3.5m HDPE jetboat

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by HDPE JET BOAT, Oct 9, 2012.

  1. HDPE JET BOAT
    Joined: Oct 2012
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    HDPE JET BOAT Junior Member

    i started a wee HDPE jet boat a while back

    i have thermoformed the intake as well
     

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    2 people like this.
  2. Petros
    Joined: Oct 2007
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    Petros Senior Member

    that is really interesting. How are you forming it? heat gun? are you using forms, or just allowing it to take shape based on the shape of the panels? are you heat welding it, or using adhesive bond. IF so, what type of glue?
     
  3. thudpucker
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    thudpucker Senior Member

    Yes I'm tantalized by your progress.
    Where'd you get all that PE?
    Did it come in sheets?
    How'd you glue it together?
    I'm sure a lot of us would like to hear about that operation.
     
  4. HDPE JET BOAT
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    HDPE JET BOAT Junior Member

    Yea 15mm sheets for bottom and 6mm sides, welded together with extrusion welder, ive got a few vids i could post if ya keen
     
  5. HDPE JET BOAT
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    HDPE JET BOAT Junior Member


    Tried folding it in break press but memory too good and it flattened out again so we made a heating bar to bend it
     
  6. HDPE JET BOAT
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    HDPE JET BOAT Junior Member

    weld test: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCze-nHzh_A
     

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  7. jonr
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    jonr Senior Member

    Now there is a boat that won't be corroding, rusting, blistering or cracking.
     
  8. HDPE JET BOAT
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    HDPE JET BOAT Junior Member

    unit looks real good, very happy with how it has worked out
     

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  9. thudpucker
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    thudpucker Senior Member

    I listened as an old friend who worked for a company making Pipe of HDPE.
    Mclearn I think. Google it.

    Clean, clean clean....all the parts must be scraped and fitted very well. You cannot use any kind of chemical cleaner, as it leaves a residue. He had the 'company' stuff. Maybe a search could find out what Chemical Cleaner is good for HDPE.

    Gene told me they used a Heat range of 450 degrees for the thin stuff, and over 600 for the thicker wall.

    The heating was Electric.
    However you can use a torch to heat a stainless foot for contact heating.
    The propane torch, with the flame directly on the HDPE wont work either. It leaves a residue.
    There is an Industrial 450 Degree Blow Dryer. That will work well too.

    All the parts going together must be heated to the same temp, and fitted together at the same time, and cooled down in the ambient air at the same time.

    No Water. You cannot work it the rain.

    It's really strong stuff too.
    At one site, they welded two 20' lengths of pipe together. Then a big Cat pulled the line 20' and they welded another 20' section to the pipe. The Cat Pulled the line another 20'

    They did that for 9 miles. That Pipe was 9 miles long. The Pipe held together being pulled by one end, 9 miles long. It's really strong stuff!

    At one site they ran over a section of pipe, flattened it.
    By the end of the work day, the flattened pipe had restored itself to Round again.
    It has a great memory. You have to Reshape it with heat.

    I hope that helps all of us to work with assorted scraps of HDPE. Rejected Bbl's, Buckets and the like can be made into handy objects using the same approach.
     
  10. Jeremy Harris
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    Jeremy Harris Senior Member

    I really like this thread - it's great to see an alternative material being used so well. It's prompted me to look at HDPE welding and it seems there are some budget systems available that use heated low pressure compressed air fed to a welding gun nozzle that work really well.

    The stuff looks ideal for a boat that will get abraded, hit the bottom, rocks etc from time to time. I guess the only real downside is weight, it looks to be quite heavy at the thickness needed to get adequate stiffness. I'm sorely tempted to get some, together with one of the budget hot air welders, and see what it's like to work with though.
     
  11. thudpucker
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    thudpucker Senior Member

    There are so many Barrels, Buckets, Laundry product containers that can be used for 'projects' that will last forever.
    Just an interesting learning curve.

    Post some photos if you get started on something.
     
  12. jonr
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    jonr Senior Member

    I've done hot air welding on HDPE (although somewhat thinner) and I find it quite similar to TIG welding.
     
  13. thudpucker
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    thudpucker Senior Member

    I don't know what TIG welding is. Or MIG either. I did own a Gas Welding setup but sold it all long ago.
    I did see where somebody sells 'rod's' for HDPE. But I thought maybe just cutting off some scraps would serve as 'Rods' eh?
     
  14. HDPE JET BOAT
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    HDPE JET BOAT Junior Member

    a 15mm sheet weight about 64.8kg, to get the weight you work out volume 3000mm x 1500mm x 15mm x 0.96

    the whole hull will weight about 120-130kg
     

  15. HDPE JET BOAT
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    HDPE JET BOAT Junior Member

    ill put a vid up of welding process tonight, you will understand it more ;)
     
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