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> >(Dacor Rig2), Since then I have been trying to find out as much info about > >DIR gear config as possible. At the moment I've only logged 80 odd dives I am kinda in the same boat as you were, though I am in the states. I had bought a Zeagle Concept, which of course won't run doubles on it at all. At first when I read the DIR stuff, I thought it was interesting, and after a few months of wading through the 90% of flame wars posted on rec.scuba and other places, and reading everything I could on gear configuration, etc... I am a DIR convert (along with my wife). At first I tried to rig the BC to be 'kinda DIR', but the lights and such wouldn't hang right, etc... So I went to the backplate & wings... > >3/ I've also down loaded the Backplate plans off the web, Is it possible to > >use the wing off my Dacor Pig (if I remove the balls off the aux. dumps > with > >a backplate and harness safely (there are no bondage straps on this wing!) > >As this may be better Monetarily, please feel free to flame if this is a > >stroke idea ! I am a big DIY (Do It Yourself'er), I got the plans off the net for the backplate that looks just like the one Halcyon sells. My father is a welder/steelworker, so I had access to free equipment and also a piece of stainless steel sheetmetal. Now, I can tell you that you will need to find someone with an ironworker or a CNC router to punch the holes out. If you try drilling on stainless (other than the bolt holes), it is too tough and you will burn your drillbits up. Someone with a plasma cutter could cut the holes for the webbing, but trying to drill multiple holes won't work. Bending it is another bitch, since it is so tough, so if you have access to a sheet metal bender, great. If not, you may have to use a vise and some long pieces of steel to put the backplate between in order to get it to bend and nut 'buckle' on you, so that you have fairly straight bends. You are not going to be able to get perfect bends by hand, and making these things isn't rocket science, it just has to fit your back right, hold the webbing and be strong enough to support the tanks (which is why I went with stainless). Aluminum is easier to work with, but only because it is weaker and easier to bend. What you may want to do is go look at some stainless backplates, take in a micrometer, and see how thick they are. As far as the BC wing, I don't know much about the Dacor Rig, but if the wing is built 'standard, I would say to go for it. I have a SeaTec wingthat used to be on a single tank setup (with the plastic backplate) but was wide enough for running doubles. As soon as I get the money I will be buying a Halcyon Wing. I had to cut off some of the stiched on webbing/velcro nonsense, and then put a set of grommets for the bolts to go through, but it works great for running dbl AL80's with a wetsuit. I wouldn't try it for carrying stages with a drysuit, but for my limited diving until I get more training, it works fine (though do go in and put the truck inner tube in it to line it to protect from abrasion). The Zeagle wing is made all funky, and you could have to heavily modify it to even make it work by sewing a piece in for the grommets to go through and cutting some of the crap off. I didn't want to ruin it hoping I could possibly sell it over e-bay and get enough money to get a Halcyon, but I haven't gotten there yet. I did also make a single tank adaptor, which works great (and since the wing was setup for big singles, it works even better). You can also pour a v-weight or a p-weight out of scrap lead or old dive weights, and that can eliminate your 'where to put my weight' problem. I do have two integrated weight pockets on the webbing, but those were made to go on backplate/wings types of setups. I have a 10 lb. p-weight (goes in the groove where the wingnuts go between your back and the backplate), and then I add a single 2 lb weight to each pocket, and at 500 psi I am neutrally buoyant with all my gear and doubles. http://www.cisatlantic.com/trimix/tools.htm - Look under 'HOW TO' for the P/V Weight http://spiff.physics.mcgill.ca/scuba/gear/ - Backplate & Single Tank Adaptor I hope that helps, Brad Wilson Carrollton, GA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- The box said 'Use Windows 95 or better', so I installed Linux! -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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