Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] In my search for a simple, cheap pressure hull ...

["Jeff Post" <jeffpost@ix.netcom.com>]

I think I would nearly impossible to build a practical hull shape using the
method suggested. It would be very difficult to achieve the roundness
required for a pressure hull.

If you would like to build a sub from fiberglass, I would suggest using a
cylindrical object such as a large cardboard tube used in the construction
industry for pouring concrete pilings. An ideal method would be to build a
jig to rotate the tube and wind fiberglass saturated with resin on to the
cylinder.

 (It would be interesting if someone could advise the group of approximately
how strong a hull made this way 1 inch thick... anyone??)

I think you will find that composites will be expensive for constructing a
PSub. It really will be much easier and less expensive to buy boiler parts
and pay for  some metalshop labor as required.

JP

----- Original Message -----
From: Michael B. Holt <mholt@richmond.edu>
To: PSUBS List <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: Saturday, November 03, 2001 11:29 AM
Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] In my search for a simple, cheap pressure hull ...


> I went to talk with Dermott, who lives three doors away.  Dermott is
> assembling parts for a helicopter, and we trade notes on the problems
> of high-end scavenging for expensive bits of metal.
>
> I asked him if he could fabricate for me frames of aluminum (his
> favorite metal for obvious reasons).  I explained that I wanted
> to build a faceted plywood hull (like Captain Nemo's Nautilus),
> and then render it circular by plastering it with fiberglass.
>
> Dermott suggested I build the frames out of aluminum, link them
> with "C-channel" riveted or welded to the frames, and then cover
> the whole with metal mesh.  Over the metal mesh would go the
> fiberglass.
>
> He warned me that using it might require the use of breathing
> gear because of the fumes from the chemicals.
>
> I think I remember reading about glass-over-metal mesh as a hull
> material.  I know a small German sub from the 1960s was almost
> like that.  But does anyone else recall a boat more recently
> made like this?  Maybe I'm remembering a buoy or something ....
>
>
>
>
> Mike