So I Want To Make A Submarine For My Pond....

[Doris]

Hi everyone,

Am currently working on making a small pond in my garden out if an old water tank and want to make a Submarine bobbing above the surface (better than a heron besides it). I'll probably turn the thing on my lathe and use a piece of oak Ive had knocking about for years.

My question is how would I make something out of wood watertight so it doesn't take on water or lose its paint finish?

There won't be any fish in the pond so don't really need to worry about chemicals etc. There will be a couple of Lillie's though.

Thanks everyone

 

[Jonzjob]

Cover it with polyester resin grp but let the resin gas off all of the styrene gas before putting it in the water or it will go white after a time. That will take 2 to 3 weeks, but it will be fairly well bullet proof as far as the water is concerned.

 

[Lazurus]

Watch the recent Axminster turning youtube vide on on turning fishing lures, should be just what you need

 

[Suffolkboy]

Turn it out of plastic rather than wood?

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/threads/gold-mallet-milk-bottle-mallet.114399/page-3#post-1276923

 

[Jameshow]

Epoxy is a better sealant for wood.

You will need some weights in it or on its belly so it sinks.

Cheers James

 

[lurker]

How to, here

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00syt1w

 

[lurker]

But....... I seem to remember your better half building some rather nice toy aeroplanes that were a similar shape . Minus wings of course.

Paint has to be yellow doesn't it?

 

[Doris]

Watch the recent Axminster turning youtube vide on on turning fishing lures, should be just what you need

I shall certainly give that a look. Thank you

Turn it out of plastic rather than wood?

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/threads/gold-mallet-milk-bottle-mallet.114399/page-3#post-1276923

Interesting idea. I'm not really a fan of turning with plastic, it seems rather messy and the shavings I can't exactly burn in the fire. I admire people who do it though.

Epoxy is a better sealant for wood.

You will need some weights in it or on its belly so it sinks.

Cheers James

I'm thinking of attaching some concrete shoes to it rather than the belly as I think it may roll over anyway and I short of have this idea of it staying in one spot in the pond.

How to, here

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00syt1w

lol

But....... I seem to remember your better half building some rather nice toy aeroplanes that were a similar shape . Minus wings of course.

Paint has to be yellow doesn't it?

Yes he did. I don't want to paint it yellow though, looking at making a steampunk one, so either gold or copper coloured

 

[Torx]

Here’s a suggestion: leave the bottom open and partially submerge it with a weight on rods (or something), then suck the air out so the water rises. Then the fish can pop in and drive the submarine and you can see them through the windows.