Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Basic starting points

[Chris Horne <chris@chrishorne.com>]

Let me expand this question;  The way I see it- we have a couple of
options:

    - I could find a pipe company, and hope they have
something the size I want, and was manufactured correctly for a pressure
hull,
and hope they use the correct material, then have the frames added
after it was shipped to me. I'd be looking for a scrap piece, I suppose.

    - I could find a company that manufactures pipes, and
try to find a company that already makes pipes that can be used as
pressure hull. I'd still have to find a local welder to do the frames

    - Lastly, find a company that can manufacture the
pressure hull as a whole, frames and all. I'm afraid this would be very
expensive, but have no idea what a company would even charge for this.

Any comments or suggestions? I realize that the pressure
hull is going to be the most expensive part of my sub, and it's not
possible
for me to build a 1/2" steel pipe, but what is possible? What does
everybody else do?

-chris

cjsubs@mindspring.com wrote:

> Hello everyone,
>
> I hope the subject wasn't too misleading--these may not be so "basic."
> My friend and I have been discussing building a psub for several years
> now and are gleaning as much info from all of you as possible.  But
> being a little short on experience and connections, one of the
> fundamental things we've kind of avoided thus far is how to actually go
> about obtaining a pressure hull.  I'd love to get info from many of you
> about where you went to get the material, how you found places to do
> your machining, welding, etc., and maybe even ballpark prices.  For
> example, were any of you able to find some sort of industrial piping
> from which you could take a section for the main P.H.?  Or did you have
> plates formed and welded together (seems a bit much for a small scale
> sub)?  As for end caps, same thing--is there anything existing that can
> be used, or must it all be custom made, and if so, where and for how
> much might one get that done?  Feel free to offer any and all info you
> have about this sort of thing.  As of right now, neither of us (myself
> or my friend) has the equipment or experience to do much of anything on
> our own, and I'm not sure how much that will change when it comes time
> to get started.  So all info is helpful.  Thanks.
>
> -Jeff Akins