DIY thread

[Nwbrewer]

Sparky, I'll put together some better picks over the weekend and post them for you.

It's really not to difficult. Do you have access to a router or a lathe? (Even a wood lathe will work if you're careful)

Jake

[sparky]

Aculy zi have acess to both and a have a dive budy that knows how to run his leath so I may be in luck huh?
that would be grate I would like to see some more detailed pictures
Sparky

[Nwbrewer]

Aculy zi have acess to both and a have a dive budy that knows how to run his leath so I may be in luck huh?
that would be grate I would like to see some more detailed pictures
Sparky

Here you go, sparky. More detailed pics on the lid and canister. I started with a 1" thick square of HDPE. I turned it on the lathe so that the top half was the same diameter as the OD of the can, and the lower section just slid into the can. I added a groove and kept cutting deeper until the o-ring just barely sticks out larger than that diameter.

I drilled a hole down the center and tapped it to 3/8 NPT to accept the cable gland. (I used these from McMaster Carr - 69915K61) The cable glands have an o-ring seal, so make sure that your can lid is sanded really smooth.

I then added the catches using 3/4" #6 SS screws, and used them w/o an o-ring installed to position the latches on the can. Make sure your going to be compressing the o-ring when you position the latches, otherwise it leaks.

Be careful turning the HDPE if you use it, it gets rather stringy and tends to get wrapped up and make a mess. If you can source some PVC or want to shell out the $$ dor Delrin, I image that would machine better. HDPE is cheap and for me was easy to get.

Good luck

Jake

[airsix]

Very Cool, H2ODoc.

-Ben

[nice-diver]

<a href="" title="my new pony tank bracket by nice-diver, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1169/127 ... f6bd20.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="my new pony tank bracket"></a>

stainless steel pony bracket

<a href="" title="my new pony tank by nice-diver, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1200/127 ... 114a65.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="my new pony tank"></a>

sized to fit my single tank straps on my Halcyon wing
I had to get a new viz sticker and I mount the bottle upright

[H20doctor]

I will have a beam spot comparison here shortly, I will light it up against my 35 watt canister..VS my C8 Led UK, Vs The new 9 watt Cree LED.. Total cost of making this Led is about 50.00 Minus The battery... Not bad for a 300 Lumen Light

[airsix]

I will have a beam spot comparison here shortly, I will light it up against my 35 watt canister..VS my C8 Led UK, Vs The new 9 watt Cree LED.. Total cost of making this Led is about 50.00 Minus The battery... Not bad for a 300 Lumen Light

How much current is it expected to draw?

-Ben

[H20doctor]

current draw is about 3 watts total ... Lumin output is close to 800.. the Burn test on the light was 4 Hrs .. I will get a spot pic up..

[sheahanmcculla]

After a year of puttering around I finished a hid lighthead today. This uses the trailtech 35w hid, which is actually 30w to the bulb (5w consumed by the ballast). It got a 3 hour burn test today at 10ft. It gets dunked for real on Monday. I hope it stays dry. I've done 3 halogen lightheads and they all stayed dry, but it would have been no big loss if they had flooded. This time I'm a little more nervous.

Here's a picture of a 50w halogen next to the 30w hid for comparison.


And here's the lighthead


-Ben

Very impressive. Did you fabricate the light head and everything? Was it worth the time and money spent?

[Nwbrewer]

Very impressive. Did you fabricate the light head and everything? Was it worth the time and money spent?

Uh oh. Sheahan's got light envy now!

[airsix]

Very impressive. Did you fabricate the light head and everything? Was it worth the time and money spent?

Thank you. Yes, I fabricated everything. It was definitely worth the money ($250-$300? somewhere in that range. I can't remember the exact figure.) Was it worth the time? My wife says "NO!" She says I should have just bought a Salvo because of all the time I spent researching, fabricating, testing, modifying... Don't tell her I'm making a sexy new canister for it that's only 3" in diameter (and holds the same 3hr Li-Po pack ).

-Ben

[Pez7378]

And for the record Sheahan, Bens light is very bright!

[H20doctor]

..

[H20doctor]

..

[Nwbrewer]

It's been a while since I made anything, so this weekend I set down to make myself some more soft weights (5lbers). Since i had the sewing machine out, and since I had the fabric from a past project, I decided to make a shot bag for boat diving. I like the high vis -



We used it sunday, seemed to work really well. Loaded it up with some soft weights, tied it off to the down line, and over the side.

I had some time on my hands, and decided to build a lift bag too. -


It's waterproof, heat seal fabric. I heat sealed it, then sewed it 2x for good measure. I heat sealed a patch on the inside over the strap stitching to ensure that that was sealed as well.

It's just an open bag, I need to come up with a way to put an OPV/Dump valve in it at the top. Any ideas? This is a just for the fun of it project, I don't want to spend the $$ on an actual dump valve like on a BC, besides, that defeats the purpose of a DIY project.

Any thoughts?

Jake

[sheahanmcculla]

Nice work Brewer! This is my favorite thread for sure. Sorry no recommendations for a valve but what's the 1st thing your going to lift with it?



And for your next project.........

[Sounder]

Or you could buy an x-scooter.

[Nwbrewer]

Doug, where's the fun in that?

[Sounder]

Doug, where's the fun in that?

WEEEEE!! The fun is I give Matt my credit card, and then off we go!! WEEEEE!!

In my MBA classes, there is an cost-accounting question of whether to make or buy something. It's as simple as determining which is cheaper, but determining that is a very complex and involved analysis (fortunately I got a 95% on that exam!). For me, this is definitely a case of "buy."

[Nwbrewer]

Doug, where's the fun in that?

WEEEEE!! The fun is I give Matt my credit card, and then off we go!! WEEEEE!!

In my MBA classes, there is an cost-accounting question of whether to make or buy something. It's as simple as determining which is cheaper, but determining that is a very complex and involved analysis (fortunately I got a 95% on that exam!). For me, this is definitely a case of "buy."

But that only takes into account your time considering that the build itself is not something enjoyable to you. If spending time in the garage figuring a way to make things work is something you enjoy, then the economics really aren't as much of a consideration.

I think the only thing I've saved $ on has been the divelight. The rest has been about break even.

[Sounder]

Doug, where's the fun in that?

WEEEEE!! The fun is I give Matt my credit card, and then off we go!! WEEEEE!!

In my MBA classes, there is an cost-accounting question of whether to make or buy something. It's as simple as determining which is cheaper, but determining that is a very complex and involved analysis (fortunately I got a 95% on that exam!). For me, this is definitely a case of "buy."

But that only takes into account your time considering that the build itself is not something enjoyable to you. If spending time in the garage figuring a way to make things work is something you enjoy, then the economics really aren't as much of a consideration.

I think the only thing I've saved $ on has been the divelight. The rest has been about break even.

And, alas, this is one area where you and I contrast.

[spatman]

WEEEEE!! The fun is I give Matt my credit card, and then off we go!! WEEEEE!!

i'd have a lot of fun giving Matt your credit card, too!

[Nwbrewer]

WEEEEE!! The fun is I give Matt my credit card, and then off we go!! WEEEEE!!

i'd have a lot of fun giving Matt your credit card, too!

Oops, I didn't realize he was offering! In that case I'll meet you at the shop.

[Sounder]

WEEEEE!! The fun is I give Matt my credit card, and then off we go!! WEEEEE!!

i'd have a lot of fun giving Matt your credit card, too!

Oops, I didn't realize he was offering! In that case I'll meet you at the shop.

Sorry bud - I wouldn't want to take away from your tinkering time... have fun in your garage!!

[spatman]

WEEEEE!! The fun is I give Matt my credit card, and then off we go!! WEEEEE!!

i'd have a lot of fun giving Matt your credit card, too!

Oops, I didn't realize he was offering! In that case I'll meet you at the shop.

Sorry bud - I wouldn't want to take away from your tinkering time... have fun in your garage!!

hey, i don't tinker. so when you next go to see Matt, grab me a can light and a few hp120s. like you said, it'll be FUN!!