Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Basic starting points

["D. Blake" <dblake@bright.net>]

Here's an example of one possible supplier:
http://www.labargepipe.com/Default.htm
When looking for a supplier, you should look for one located nearest you for
obvious reasons.  The shipping could cost more than the material!  If you
have access to a truck and/or trailer, you could pick it up yourself.  At
any rate, you still have to figure out a way of moving it around once you
get it back to your place.  Dale could probably give some helpful advice.
TTYL,
Big Dave

-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Horne <chris@chrishorne.com>
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Date: Wednesday, August 30, 2000 8:15 PM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Basic starting points


>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
>