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[PSUBS-MAILIST] a-455 steel

Help :
I have just been offered a steel  tank that has the makings of a shallow  diving sub . It is around 41 inches in dia and about 18 feet long .It is made of A-455 steel 5/16th thick, which is a recommended pressure vessel steel. I would shorten the shell to around 8 to 10ft. and place the T- bands every 24 inches. but that is the problem. I am not located in an industrial area and have been unable to find any information on welding this type of steel. I think the tank is very similar to what Dan Brewer started with. If anyone can provide any insight it will be a great help. the tank is old but a mechanical engineer told me that is not a bad thing as time has most likely stress relieved it, but inspect it for corrosion. This will not be a problem after I cut one end off (so much for the stress relief). 
Jim it good to see you progressing so well with your project . I know this is your busy time at work, but should make another trip west you are welcome here.
thanks
Randy
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2008 5:20 PM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Frank's pics

Hi Frank,
 
The pictures look great! Nice sanding work.
 
If you are going to fill the tubes with weight I may have an idea. I use steel shot in my shotblasting business and am able to buy new steel shot for under 50 cents per pound. If you filled the tubes with 100% solids epoxy resin and shot you would gain more weight as well as limit the rusting issue.
 
A 50 gallon drum weighs a ton, so by my rough calculations that is a density of about .15 pounds per cubic inch and a bit more for the epoxy. I may be able to help you with some left over odd batches of epoxy.
 
Best Regards,
 
Jim K
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2008 5:27 PM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Frank's pics

    Hi guys. Here's 4 new pics of the never ending body work. It took me about 1 1/2 days to make the steel frame for the front end ( still just tacked together. Another day or so to finish welding and adding the gussets ) and then back to the foam. ( Ya, another month long gig.) 
The tubes making up the front and rear structure will be filled with oil to add weight, and prevent corrosion on the inside. I had a hair brained idea of filling them with Li-ion batteries, but the cost would be many thousands !
  The front fairing is starting to take shape, but it's a slow process while I wait for the multiple coats of mud to dry. Still, I'm getting better at it. What a pain getting the back fairing off the frame ! Guess I got a little crazy with the glue.
    As you can see, when it's done, glassed, and installed, the back fairing will be attached with hinges at the front. That way I can access the 120 cu. ft. air tank strapped under there, and inspect the plumbing and paint and what ever else may need attention.
With a little wrenching, all the stuff attached to the hull comes right off so if I want to add something or fix the paint or what ever, a couple hours and I'm down to a bare hull.
I have a long range plan to replace the whole rear section/ballast assembly with a modular section encompassing an on-board diesel, fuel tanks, gen set, and more batteries. All in a pressure compensated tank. ( Damn, I'm gonna need a bigger truck ! ) I'll need to put a hatch on that section as well, that's large enough to get the equipment in and out.
Haven't spent any time yet on specifics, but I have a picture in my head of how it might all come together.
   The front end is similar in that it can be changed out with a modular unit, but with the windows there, the options are some what limited. ( I'm really not that keen on the shape of it right now, but I didn't want to block the view.) Anyway, take a look and feel free to comment. I love the input I get from you guys. Frank D.



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