Non metallic, semi-strucural skin ideas?

Finishes, paints and coatings

Non metallic, semi-strucural skin ideas?

Postby theskyking123 » Sat Sep 21, 2019 8:06 am

I have access to a metal shop and am building a steel frame. What are some ideas for a durable exterior skin? I would like to try to avoid aluminum. Thank you!
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Re: Non metallic, semi-strucural skin ideas?

Postby Squigie » Sat Sep 21, 2019 9:39 am

Laid fiberglass.
Fiberglass panels.
'Glassed plywood.
Epoxied plywood.
Strip wood.
Carbon fiber.
HDPE.
Epoxied leather.
Tensioned duck cloth.

The sky is the limit...
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Re: Non metallic, semi-strucural skin ideas?

Postby theskyking123 » Sat Sep 21, 2019 10:46 am

Thanks. We have chemical sensitivity.... Any idea which of the materials you listed would have the least off gassing?
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Re: Non metallic, semi-strucural skin ideas?

Postby pchast » Sat Sep 21, 2019 8:52 pm

canvas
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Re: Non metallic, semi-strucural skin ideas?

Postby Squigie » Sat Sep 21, 2019 9:17 pm

The least off-gassing?...
Untreated wood.
HDPE.
Or, possibly, pre-cured panels. (Fiberglass, carbon fiber, etc.)
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Re: Non metallic, semi-strucural skin ideas?

Postby theskyking123 » Sat Sep 21, 2019 10:03 pm

Are there any links for which kind of:
Canvas
Carbon fiber
Hdpe

People are using? I have found these products online but I am not sure if they are the right ones for this application. Do we have some product links which people have used successfully?
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Re: Non metallic, semi-strucural skin ideas?

Postby theskyking123 » Mon Sep 23, 2019 10:52 pm

bump
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Re: Non metallic, semi-strucural skin ideas?

Postby swoody126 » Tue Sep 24, 2019 7:04 am

theskyking123 wrote:Thanks. We have chemical sensitivity.... Any idea which of the materials you listed would have the least off gassing?


theskyking123, this can be quite serious for many

your profile doesn't list where you are/will be building

you haven't shared what type of facility you intend to work in

i have followed several threads where folks who virtually build their entire projects outside/under tarp structures w/ fans

their MO is to use positive flow respirators and wear Tyvek suits & Nitrile gloves

it can be done

carbon fibre and fibre glass both use a resin(most commonly epoxy) which does irritate some

IMHO if you are bound to a garage type structure and are not willing to/interested in encapsulating yourselves for protection you are left w/ using bonding agents like TiteBond II("water resistant") TiteBond III("waterproof") and PL Premium 3x("waterproof" and finishing w/ latex house paint NONE OF WHICH ARE WRONG

i personally build in a barn situated so the prevailing breeze flows straight thru it and assist said breeze w/ FANS

my mixing table is at the outflow end of the barn

i never even start to use bonding agents w/o donning my Nitrile gloves and i wear eye protection(OSHA approved corrective eyewear) when i'm awake

help us out here and provide more/specific information

sw
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