Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] But seriously, folks...

[Chris Nugent <dirkpitt77@yahoo.com>]

      HELL yeah!

     Well said, Pat.  I think that was just the thing
some of us beginners needed...
   I'd like to add kinda a footnote to it, if I may.
Seems to me there are two pretty distinct "classes",
if you will, to the Psubs hierarchy here.  There are
those of us who are the beginners, like I said, just
having conceived this idea and wondering about the
best ways to get started while we plug away at some
other day job n school, who I imagine are a bit
younger.  There are also those of us who are a little
more seasoned, having a career in marine industry and
who know quite a bit more about marine engineering and
hydro-dynamics and the like, who have "graduated"
beyond propane tanks and nerf torpedoes.  I myself
must confess to being one of the former.  I saw a pic
of Phil Nuytten's Exosuit in an issue of Wired
magazine about a month ago, and remember thinking
"Hey, that's the guy whose posts I always see in the
Psubs group.  Wow, I'm in the company of greatness
here!"  It's kind of humbling.  So you guys can yak
about Ferro-cement and fiberglass all day long and
I'll have NO idea what you're talking about!  But
that's ok.  I'm sure I'll be doling out advice to new
Psubbers one day too....
     Anyway, I am finished now.  Think I'll go outside
n stare at my propane tank n daydream some more....

                                    Laters,

                                   Chris Nugent

--- Captain Nemo <vulcania@interpac.net> wrote:
> Howdy subbers, 
> 
> I seem to sense an apparent belief among some
> prospective sub builders that one must find
> something a pressure hull can be made out of: the
> ideally-sized propane tank, boiler, or the like. 
> There's also a lot of interest in alternative
> materials: fiberglass, composites, Ferro-cement,
> etc.  I wonder if this is because many folks either
> don't have much experience in steel fabrication;
> and/or see compound-curved steel structures as
> beyond their capabilities.  If that is the case, I'd
> like to offer the following (and forgive me if I'm
> stating the obvious here, but for the sake of those
> who might not know):
> 
> 1. Steel is wonderful stuff to work with!  True:
> it's oftentimes hot, cold, or sharp; and it's always
> heavy; but it's surprisingly versatile, and you'd be
> amazed at what you can make if you get yourself a
> torch, an arc welder, a couple grinders, and
> practice for a while.  Plus, steel is (in my own
> humble opinion) ideally suited for submarines which
> need to be heavy  to overcome displacement buoyancy.
>  You can make most of the parts you need for your
> submarine out of steel with only a few common tools,
> and at surprisingly little expense.
> 
> 2. As for the things you can't make by hand (those
> compound curves I mentioned earlier): open the phone
> book to STEEL FABRICATORS and you will probably find
> several shops in your area that have the equipment
> and stock to build just about anything you need!  
> 
> If you're having trouble getting your project off
> paper and into construction: get yourself some tools
> and start working with steel; and take some
> schematics of those parts you can't make to the
> local Steel Fab people, and see what kind of a deal
> they'll give you.  And don't be afraid to shop
> around.
> 
> Sure, paying to have someone else make a part for
> you is more expensive than making it yourself;
> however, if it's something you must have to achieve
> your goal, and you can't make it yourself, paying to
> have it fabricated is a good way to go.  (And then,
> the part you get will be brand new!)
> 
> People who build custom vehicles must usually spend
> money to get at least some of their parts, so don't
> hesitate to do the same with your PSUB.  You're
> going to find there aren't that many things you
> can't make yourself, so your expenditures on custom
> made items can be kept to a minimum.  And you can
> keep within your budget by buying them one piece at
> a time.   Put it on your credit card and/or take out
> a small loan to differ large cash-outlays.  Anyway
> you look at it, building a submarine is going to
> cost you something; but that doesn't have to be an
> insurmountable hurdle.  
> 
> The important thing is to get your project off paper
> and into construction.  "Rome wasn't built in a
> day", and building homemade subs is a long process
> of accomplishing many, many tasks which ultimately
> combine to become a finished project.  The "secret"
> (if there is one) is to get started, and keep going
> one step at a time.
> 
> My advice is: go buy that welding gear.  Welding is
> part art and part science: the science of how to
> fuse steel together can be learned through books
> available at your community college; but the art of
> actual welding is acquired through burning lots and
> lots of rods, and you can do that in your backyard
> or garage.  Don't be intimidated by working with
> steel; it's easy, enjoyable, and immensely
> satisfying!  GET IT ON!!!  
> 
> And call those Steel Fab shops!  The sooner you
> start producing and assembling parts, the sooner you
> will turn your submersible dream into reality.
> 
> Again, forgive me if I'm stating the obvious here;
> but it seems to me these are essential truths some
> folks might not fully realize or respond accordingly
> to.
> 
> I just want to see you all get your boats into the
> water, because that's when the fun REALLY starts!
> 
> KEEP ON SUBBIN'  !!!
> 
> Pat Regan
> vulcania@interpac.net
> 

=====
"Noisy outside, empty inside." - Confucius
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