[PSUBS-MAILIST] cheap syntactic foam

[T Novak via Personal_Submersibles]

Hi Hank,

 

While at Nuytco in 2014 Alan and I had a short conversation about using solid oak as a syntactic foam alternative.  Heavier above the surface than the foam, so a larger volume below the surface than the foam would be required.  Still a lot cheaper, though.  Why not cover the wood (oak or ply) with a single layer of fiberglass cloth and resin?  It wouldn’t be difficult to depth test a piece.

Tim

 

From: Personal_Submersibles [mailto:personal_submersibles-bounces at psubs.org] On Behalf Of hank pronk via Personal_Submersibles
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2016 3:10 PM
To: Personal Submersibles General Discussion <personal_submersibles at psubs.org>
Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] cheap syntactic foam

 

In an effort to come up with a cheap solution to creating buoyancy-I did some pressure testing on different ideas.  I have had success with sanded plywood, I tested bare plywood, and plywood coated with gel coat.  Not surprisingly   the bare wood almost doubled in weight but remained buoyant and is still drying out. The wood seems to be holding the water permanently.  The test with gel coat was a total success.   After one hr at 800psi the weight is exactly the same.  For every two pounds of plywood you get one pound of buoyancy.   I have ordered trawl floats for my new deep diver  but I thought it would be an interesting experiment.

Hank

! 

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