Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I was cruising the net looking for ideas for my Lil Surfer tear that I am planning to build. I stumbled across this restaurant supply dealer that offers tropical themed materials for sale.

They offer woven bamboo pressed into plywood sheets. Even though they specify for interior use, I would suspect that if one were to use this to cover the exterior of a tear and glass with a clear epoxy on top this should work.

The main issue would be uv resistance, but since this is actual woven bamboo rather than a laminate, it should not fade too much I wouldn't think.

Any thoughts?

http://www.amazuluinc.com/bamboo-products-bamboo-products.htm

yep..no UV means even coated with spar varnish or whatever, the bamboo will break down and crumble away.

Depending on how much relief there is on the material, it might be a challenge to glass. Cloth may be a bear if not impossible to wet it out without ending up having voids under it causing funky light spots and if you did straight UV protected epoxy, it might suck up so much resin that it would make your head spin and wallet cry. The outgassing bubbles will keep you busy. Hard to say without playing with a sample. Can you ask for one to experiment with? Like Jim says... it's made for interior only, I'm sure they have a reason for saying that. Would be kinda cool...sort of a Gilligans Island thing. Now if it only came with Mary Ann! Doug

Mary Ann?, now thats's old school

Satch...she aged lots better than Ginger and I'm old enough to know! Doug

doug hodder wrote:Satch...she aged lots better than Ginger and I'm old enough to know! Doug

Justa messin', hell I used to watch it when I was younger, always thought Mary Ann was the better of the 2, It was either them or Mrs. Howell!

Hey, I'd look into it. I did a photoshoot for Aston Martin on a DB9 convertible, and it had bamboo instead of hardwood for the interior woodwork. If Aston Martin likes it enough to put it into a $220,000 car, then why not consider it for a TD.

Bamboo is VERY durable on floors, and it is easy on the environment because it grows like a weed. I am probably going to use it as flooring in my next house.

If you coat it with a UV blocking finish, and don't leave it outside 24/7, than why not look into it? I keep my TD in the garage when it is not being used, and I would not hesitate for a minute using it on a build.

Bamboo is really good stuff. Strong, and good for the earth, Go for it!

CD

Like CD said...it would look great, it is tough stuff, my thing is, make sure you seal it up really well, and personally I don't think that a Spar varnish or urethane is going to do it for you. There are just too many voids in the woven material that can wick water into the whole thing. I think it's going to take some serious epoxy work to make it happen, but it just depends on how much life you expect out of the finish and the quality of the finish you want to begin with. Other opinions may vary. Doug

doug hodder wrote:Like CD said...it would look great, it is tough stuff, my thing is, make sure you seal it up really well, and personally I don't think that a Spar varnish or urethane is going to do it for you. There are just too many voids in the woven material that can wick water into the whole thing. I think it's going to take some serious epoxy work to make it happen, but it just depends on how much life you expect out of the finish and the quality of the finish you want to begin with. Other opinions may vary. Doug

Maybe a homestyle vacubag system may eliminate the voids and provide a tighter fit against the sides. it sounds a little complicated but with a little forethough it could work

The bamboo surfaces I saw in that Aston Martin were very smooth.

As for finish, again I'd like to point out that where and how the TD is stored will make a big difference in how well the finish holds up.

If your TD lives outside in the elements all the time, then it won't matter whether you use bamboo or wood. The finish will need to be tough, and will have to be maintained regularly.

If, like me' you store the TD in a garage, then it will only be exposed to the elements when you go camping.

I'd still want to use the best finish/sealer available, whether over bamboo or wood.

CD

http://www.amazuluinc.com/faux-bamboo-p ... -panel.htm

So go fo faux that is. You didn't say which one you were looking at so I had a lookseee. That is some nice stuff.

I am struggling with a thinning epoxy issue now so I can't help you except to advise getting a sample. And after you seal it drop it in a bucket of water for a while. It is amazing how much varnish will sand off in the wind and sun. I would definitely go with something other than spar varnish...

Perhaps the company will tell you if it will work for your application.

Oh and please share the info. Lots of pictures too please cause I just love bamboo.

I like the look of the Tambor Paneling.

http://www.amazuluinc.com/images/natural-tambor-paneling-206.jpg

I was thinking of using a fiberglass epoxy resin for the coating. I might see if I can get a sample of the paneling to experiment with. I am currently building a wooden 10 foot longboard surfboard, so when I go to glass the board, I can experiment with the Tambor paneling and different coatings. I work for a resin manufacturer for the paint industry, so I can experiment with different types of coatings (perhaps even design a new product in the process). An NPG/Isophthalic Acid polyester with some uv inhibitors might do the trick though.

Surfboard photos should follow soon in a different thread.

Teardrop still in the design stage. My 5x8 trailer from www.redtrailers.com is backordered until August 15th.

Here are some more links...

http://www.teragren.com/gallery_panels.html

http://www.calibamboo.com/bamboopanelin ... nAodZ1ZVrg

http://www.pacificwesternwoodproducts.c ... 3306fc&/1/

My teardrop skin is strip bamboo and it has held up very well for 3 years with a high end spar varish. It will be at the North meets the South Gathering in Virgina this week I would recomend it, plus it was easy to work with