Water tight storage

[farnet]

Hi Guys,

I have a bit of a poser;

I have got quite far with my bunker building but I have a fear that anything stored down there, could, if the pump fails get destroyed due to being well below the water table in the winter.

Searched all over the shop and finding proper watertight storage for anything larger that a small camera is nigh on impossible, the limit is the container being watertight whist under 3 1/2 meters of water for a period of a couple of days (at least).

have any of you guys in your hunter gatherer responsibilities found anything that might do the job.

Long term I am hoping to get a full battery backup, and redundant pump facility, but with the additional issue of sub zero temp that could freeze the water in the pipe, I'm just wanting to hedge my bets until I am truly happy with the facility.

[korolev]

You need to be aware that pressure at 3.5m is about 1.3 times normal atmospheric pressure so the water is going to be even more keen to get in to your goodies so something that seems watertight at the surface can leak when submerged.
You might be able to get a dry-suit maker to make you a large bag with a zip and an auto-air valve on it (when the pressure inside goes up, the valve releases air).

[sniper 55]

I'm sure I've seen large drums with a "water tight" top somewhere. Indeed a very quick google search found these.
http://www.solentplastics.co.uk/marine- ... egs-drums/
The big question is how waterproof they are.

[farnet]

You need to be aware that pressure at 3.5m is about 1.3 times normal atmospheric pressure so the water is going to be even more keen to get in to your goodies so something that seems watertight at the surface can leak when submerged.
You might be able to get a dry-suit maker to make you a large bag with a zip and an auto-air valve on it (when the pressure inside goes up, the valve releases air).

Hey Korolev, I'm a member of BSAC and do a lot of scuba diving,you are absolutely right and it's the pressure that concerns me, I need something that would stay sealed in the equivalent of two atmospheres (2 Bar), and that seems to be tricky, only need something the size of a briefcase (and get multiples of it), but the only place I've seen wants $100's for a basic one.

[farnet]

I'm sure I've seen large drums with a "water tight" top somewhere. Indeed a very quick google search found these.
http://www.solentplastics.co.uk/marine- ... egs-drums/
The big question is how waterproof they are.

brilliant, when I get home I will have a look

[grenfell]

Are these sort of things any good? I've a couple off these but I'm sure I never paid anywhere near this much .
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mortar-Shell ... 2aa390263b

[farnet]

Are these sort of things any good? I've a couple off these but I'm sure I never paid anywhere near this much .
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mortar-Shell ... 2aa390263b

Grenfell, that is excellent and good fun, its worth just getting one and putting a few lead weights (plastic coated for diving, don't want to kill the fish) in is and dropping it into my pond (it's about 6ft deep) and I can leave that in test for various amounts of time.

ooo that that is cool, taa for finding that, wont fit the task I actually need it for, but the possibilities for other devices / first aid / water sensitive stuff is endless.

[farnet]

just seen these, but do you think customs might get a bit twitchy having 4 of them delivered from the USA?

https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product ... 11&jb=4476

[grenfell]

Are these sort of things any good? I've a couple off these but I'm sure I never paid anywhere near this much .
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mortar-Shell ... 2aa390263b

Grenfell, that is excellent and good fun, its worth just getting one and putting a few lead weights (plastic coated for diving, don't want to kill the fish) in is and dropping it into my pond (it's about 6ft deep) and I can leave that in test for various amounts of time.
.

As I say I've got a couple but I've frankly never considered whether they'd be waterproof under pressure so it'd be interesting to see the results , if only I had a pond...
They are a bit limiting in size and shape , unless you want to store mortar shells I guess , and I also brought ( for some reason lost to me) a dual 81mm shell case which is probably of even less use.
Along the same lines it might be worth looking at a builders merchants for soil pipes and end caps and construct your own to whatever length you wish , this sort of thing for instance ,
https://www.screwfix.com/p/floplast-sp2 ... 10mm/22628

[ForgeCorvus]

I've experience with containers such as the ones Sniper linked to.

The white ones with a red lid will hold moisture sensitive materials (dry power or granules) for over two years with no ill affects, this while sitting on a shelf in a steel building .

The blue drums with a black lid and a metal clamping ring will keep volatile solvent vapors in, even when the outside temperatures hit high twenties with the drums in full sun (although a couple fell over due to the bottoms bulging, I'm not sure what kind of pressure built up inside)