I concur with Vance. The keys to getting good clean SS tubing runs with Swagelok fittings are only use Swagelok benders, use the pre-swage tool rather than clamping the fitting directly in the vise and most importantly use a stiff piece of wire to bend out a template before touch the stainless. I use a piece of 10 AWG romex wire and bend at centerline but concede that 1/8 aluminum tig wire would work better. Using a template lets you bend out the hole piece at the bench top rather than the boat. I also like using there deburing tool.
CliffCliff Redus
Redus Engineering
USA Office: 830-663-6445
USA mobile: 830-931-1280
cliffordredus@sbcglobal.com
From: "vbra676539@aol.com" <vbra676539@aol.com>
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Sent: Monday, October 10, 2011 8:24 AM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Snoopy updates
For production work, Swagelok sells a pre-swage tool in various sizes. It is hard steel, much harder than stainless, which clamps into a vise on your bench. Lots easier (mostly) than fighting two wrenches or (god-forbid) a wrench and a crescent wrench. You do the same 1 1/4 turns, but having it steady in the vise makes life a lot easier. Using the pre-swage tool means all the torque goes to making your seal and is not inadvertently distributed onto other components as the system is built. Make it up outside, break it loose and when everything is ready, just go put the bits together. Works great, lasts forever, and well worth the additional outlay of cash.
Vance
PS: Swagelok sells their own bender. Very good ones.
-----Original Message-----
From: Alan James <alanjames@xtra.co.nz>
To: personal_submersibles <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: Sun, Oct 9, 2011 7:03 pm
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Snoopy updates
From: Alan James <alanjames@xtra.co.nz>
To: personal_submersibles <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: Sun, Oct 9, 2011 7:03 pm
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Snoopy updates
Hi Vance,
you are getting me confused now. Am no
plumber.
I thought all I did was stick the tube in the
swagelok fitting & do it
up 1&1/4 turns. Will take your advice on the
bender.
Alan
----- Original Message -----From: vbra676539@aol.comSent: Monday, October 10, 2011 10:29 AMSubject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Snoopy updatesI hope you bought mandrels for the swage ends. The females (tube end with nut and ferrule) are infinitely easier to form in a vise, and virtually eliminate galling and cross threading, among other things. Worth the investment if you haven't. Trust me on that. And no hardware store benders and cutters either. Buy the best up front. You'll be happier later. Good luck, mate.
Vance
-----Original Message-----
From: Alan James <alanjames@xtra.co.nz>
To: personal_submersibles <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: Sun, Oct 9, 2011 12:56 pm
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Snoopy updates
Timely advice Vance,Have just bought a heap of swagelok fittings (ouch expensive) & stainless tube.I'm using solenoid valves as well as a manually operated system for ballasts etc,so it's going to be looking like spaghetti.Alan----- Original Message -----From: vbra676539@aol.comSent: Monday, October 10, 2011 8:24 AMSubject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Snoopy updatesAlec,
Don't know if you're onto this trick, but when you get ready to re-plumb the high pressure air (as mentioned in the caption of one of those photos), we used to bend a template set out of 1/8" aluminum tig rod before committing to the stainless (which is very unforgiving, especially in small pieces, as you have already discovered). You can get your lengths and angle changes right to a gnat's hair with the rod, and do it on the cheap. Go centerline to centerline of your fittings, cutting to the depth required for your Swagelok fit-up, but remember to add/subtract an additional 1/8" to the tubing for arcs in stainless. Try it with a chunk of copper tube, if you like, but doing it before you do it for real is a definite improvement over the sweating and grunting while sitting in the sub. You'll get exactly what you need in stainless without wasting the HP tubing in the process, and you can build the whole thing on the bench--and it will fit like the proverbial champ.
Vance
-----Original Message-----
From: Smyth, Alec <Alec.Smyth@compuware.com>
To: personal_submersibles <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: Sat, Oct 8, 2011 8:05 pm
Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Snoopy updates
Yesterday I finally got to dive Snoopy extensively with all her new mods, and they worked like a charm. Therefore I thought I'd share...
The contents of this e-mail are intended for the named addressee only. It contains information that may be confidential. Unless you are the named addressee or an authorized designee, you may not copy or use it, or disclose it to anyone else. If you received it in error please notify us immediately and then destroy it.
