Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

We are planning on skinning with Filon, but have a question. I can't seem to find the answer, but maybe I'm just not typing in the right search words...

If we skin in Filon, over 1/8" luan, do we need to seal the luan with epoxy, or some other sealer/hardener prior to skinning with the Filon?

I don't see why you would. But it couldn't hurt - IMO. But some else will chime in.

Have fun.

Good Luck



Bill

BILLYL wrote:I don't see why you would. But it couldn't hurt - IMO. But some else will chime in.

Have fun.

Good Luck



Bill

I'm thinking cost. I would like to do what's necessary, but not redundant, in the interest of costs, as well as weight, though I can't see where epoxy would add anything in terms of weight, it would add to the cost.

If it's necessary, then I want to do it.

Thanks for the feedback.

completely sealing only one side of laminated flat goods will generally cause them to expand and contract "out of sinc " with the other side of the sheet because of moisture. The wood fibers will swell on the un sealed side while they are protected on the other side from the moisture. Luan is a fairly moisture tolerant species but I know is will cause plywood to contort into all kinds of kinks and buldges. Your adhesive is generally applied with a notched trowl so even though you have covered the face of the fiber there remains small avenues to allow it to breath. I would also think that the adhesive would bond better to the wood itself because of the small pores present in all lumber. That's my 2 cents worth.

bobhenry wrote:completely sealing only one side of laminated flat goods will generally cause them to expand and contract "out of sinc " with the other side of the sheet because of moisture. The wood fibers will swell on the un sealed side while they are protected on the other side from the moisture. Luan is a fairly moisture tolerant species but I know is will cause plywood to contort into all kinds of kinks and buldges. Your adhesive is generally applied with a notched trowl so even though you have covered the face of the fiber there remains small avenues to allow it to breath. I would also think that the adhesive would bond better to the wood itself because of the small pores present in all lumber. That's my 2 cents worth.

A rep at the supplier where I'm getting my Filon has a spray adhesive that goes on both the Filon and the luan. It's much like the adhesive used to put laminate onto a countertop. Anyway, that's what I'm planning on using.

Any thoughts on that?

Leslie

sounds like an aerosol contact adhesive. ANYBODY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH LAMINATE OVER PLYWOOD USING CONTACT ADHESIVE ?? (they say that's how we shout on this forum) Maybe someone will hear us. I'd follow the directions and go for it ,just allow for the flash off time as they direct. It will take several minutes and will usually be dry but slightly tacky to the touch. It sticks where it lands so be sure you are lined up where you want to be there is generally no adjusting.

The glue will work PUT CUT some PVC pipe to hold up in the air tell you have lined up and square then rool out

I put filon on my trailer. I used 3m spray adhesive (it was all over everything, legs, glasses, hair, etc. The filon stuck great! I put all the trim pieces on siliconed under all the trim pieces, and everthing looked good. Then I moved the trailer out into the sun....the filon expands and contracts with the sun causing buckles and waves. It does stay in place though, I think the edge trim, window trim, and door trim are the actual filon holders. I would use filon again, but I would try and find a glue to be trowel on.
That's my experience with filon.
Joe

bobhenry wrote:sounds like an aerosol contact adhesive. ANYBODY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH LAMINATE OVER PLYWOOD USING CONTACT ADHESIVE ?? (they say that's how we shout on this forum) Maybe someone will hear us. I'd follow the directions and go for it ,just allow for the flash off time as they direct. It will take several minutes and will usually be dry but slightly tacky to the touch. It sticks where it lands so be sure you are lined up where you want to be there is generally no adjusting.

I used contact cement with my Filon and it doesn't work as well as I would have liked. It delaminated the first time it sat in the sun. I would use the stuff at Home Depot specifically made for gluing Filon.
Bruce