Underwater Housing for miniDV

Step 2 More shopping

Head over to Mcmaster.com and order the latches and O-Ring:

Get three stainless compression spring latches #1794A43 for about $6 each. The O-ring you want for a 4" pipe is a #425 EPDM part number 9557K377. Unfortunately it's a 9-pack for $12. I bought mine elsewhere, but I forgot where.

The Acrylic ports were cut from 1/2" thick plates. I bought a 12"x12" piece from freckleface.com for dirt cheap. If you have another source, by all means.

Comments

[David Catriel]

Hi Bobby_m
Are you sure about the O ring part number being #425? I got it, and it's a good fit to go over the coupling pipes, not the 4" housing pipe (it's too big for that one). As per the schematics, the ring needs to fit right over the housing, so it has to be a bit smaller. Are you sure 425 is what you used?

[David Catriel]

Having a hell of a time getting latches shipped to Canada. McMaster doesn't ship anything over here unless it's to an established customer. Tried Home Depot as well as local hardware stores, and they have nothing. Any other ideas? Otherwise I'm left with some guy from hong kong selling his stuff on ebay, and it's only listed as being made out of "metal" ...

[David Catriel]

For anyone interested, I found that Fastenal has several stores in Canada, and sells pretty much the same stuff McMaster does. Hope this saves someone else some time!

[evolving_I]

 looking at the first hardware site listed, mcmaster.com, I found a slightly better clasp a few lines down, #1794A54.  I say better because these are padlockable, so my idea was to put a pin (google:  5/16 dia. 1.00 grip, quick release pin, $2.18 each from amazon) each clasp, secured via elastic cord (1/16 dia. available from Amazon also, 5 yards for $1.59) to the opposite end of the housing. 

This creates a redundant closure system , essential when the safety of your electronics is at stake. The clasps listed above leave it VERY easy to accidently open one of the clasps underwater if the edge of it catches on something like your BC, gloves, or wetsuit, whatever. 

[Bobby_M]

The clasps don't open very easily at all because they use springs for tension. If you install the catch at the correct distance, it takes a bit of force to close the latch as well as open them.

I have a lot of dives on this housing and I've never unlatched by accident. For sure, you can build any redundant safety into it as you'd like.

[jcub231]

Can you possibly find any latches at home depot

[jdpphotography]

Found something similar on Lowe's website.... National Steel Draw Hasp Item #: 168962 Model: DPB35 $3.37 each

[Bobby_M]

Plain steel will rust pretty quickly unless you wash it well with plain water and dry it quickly.