----- Original Message ----- 
          
          
          Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2005 
          12:59 PM
          Subject: RE: [PSUBS-MAILIST] 
          Stainless hatch ring
          
          Brian,
           
          I think you're fine as is. The one 
          that's really nice to have in stainless is the ring that your hatch 
          lands on, because in getting in and out you scratch tha paint very 
          easily there. But that said, all the home built subs I've seen so far 
          have steel lands due to the cost of a large stainless ring. The "pro" 
          subs have SS there, we just repaint. 
           
          rgds,
           
          Alec
          
            
            
            When I put together my domed hatch ( in my machining 
            class)  I first had the hemisphere fabricated and then I had a 
            2" ring welded to the edge of the 
            hemisphere.    At the time I was not really 
            clear on how everything was going to come together and now in 
            hind sight I realize that the 2" ring that I welded on should 
            have been stainless steel instead of what I used.  
             
            My question is,  can I fabricate a stainless 
            ring and connect it to what I have now ?   I could 
            remove some of that material ( the ring part ) which is 3/4" 
            thick so as to reduce the weight.  I'm afraid if I don't make 
            that ring part thinner the hatch will be too dam heavy.
             
            If I do add this new stainless ring should I just weld it to 
            the existing ring?  and then put it in a giant lathe and 
            machine it true?
             
            Here is a picture of the hatch cover:
             
            
             
            Thanks 
             
            Brian