Chriso 0 Posted May 6, 2012 Hi All After just scratching up a Zen 9" port, (thanks insurance for the new one) I am dead keen to get rid of the poxy Neoprene and replace with a hard cover, does anyone know if there is an off the shelf solution or am I gong to get on the Lathe with a chunk of Delrin Cheers Chriso Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrigelKarrer 52 Posted May 6, 2012 Chriso, i had exactly the same problem, the glue remains on the original neoprene cover scratched the acrylic dome. Arggghhhh! I had the same idea to make a hard cover NOT touching the dome and i will do it probably with: - PVC pipe for sewage with a glued on disk of pvc/wood/aluminium as cover, tube inside covered with neoprene to fit the diameter - aluminium (difficult to weld but can be attached with rivets) - plywood (thin plywood to bend the tube and a thicker one for the top, cover with 3/4 layers of resin to make it stronger - Delrin, expensive material and it need a huge lathe or better a milling machine to machine it In a few weeks i will be back in Italy and work on that. Chris Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cary Dean 3 Posted May 6, 2012 What about something like this? http://www.stockcap.com/prod_detail.asp?id=126&cat=14 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrigelKarrer 52 Posted May 6, 2012 Cary: thanks for the link, but they say: "Made from flexible PVC" what - at least i want - is something hard to avoid that anything touches the dome (and flat port as well). Chris Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cary Dean 3 Posted May 6, 2012 Cary:thanks for the link, but they say: "Made from flexible PVC" what - at least i want - is something hard to avoid that anything touches the dome (and flat port as well). Chris You're welcome. I saw a neoprene cover once that had an extra thick section that actually touched the glass but gave the cover very good padding and bump protection. Unfortunately I don't remember who made it. Maybe a Rubbermaid round storage bowl can be modified to fit....? I have the same dome BTW so I understand the concern. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeteAtkinson 15 Posted May 6, 2012 I have been using a trimmed down plastic bowl that cost about $1 which fits snugly inside the Nauticam 9" dome shade, but clears the glass slightly. It's held in place with a string bridle. It's stiff enough to protect the dome in a suitcase, but far from ideal. For a Seacam superdome I found a PVC pipe end cap which was a push fit over the dome shade. Machining from delrin seems excessive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Timmoranuk 10 Posted May 6, 2012 To protect my 200mm Zens while travelling I use Polar Gear lunch coolers. They are very light-weight, padded and the domes fit perfectly. I also slip0 disks of chamois and closed cell foam between the neoprene cover and the glass for added protection. I dive with the neoprene cover slipped on my arm and always fit it before handing a rig up at the end of the dive. In fact, I've found the Polar Gear range of lunch coolers provide excellent packaging for a multitude of expensive and fragile items, both when travelling and when diving closer to home. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrigelKarrer 52 Posted May 8, 2012 @ PeteAtkins: I am looking for something going over the shade to avoid that anything can touch the acrylic dome. I was thinking of a PVC end cap, if it is too wide i could glue s stripe of neoprene inside for a snug fit. @ Timmoranuk: Nice tip with the round cooler, i did not thought about that. I hope i find one for my 170mm dome. @ Cary Dean: Thicker neoprene will not solve my problem as the vibrations of the neoprene may lead to micro scratches or dull spots it again What i want is a big "jar" going over the shade to avoid that anything can touch the acrylic glass. Mid of next week i'm home in Sardinia and then McDiver will start to do the job properly. Chris Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cary Dean 3 Posted May 8, 2012 @ Cary Dean: Thicker neoprene will not solve my problem as the vibrations of the neoprene may lead to micro scratches or dull spots it againnext week i'm home in Sardinia and then McDiver will start to do the job properly. Chris I see. Let us know how you solve the dilemma. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drew 0 Posted May 9, 2012 I custom made a few hard foam ones molded to fit my domes, which basically gave the dome surface about 5mm clearance and the surface is made of smooth rubber. Then I have a neoprene cover on top of that so it would be secure during transport. Weighed a bit and made the package bulky. It's custom made for Subal and Seacam. But as long as you have the dome port, it can be made. The only problem is the shop is in Asia. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Longimanus1975 1 Posted May 9, 2012 I have been thinking the exact same for my Nauticam tokina minidome, not come up with anything yet though! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeteAtkinson 15 Posted May 10, 2012 For my Nauticam mini-dome (made with a Bare dome and a Nauticam extension) I used the top of a plastic box (the blue bit in the pictures) with a large hole cut in it which fits around the dome shade and is glued and welded (with a soldering iron) in place. (The shade was cut from a desk-top pedal bin which happened to be exactly the right size and cost $3.) The plastic box itself forms the dome cover and fits perfectly in the remains of its lid. A wrap of self-amalgamating rubber tape is there only to make the blue bit look more up-market... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Udo van Dongen 5 Posted May 11, 2012 For my Nauticam mini-dome (made with a Bare dome and a Nauticam extension) I used the top of a plastic box (the blue bit in the pictures) with a large hole cut in it which fits around the dome shade and is glued and welded (with a soldering iron) in place. (The shade was cut from a desk-top pedal bin which happened to be exactly the right size and cost $3.) The plastic box itself forms the dome cover and fits perfectly in the remains of its lid. A wrap of self-amalgamating rubber tape is there only to make the blue bit look more up-market... What a cool system! congrats, i'm a fan of simple sollutions! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrigelKarrer 52 Posted May 11, 2012 Yeah Pete, that is exactly what i want to do as this kind of protection will avoid that anything will touch the so delicate acrylic dome. I was searching yesterday without success in San Jose to find a bin/jar/round cooler to build a protection like yours. I will continue my search next week when i am back in Sardinia. Chris Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Longimanus1975 1 Posted May 11, 2012 For my Nauticam mini-dome (made with a Bare dome and a Nauticam extension) I used the top of a plastic box (the blue bit in the pictures) with a large hole cut in it which fits around the dome shade and is glued and welded (with a soldering iron) in place. (The shade was cut from a desk-top pedal bin which happened to be exactly the right size and cost $3.) The plastic box itself forms the dome cover and fits perfectly in the remains of its lid. A wrap of self-amalgamating rubber tape is there only to make the blue bit look more up-market... Very good! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Davide DB 232 Posted May 13, 2012 Same method here, justa dd a couple of stickers and you a pro 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites