.
The picture below shows a 30, a 40, and a 72 (the 30 and 72 have Dive Rite hose retainers on them, which have nothing to do with the stage strap). The handle can be used as a handle on any of them.
http://cavediver.net/photopost/data/...m/IMAG0143.JPG
Thanks Sludge, clean setup. Are the 2 inch rings sewn to the webbing or is the webbing just looped thru the ring?
-Chip
It's just looped through.
Actually it works pretty well as a handle! They're exaggerating on that website. The secret is to use a socket wrench, not a screwdriver. to tighten up the clamps.Quote:
Originally Posted by Slüdge
Pretty neat setup, Sludge. On SM it helps to have a bit of slack but I'll bet with BM it really helps to have those straps in close like that to control the cylinders.
How come you didn't put any webbing over the clamps?
As I said earlier, I have tried to reinvent the wheel several times (running the handle through 1" clear tubing, putting webbing over the clamps, 1/2" clear tubing around the clamp junction, looping the webbing around the cylinder neck a la Dive Rite's strap). But what you see above is the way my instructor did it, and it seems to work best.Quote:
Originally Posted by aainslie
I agree with Sludge on the handle.
I believe that's a DIR thing ( not that I'm bad mouthing DIR ).
It's not suppose to be used as a handle, that's what the valve is for.
The strap is to be tied down for less drag in the water & to be used as a handle only in the water.
That's what I was told but, I see it as a handle & use it for such.
Mike M
I don't even bother with the tube coverings. Pretty is not the object, but funcionality is.
Dale
OUCH!! The thought of not having tubing cover the SS clamp scares me. Nick that thing a time or two and it's a sure place to slice your hand open or put a hole in the drysuit.Quote:
Originally Posted by bletso
On a general note, you can get just about everything you need for a stage rigging from Walmart (except the innertubing). Don't need no fancy special rope or anything.
Personally, I don't use the "handle" on the stage or deco bottles out of water either. Don't wanna stretch the rope out and have stages getting droopy on me. In water though, they are great. I can snatch up two or even three bottles off the floor in one hand using the handles to bring them to the surface after I'm done with deco, rather than re-clipping all that crap off just to unclip it all again 2 minutes later.
I realize that this is the Cave Diver's Forum and the vast majority of caves people here dive do not have salt water. But if you intend to dive the stage in salt water, the covering does serve a function...elimination of dissimilar metal electrolysis.Quote:
Originally Posted by bletso
The secondary function - as noted - is the covering of sharp edges which can take a toll on water-softened skin or drysuit integrity.
USed this method works great. But ignore the rheotric.Quote:
Originally Posted by aainslie