Dive slate

[Doghouse]

Lets see your home made dive slate. I have started to make a wrist slate out of a piece of pvc, but need to find a good way of closing it. I am thinking I may just make 2 slits and use velcro.

I have been haveing a hard time getting surgical tubing to attach the pencil with. Any suggestions?

[WV Diver]

Slate pencils

I just posted this, I don't have a picture but if you have specific questions on this design just PM me.

[ScubaJW]

Aw, come on, learn Sign Language and you don't need no stinkin' dive slates. Just kidding, I learned that some people use PVC pipe and cut it... you know the rest.

I can't help you with putting pencil and surgical tubing together - but here is a thought, use silicone glue to keep both together if you are trying to say that surgical tubing is too loose/pencil too small. Or if you are trying to say that surgical tubing is too small, may have to cut a little on the tubing and put silicone glue... but that's the idea, I have never tried it.

[skdvr]

Originally Posted by ScubaJW

I can't help you with putting pencil and surgical tubing together - but here is a thought, use silicone glue to keep both together if you are trying to say that surgical tubing is too loose/pencil too small. Or if you are trying to say that surgical tubing is too small, may have to cut a little on the tubing and put silicone glue... but that's the idea, I have never tried it.

I think he is trying to say that he cannot find surgical tubing.

I have heard people say that you can go to a local hobby store to get it, but I looked at a few around me and no one sold it. So I am not sure where you can get it besides buying it online somewhere...

Phil

[Flatliner]

I made a slate for my son and we used velcro BUT I was very unsatisfied with the result. I am not totally sure but I think you can use fuel line tubing that can be bought in bulk at auto parts stores or at hobby shops depending on the size you want. I also got some at a small engine repair shop that was pretty small.

Flatliner
aka Robert

[skdvr]

What I would do is cut the pipe in half and hten use shockcord to make the straps so that it can adjust wiht the compression of your suit. You could use small shock cord to hold the pencil but I think that surgical tubing would be the best option. I would also put a small piece of velcro on the pencil and the slate so you can stick the pencil there...

Phil

[DougNR]

I used to by surgical tubing at a MEdical supply house. I would think letting your fingers do the walking would give you good results. The problem is getting them to sell you a small enough supply. You may have to make a bunch of slates and sell them to your buds!

Good luck with your project!

[namabiru]

Huh. Kind of an aside, but someone told me once that window blinds make good slates. You cut them, put a bunch together, then you've got kind of a book o'slates. One instructor said he does that and gives them as freebies to his OW students.

I'm wondering what might happen if you used elastic for your attachment cords. That way they're easy to take off/put on.

What would happen if you superglued a bit of elastic to a pencil? If you have a decent pencil, you wouldn't have to constantly refix this.

[Phestr]

I've see vacuum tubing (that attaches to a carbeurator (sp), that should be a small enough gauge. But I have a dumb question...isn't PVC too smooth? I mean, it has to be slightly rough to take the graphite, right? And will any pencil do?

[Flatliner]

Originally Posted by Phestr

I've see vacuum tubing (that attaches to a carbeurator (sp), that should be a small enough gauge. But I have a dumb question...isn't PVC too smooth? I mean, it has to be slightly rough to take the graphite, right? And will any pencil do?

Not a dumb question at all, I wondered the same thing. However it seems to take the pencil just fine but to make it a little better, I sanded mine with 300 grit sand paper. Works great.

Flatliner
aka Robert