Pony clamps - are they all as good as each other?

I'm going to be getting a pony over the weekend and next week, and am just
stuck on the clamp now. I'd considered a bag (Stoney do one at the minute
for £9.90), but most of what i've read about them people don't seem to like
them, so i've been looking at the metal brackets. I want one of the ones
which fixed with jubilee clips to the pony (3l), and through the BCD cam
band so that I can easily swap the tanks over.
I've seen various types - the ones i'm mainly looking at are the Universal
Clamp from Stoney
(http://www.underwaterworld.co.uk/aca...ony_Clamp.html -
£39.26), or the stainless steel pony clamp from Denney
Diving(http://www.divingdirectshop.co.uk/ac...CYLINDERS.html, bottom of
the page - £39.99). Do I need to be looking at anything more expensive than
these? Are these all going to be pretty much the same, or are some better
than others? Any experience of either of these?
One thing I do want to avoid is a separate piece of rubber that goes against
the main cylinder - I know someone with a clamp which has one of these, and
it never lines up right and just seems to be very messy.

Any recommendations?

David

"David Walker" <wbsdavenews@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bohe1n$hds$1@wisteria.csv.warwick.ac.uk...
> I'm going to be getting a pony over the weekend and next week, and am just
> stuck on the clamp now. I'd considered a bag (Stoney do one at the minute
> for £9.90), but most of what i've read about them people don't seem to
like
> them, so i've been looking at the metal brackets. I want one of the ones
> which fixed with jubilee clips to the pony (3l), and through the BCD cam
> band so that I can easily swap the tanks over.
> I've seen various types - the ones i'm mainly looking at are the Universal
> Clamp from Stoney
> (http://www.underwaterworld.co.uk/aca...ony_Clamp.html -
> £39.26), or the stainless steel pony clamp from Denney
> Diving(http://www.divingdirectshop.co.uk/ac...CYLINDERS.html, bottom
of
> the page - £39.99). Do I need to be looking at anything more expensive
than
> these? Are these all going to be pretty much the same, or are some better
> than others? Any experience of either of these?
> One thing I do want to avoid is a separate piece of rubber that goes
against
> the main cylinder - I know someone with a clamp which has one of these,
and
> it never lines up right and just seems to be very messy.
>
> Any recommendations?
>
> David
>
>

I use the MetalSub clamp http://www.diveshop.co.uk/pages/metalsub.html Very
easy to use and has rubber as part of the unit, so no worries about lining
things up. The pony part is clipped to the cylinder, the main cylinder part
is held on with the cam band. Works very well. Mine was about £50 a few
months ago, you may want to see what the dive show prices are like.

Hiya

I use exactly the same thing, with the pony tight up against the BC on the
left hand side, and inverted so that I can reach the valve easily

Works a treat

Gareth

"John Warlow" <jlwarlow@belowthewavesz.com> wrote in message
news:3facf532_2@mk-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com...
>
> "David Walker" <wbsdavenews@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:bohe1n$hds$1@wisteria.csv.warwick.ac.uk...
> > I'm going to be getting a pony over the weekend and next week, and am
just
> > stuck on the clamp now. I'd considered a bag (Stoney do one at the
minute
> > for £9.90), but most of what i've read about them people don't seem to
> like
> > them, so i've been looking at the metal brackets. I want one of the
ones
> > which fixed with jubilee clips to the pony (3l), and through the BCD cam
> > band so that I can easily swap the tanks over.
> > I've seen various types - the ones i'm mainly looking at are the
Universal
> > Clamp from Stoney
> > (http://www.underwaterworld.co.uk/aca...ony_Clamp.html -
> > £39.26), or the stainless steel pony clamp from Denney
> > Diving(http://www.divingdirectshop.co.uk/ac...CYLINDERS.html, bottom
> of
> > the page - £39.99). Do I need to be looking at anything more expensive
> than
> > these? Are these all going to be pretty much the same, or are some
better
> > than others? Any experience of either of these?
> > One thing I do want to avoid is a separate piece of rubber that goes
> against
> > the main cylinder - I know someone with a clamp which has one of these,
> and
> > it never lines up right and just seems to be very messy.
> >
> > Any recommendations?
> >
> > David
> >
> >
>
> I use the MetalSub clamp http://www.diveshop.co.uk/pages/metalsub.html
Very
> easy to use and has rubber as part of the unit, so no worries about lining
> things up. The pony part is clipped to the cylinder, the main cylinder
part
> is held on with the cam band. Works very well. Mine was about £50 a few
> months ago, you may want to see what the dive show prices are like.
>
>

"David Walker" <wbsdavenews@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<bohe1n$hds$1@wisteria.csv.warwick.ac.uk>...
<snip>
>
> Any recommendations?
>
> David


Yes

Don't get a clamp. Sling it like a stage bottle on your front / side.
Much more versatile, can hand it off if needed, and good practice for
whemn you hit the twin side.

Digs

"Digger" <somogyi@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:708d35cd.0311091202.50a46cd0@posting.google.c om...
> "David Walker" <wbsdavenews@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:<bohe1n$hds$1@wisteria.csv.warwick.ac.uk>...
> <snip>
> >
> > Any recommendations?
> >
> > David
>
>
> Yes
>
> Don't get a clamp. Sling it like a stage bottle on your front / side.
> Much more versatile, can hand it off if needed, and good practice for
> whemn you hit the twin side.

Yep - couldn't agree more. I've converted more than a few people to side
slung pony's over the last few months - it's the only way to go, if you ask
me!

Hi
The one you want has a permanent attachment to your main cylinder then you
just clip the pony on to the bracket works very well, I cannot remember the
name though, you would need 2 main cylinder brackets. I you have 2 cylinders
the system is very secure no flopping about.
Robert
"Gareth Burrows" <gareth.b@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:bojfm5$jmv$1@sparta.btinternet.com...
> Hiya
>
> I use exactly the same thing, with the pony tight up against the BC on the
> left hand side, and inverted so that I can reach the valve easily
>
> Works a treat
>
> Gareth
>
> "John Warlow" <jlwarlow@belowthewavesz.com> wrote in message
> news:3facf532_2@mk-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com...
> >
> > "David Walker" <wbsdavenews@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > news:bohe1n$hds$1@wisteria.csv.warwick.ac.uk...
> > > I'm going to be getting a pony over the weekend and next week, and am
> just
> > > stuck on the clamp now. I'd considered a bag (Stoney do one at the
> minute
> > > for £9.90), but most of what i've read about them people don't seem to
> > like
> > > them, so i've been looking at the metal brackets. I want one of the
> ones
> > > which fixed with jubilee clips to the pony (3l), and through the BCD
cam
> > > band so that I can easily swap the tanks over.
> > > I've seen various types - the ones i'm mainly looking at are the
> Universal
> > > Clamp from Stoney
> > > (http://www.underwaterworld.co.uk/aca...ony_Clamp.html -
> > > £39.26), or the stainless steel pony clamp from Denney
> > > Diving(http://www.divingdirectshop.co.uk/ac...CYLINDERS.html,
bottom
> > of
> > > the page - £39.99). Do I need to be looking at anything more
expensive
> > than
> > > these? Are these all going to be pretty much the same, or are some
> better
> > > than others? Any experience of either of these?
> > > One thing I do want to avoid is a separate piece of rubber that goes
> > against
> > > the main cylinder - I know someone with a clamp which has one of
these,
> > and
> > > it never lines up right and just seems to be very messy.
> > >
> > > Any recommendations?
> > >
> > > David
> > >
> > >
> >
> > I use the MetalSub clamp http://www.diveshop.co.uk/pages/metalsub.html
> Very
> > easy to use and has rubber as part of the unit, so no worries about
lining
> > things up. The pony part is clipped to the cylinder, the main cylinder
> part
> > is held on with the cam band. Works very well. Mine was about £50 a few
> > months ago, you may want to see what the dive show prices are like.
> >
> >
>
>


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hello
I was thinking about getting a clamp, but if there's a better way could you
please elaborate.
I don't know what how to sling a pony like a stage bottle on your front /
side.
Do you know of any links that illustrates this.

TIA
Dave
"Bardo" <anon@anon.com> wrote in message
news:bom72a$1dpi5n$1@ID-115313.news.uni-berlin.de...
>
> "Digger" <somogyi@btinternet.com> wrote in message
> news:708d35cd.0311091202.50a46cd0@posting.google.c om...
> > "David Walker" <wbsdavenews@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:<bohe1n$hds$1@wisteria.csv.warwick.ac.uk>...
> > <snip>
> > >
> > > Any recommendations?
> > >
> > > David
> >
> >
> > Yes
> >
> > Don't get a clamp. Sling it like a stage bottle on your front / side.
> > Much more versatile, can hand it off if needed, and good practice for
> > whemn you hit the twin side.
>
> Yep - couldn't agree more. I've converted more than a few people to side
> slung pony's over the last few months - it's the only way to go, if you
ask
> me!
>
>

Try this...

http://www.bentleytech.com/cave/stage/index.html

Cheap and simple....even I can do it.


"dc" <dave.care@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:8kzrb.408$cb6.3836095@news-text.cableinet.net...
> hello
> I was thinking about getting a clamp, but if there's a better way could
you
> please elaborate.
> I don't know what how to sling a pony like a stage bottle on your front /
> side.
> Do you know of any links that illustrates this.
>
> TIA
> Dave
> "Bardo" <anon@anon.com> wrote in message
> news:bom72a$1dpi5n$1@ID-115313.news.uni-berlin.de...
> >
> > "Digger" <somogyi@btinternet.com> wrote in message
> > news:708d35cd.0311091202.50a46cd0@posting.google.c om...
> > > "David Walker" <wbsdavenews@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > news:<bohe1n$hds$1@wisteria.csv.warwick.ac.uk>...
> > > <snip>
> > > >
> > > > Any recommendations?
> > > >
> > > > David
> > >
> > >
> > > Yes
> > >
> > > Don't get a clamp. Sling it like a stage bottle on your front / side.
> > > Much more versatile, can hand it off if needed, and good practice for
> > > whemn you hit the twin side.
> >
> > Yep - couldn't agree more. I've converted more than a few people to side
> > slung pony's over the last few months - it's the only way to go, if you
> ask
> > me!
> >
> >
>
>

> > I'll be teaching in Stoney a lot when i'll have the pony with me,
> including
> > things like AV and inversions when doing drysuit training, so I assume
> it'll
> > get in the way and flop around doing that sort of thing so wanted to
stick
> > with back-mounted.
>
> Don't knock it 'till you've tried it - I think you'll be surprised just
how
> comfortable a properly rigged side slung cylinder can be!

Can't try it without buying it though :o( I'll remain unconvinced for
now, but if I do ever get the chance I will try it, and if I do like it I
may switch.

> > Again, its one of those things that I don't want to think about taking
it,
> > but just has a permanant home around my kit, packed away and not hanging
> > around - I have enough problems when I use a club DSMB/reel that won't
fit
> > in my pocket!
>
> Ever thought about using a spool instead? Having recently been converted
to
> spools myself (thanks Frank), I can highly recommend them - not only are
> they so small that they fit in the palm of your hand (and therefore your
> drysuit pocket) they have no moving parts and so are very unlikely to jam!

Never really heard of, or considered one no. I assume you're just talking
about a plastic cylinder, with two ends to keep the line on, just like a
cotton reel type thing? Or am I missing something? I've only used the club
ones to date, which are big horrible reels with teeny little knobs that you
can't get hold of. I usually end up winding it in with my fingers spread
around the circumference of one side and just twisting rather than use the
handle.

David

"David Walker" <wbsdavenews@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bomk7u$juf$1@wisteria.csv.warwick.ac.uk...
>
> Never really heard of, or considered one no. I assume you're just talking
> about a plastic cylinder, with two ends to keep the line on, just like a
> cotton reel type thing? Or am I missing something? I've only used the
club
> ones to date, which are big horrible reels with teeny little knobs that
you
> can't get hold of. I usually end up winding it in with my fingers spread
> around the circumference of one side and just twisting rather than use the
> handle.

No, I'm talking about one of these...

http://www.apvr14.dsl.pipex.com/images/0054-clip-lo.jpg

You can buy them nice 'n' cheaply from these guys...

http://www.aleutian.co.uk/