----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, December 02, 2000 1:05
AM
Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Newbie
I am a Newbie to this sub stuff so bear with me.
My friends and I were thinking of building a sub to go 20ft or so. We thought
of making it out of one of those galvanized drainage pipes 4ft tall and 10ft
long. If someone could tell me if this would work I would appreciate it and
how I could seal stuff and ideas on how to sink it. If I am going to kill
myself I want to know.
Hi Stuart! Welcome to
WATERWORLD! ;-)
The first thing about your plan that rings an
alarm bell in my puny little metal-melting mind is the word GALVANIZED.
Braddah, this is bad stuff to be torch-cutting and/or welding
on! It gives off POISONOUS fumes, and also puts cruddy deposits
into the puddle. Every textbook and experienced welder I know of will
tell you DON'T DO IT.
Now, I'm one of those guys who sometimes just
can't seem to go along with the program. I've torched and welded small
galvanized pieces many times in my life; always in open-air ventilation, and
with extra measures taken (fans, fresh-air mask) to keep from breathing the
stuff. But it produces a less-than-perfect weld, and still aint
recommended for reasons of operator safety.
In your case, it sounds like you're talking about
making the majority of your P-hull out of galvanized; that's going to involve
a lot of welding inside and outside the tube: plenty of chances to get gassed;
and ask yourself if you want less than the cleanest welds you can get for
your P-hull.
At PSUBS, we've all discussed using available
items as the basis for pressure hulls; sometimes it can be done; but I think
you'll find the general overview in the archives concluded that one is going
to spend a lot of money on a submarine whether he starts with a salvaged item
or not; and therefore, it might make sense to go the whole nine yards, spend a
couple more bucks, and have your hull-blank formed by a metal fabrication
shop, because it won't cost all that much more in the long run, and you'll
have the peace of mind of knowing what your boat is based on.
I'm not saying you can't turn a salvaged piece
into a pressure hull; nor am I saying don't do that; but I am going to
recommend that you don't start with something that's
galvanized.
Hope this helps.
Very best regards,
Pat