DIY snorkel

[zepplin]

Total cost - R 678-00 & five evening's work.

[Dadz Toy BFI]

Very very neat Steve, well done pal

Won't you tell us more about the materials used please;

what you used and why you chose it

[Mud Dog]

I'm guessing you used metal tubing?

[zepplin]

It's actually 75mm s&v pvc pipe. (the white plumbing pipe you can get from most hardwares). I originally tried 75 mm black pvc conduit (to avoid having to paint it) but found the wall thickness not to be uniform & the pipe more oval than round. The problem with these issues was that because I decided to follow the lines of the A-pillar & bonnet slope (for aesthetic reasons), I needed to cut & join rather than bend. With the angles involved the 'ovalness' proved to be a problem.
The joining was done using pvc weld with a drying time of 24hrs before working it again(hence the week of work). It remains to be seen how robust the joins will be but it is well braced with two mounting points (aluminium flatbar riveted to the body & snorkel).
A metal pipe will be the next option should this one not hold together.

Orders anyone?????

[Dadz Toy BFI]

Nice Steve, the Snorkel market certainly needs a shake up - prices are hugely inflated nê :!:

Thanks for sharing

[OOOOMS]

Very nice indeed Steve, if I did'nt have one already you would have had my order.....

Regards!

[Mud Dog]

It will be interesting to see how well the butt jointed PVC holds. Essentially PVC-Weld is intended for lap-joints, and even then I have been able to seperate bonded surfaces by gentle shocking with a hammer. What is therefore going to be critical is the rigidity of your mountings, so that the joints are not subjected to flexing. I really hope that it holds, because you've done a nice neat job that's taken a lot of time. Let us know after your next off-road / gravel road trip how it has held up.

[Gertc]

zepplin Nice job. where did you get the snorkel hat?

[pietpetoors]

a Job well done. It looks great.

I always wondered why nobody use steel pipe like the stuff they use for exhausts to built a snorkel.
I once saw this one on a Landy in Langebaan.
So if the PVC weld joints do not last, why not try steel?

[CasKru]

...... Orders anyone?????

Yes... now go make us coffee....

Great job. Must say this is the best looking DIY one I've seen. The only thing I'm wondering about (except for the PVC weld issue) is what did you paint it with? Reason I ask is if you do trails and sort of have to push your way through some narrow passage, is the paint going to last cause I'm guessing any scratches is going to stand out being white enol

[Thabogrobler]

Why Butt weld/glue, when you can bend it???

[zepplin]

All legitimate conerns gents, which I have taken into consideration! I decided to go the pvc route first due to cost. To make one out of metal would leave you with a rust problem at the coast unless you went with stainless. There are not too many shops bending 75mm pipe & those that do have a very 'lazy' bend. You can buy 'tighter' bends but they are ridiculously expensive.
I was quoted R1300-00 just for the pipe to be made up.

It is a work in progress & I'll update you as things develop.

(Made it to the shops yesterday & it's still ok so I have high hopes)

[Mud Dog]

I've also thought about heat bending, Thabo. But on a large diameter pipe you'll need to accomplish a fair amount of extrusion without deforming the pipe. On the smaller stuff one gets the insert springs so as to support the pipe form from within after which the spring is removed. I have'nt seen such springs for large diameter pipes, but I was once told of a 'trick' that would work, and that was to fill the pipe with sand before bending. Has anyone ever tried this? Also, what is the diameter of the socket on the snorkel hats?

[ThysdJ]

Well done Steve. It looks great. As long as it is fitted securely and it is not subjected to unnecessary flexing the "welds" should last. I trust you fixed it to the vehicle above and below the joint? That way the bend would be pretty much protected from flexing too much.

[zepplin]

The snorkel hood fits the 75mm pipe perfectly. I tried the heat bending with sand inside & dicovered you need eight hands & the speed of a mamba.

[Mud Dog]

The snorkel hood fits the 75mm pipe perfectly. I tried the heat bending with sand inside & dicovered you need eight hands & the speed of a mamba.

[zepplin]

Donaldson in Cape Town won't sell directly but referred me to a distributor. Sizes are 76, 101, 127, 152, 177mm. 76mm was R 349-64 ex VAT.

[Thabogrobler]

I've also thought about heat bending, Thabo. But on a large diameter pipe you'll need to accomplish a fair amount of extrusion without deforming the pipe. On the smaller stuff one gets the insert springs so as to support the pipe form from within after which the spring is removed. I have'nt seen such springs for large diameter pipes, but I was once told of a 'trick' that would work, and that was to fill the pipe with sand before bending. Has anyone ever tried this? Also, what is the diameter of the socket on the snorkel hats?

Yes DRY(like in oven dried) builders sand and then slowly heat the pipe and bend! Ask an oldish plumber for some help...

[derikDJ]

Total cost - R 678-00 & five evening's work.

Very well done! Where did you get the hood?

Regards

Derik

[zepplin]

Geyt hold of Donaldson Filtration up there & they'll put you on to a dealer. Not sure if you can get directly from them there. Here you can't.

[Asterix]

Great job Steve!

I think PVC weld should last - I did a couple of nasty things with that already.

[BenHur]

One reason I can think not to use steel is obviously weight

[Mud Dog]

I've seen metal ones that I suspect were also DIY, but I'd be more inclined to think about rust before weight, especially here at the coast. Galvanising is of course a prohibitave measure, but despite the products available for coating onto galvanised metal, my experience is that these coatings are prone to chipping and peeling, which makes galvanising less attractive. PVC / plastics are still the better options IMO.

[zepplin]

The snorkel has survived a trip up the R355, via Uitspankraal to Wupertal. Then via Eselbank on the jeep track back to Ceres with no problem. Seems the PVC weld is holding together.

[Mud Dog]

Great stuff! I'm glad for your sake that my original fears were unfounded, especially after all the work you put into it!

[Asterix]

Hey Steve.
Thanks for the feedback and glad it worked

[Hi-Hilux]

Looks gr8! Any pics of where and how you mounted it to the body?

[Birdingou]

Zeplin,
Wel done on the Snorkel, I agree their must be gold in the Plastic!!!
I am interested how you joined the snorkel with the filter ?
Perhaps some pics on the area?

[zepplin]

I used a silicon reducer from Midas (R50) & two hose clamps.

[pampoen]

Look just a thought but what bout the rubber intake hose one uses under the bonnet?,and just use 90&45 deg couplers from your local plumb shop.

[Mud Dog]

The silicon rubber will be able to withstand the heat under the bonnet. The plastic / polypropylene / PVC fittings from plumbers outlets are not designed to handle heat and might deform / collapse.

[Vla-Wa]

Donaldson in Cape Town won't sell directly but referred me to a distributor. Sizes are 76, 101, 127, 152, 177mm. 76mm was R 349-64 ex VAT.

Can you PM the distributers number to me please, Im also in need of a snorkel hat, by the way it looks great, mine is also home made but yours is looking good.

[zepplin]

Wikus, I'll get the number tomorrow when I drive past & send it to you. Probably best to get hold of Donaldson in Gauteng & ask them for a distribution agent closer to you.