Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

my first entry since the forum;quistion time.to those who have used partical,how durable has it been in the long haul?thanksjohnhu

MDF (or particle board) is heavy, doesn't take fasteners very well, lacks structural strenght, and absorbs water like a sponge.

I don't think it's a good choice for a teardrop (actually I loathe the stuff for any use).

I'd reconsider using it.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Gus

I'm with Gus on this. That is probably the worst choice you could make. Wait a bit longer, save some money and buy the good stuff.

Cheers
Paul

I used it between a matress and box springs to firm up a way too soft bed in my first apartment. Thats about the only use I've ever had for it.

I agree with Gus also!

Mike...

Are we talking oriented strand board or partical board. Partical board is saw dust and resin (exposed to water it puffs up and crumbles to dust)and oriented strand board is veneer layers pressed with resin. I have made 5 builds with OSB and have had no structural related problems. I found zip panel for my last 2 builds and love the stuff.

http://www.popsci.com/diy/article/2009-10/green-dream-home-gets-crucial-second-skin

The fiberglass face is a water barrier and it is warranteed to take 6 months of weather exposure unprotected.

In my osb builds the osb was a subsiding and protected. Eggbert the motorcycle tear was coated and coated again top to bottom and side to side with polar seal an elastopolymer rubberized roof coating and is 3 1/2 years in the weather without a problem.




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The Chuck wagon and my newest 4x7 are utilizing the 7/16 zip panel.





I have found osb to be a very economical build media. I know it offends the purist that have to have 75 dollar a sheet cabinet grade multi layered plywood with oak,maple or birch veneer faces both sides but not having a great deal of disposable income I took the cheap and dirty path. If I mis cut a $10.00 sheet of osb OH WELL I will use it for sub face on a cabinet or as a shelf or something no big deal. I am still playing and experimenting with sizes and shapes and having a ball doing it but errors and miscuts and redesigning in flow so an inexpensive media was my personal choice.

Partical board

osb

OOPS !
all most forgot Chubby

Here's another vote against particle board. It would be horrible in a TD build.

CD

Ever tear down shelving made with particle board? I am fixing to do it again in a garage, not old, not wet but sagging and has mold......Not real sure why they make the stuff...

caseydog wrote:Here's another vote against particle board. It would be horrible in a TD build.

CD

The Cat agrees with the Dog...no particle board.

Particle board ain’t OSB and it isn’t even MDF. It’s only function should be as a non-structural spacer. It is the cheapest form of wood product known to man. And I whole-heartedly agree with the other posters about its unsuitability for tear building.

MDF, on the other hand, if used properly can be VERY good and often comes with a nice veneer. I used a lot of it for speaker building and it’s actually preferred over plywood for its acoustical properties. However, I would never use this in any outdoor application since it can absorb moister from 50 paces and is prone to creep (sag).

I feel the same way about hardboard, which a few people have used to build a tear, but even in those cases the slightest leak and the whole thing goes to pot.

OSB is made to put on the outside of a house, so I’m guessing it is a bit more robust. However, I would think with all of the strands oriented in the long direction that it could be difficult, especially in the thicker stock sizes to be difficult to bend about the long direction (if x is the long direction bending about the Y would be more difficult). If you aren’t going to bend it too tight no reason why it wouldn’t work.

We used OSB for inner siding on the house I built ... Odd scraps stayed out in the weather for years ... turned grayish, but never came apart ...
Just an idea... I t might be possible to use OSB as the TD frame /sides.. by cutting out the profiles , then cutting out the inner areas for doors , windows , etc, AND cutting out the heavy inner areas to make a "frame" ...then some Aluminum (whatever) screwed on the outside ... ??? OSB is HEAVY!!!

Particle board is just , excuse the expression, Crap !!! Never use it for anything ...

John ....... OH John........ Where are you ?

Which sheet goods were you really asking about ?

Where did he go ?????

there is an MDF product marketed under the name MEDEX.. it is waterproof. we use it in sink base cabinets, vanities and other things that might get wet. I cut a 4 inch square and soaked it in a bucket for a week with no measurable swelling..

http://www.sierrapine.com/index.php?pid=68

Here's just an idea for an alternative material frame/profile ... lightened.. Could be even CNC cut ...???

You say 'Long Haul'? I'll only post a picture and then you decide. Oh, and this is a California trailer.