From: "Peter Madsen" <peter@submarines.dk>
Reply-To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] UC3 rollout
Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2007 01:07:53 +0200
No doubt, sandblasting is the best. Thats why C. Standfuss uses it. We are
making a compromise, since we are not able to sandblast all the inside and
outside areas - so we grind and brush and clean our surfaces and apply the
epoxy with a brush - and that is - surprisingly the very best way of
getting it into the surface. I expect paint work every 3th years - if you
do it rigth with the sandblasting and everything - the three years may
become ten or more.
We use the epoxy as primer and apply antifouling on submerged surfaces -
and since this is a submarine - that means all the outside - including the
freeboard. Its a type caled Hempel hard Racing, and you do not get black
when in contact with it. Inside tanks we use epoxy only. No light means no
fouling.
Kraka can be serviced - but its a big work - that is done for now. Freya
has been decomissioned and is awaiting whatever may be her ultimate faith
at her pier. She is no longer being maintained and all enviromentaly
problematic things have been removed. Har most likely faith is for use as
diverwreck.
Regards,
Peter
----- Original Message -----
From: Brent Hartwig
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Sent: Saturday, July 21, 2007 12:04 AM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] UC3 rollout
Peter,
I have in the past spent a fair bit of time looking at what pictures I
have available to me on Kraka, and learned allot from the doing. I liked so
much of the design work that went into Kraka. I wasn't sure tell now, if
you could unbolt the exterior plates and tanks, since it looked to me like
you couldn't. I figured it would be a rust nightmare unless they were
modified. It's good to know that the UC3 will be easier to maintain. I've
seen a fair number of PSUB's that didn't have good access to the tanks and
other areas for corrosion and general maintenance. Are you thinking of
using a anti-fowling paint on the inside of the tanks on top of the base
epoxy paint?
I take it that your using the same epoxy paint, as primer and finish
paint? Are you using a metal prep cleaner like the ones that have
hydrochloric acid in them, to stop any oxidation and etch the metal surface
before painting?
I've been using MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) to remove any oils on the
metals surface before painting. I've had some trouble getting chemical
gloves that the MEK won't eat through. For sandblasting I'm going to start
using fused copper slag, that I can get out of Canada. From what I've been
told by a local metal dock builder, the copper oxide is allot better for
your health then silica sand. The product is called Kleen Blast.
http://www.kleenblast.com/
Regards,
Brent Hartwig
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Peter Madsen" <peter@submarines.dk>
Reply-To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] UC3 rollout
Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2007 22:37:29 +0200
Brent,
Paint...
One of the big problems with Freya and Kraka is our reliance regarding
corrotion control - especially on Freya. The visible hull was never a big
problem but inside the trim and main ballast tanks the volumes are so
cramped that paint work is close to impossible. This spring Kraka was cut
in pieces to get in and fix this in all critical spaces - but its very
difficult and expensive in hours.
UC3 is different. All tanks, seawater, freshwater, fuel - all have man
holes. All can be painted. All parts of the pressurehull are accessible on
both sides. The whole deck on the casing is mounted with stainless bolts -
and can be removed for inspection. Even the sail can be un mounted in this
way. This means she can be easily maintained over the years.
We use a special epoxy paint. It comes with no reactive solvents - so
no gas masks are needed - and the tools can be cleaned with white spirit or
even warm soap water. It is applied with a brush, and each layer gives
about 400 my. Depending on the use we add different pigments - e.g. inside
the boat the white paint is the epoxy with 30 % titanium dioxide - the best
covering white paint I have ever used. Other places we use the paint with
other pigments - depending on the environment.
The finish is not like a car - the best name for the product would be
"tank primer heavy" - but its is having very good adhesion - even on non
sandblasted surfaces - and is exceptionally watertight. And in our business
- that's what paint are fore.
As for welding...
- UC3 is almost entirely made form high tensile carbon steal - a type
known as
EN S355J2G3 - roughly similar to DIN 17100 St 52. The fact that it is
indeed high tensile steal is felt when we bend it - it feels about as
stubborn as stainless steal. Its is welded with a high power MIG welding
machine with a thread that is 1.5 mm diam and is hollow - it contains some
material that protects the meltbath. It gives an exceptionally productive
welder - we can make a meter of 15 mm seam in about 15 minutes. The intence
heat from the process melts down plastic glasses on our welding masks - so
we use mineral glass helmets only. Its also makes for very smooth and good
looking welding. In other words - I am not tired of anything but waiting to
launch this boat.
To make a project - big or small - is about dedication. What I have
enjoyed during this process is that I have never felt it was boring or to
much or felt that I lacked motivation. To me as an individual - its like
going to the moon - its like the Apollo project was to the United States as
a nation - so I frankly love doing it.
I would wish for all on this list - that if you haven't already build
one - then start tomorrow - because creating a ship, submarine or homemade
spacecraft of any kind is simply wonderful.
Regards,
Peter
----- Original Message -----
From: Brent Hartwig
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 9:14 PM
Subject: RE: [PSUBS-MAILIST] UC3 rollout
Hello Captain Peter,
We are waiting with baited breath for your UC3 Pictures. Perhaps I
should just fly over there and take them myself. ; )' The group will pay
for my trip, right guys? It would likely be cheaper to ship a new camera to
you, but not as much fun. I think I know why you don't have a digital
camera. That 44" prop drained your life savings, unless you found it at
sea, while on Kraka.
What type of primer and paint are you planning to use on the UC3?
Are you tired of welding yet?
Cheers,
Brent Hartwig
"Those that say it can't be done, should get out of the way of
those doing it"
"If you don't have a vision, then your reality will always be
determined by other's perceptions."
- Melanëe Addison
" Do, or Do Not, there is no try."
~Yoda
"Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others. "
-- Groucho
Marx
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