Cardboard

[atahoekid]

If I recall, there was some discussion early on about how Mardi Gras floats are made and I believe it is mostly paper mach'e. I think it was GPW who mentioned that it does hold up well to the elements if you finish it properly. I would think that sculpting something from foam would probably be lighter but I guess that only applies if weight and/or weight distribution is an issue. Never handled any paper mach'e that I can recall so I don't know if the weight really is an issue or not.

[GPW]

Paper mache is actually quite Fun to do and would make an acceptable skin over foam ... using thinned T2 for the glue ...

[loaderman]

Yes lots of floats are paper Mache'.
Paper mache on the inside may be easier than canvas?
It would be cheaper than canvass.

A cardboard and Paper Mache trailer could be built real inexpensive.

I know there are different glue recipe's for paper mache'. Any that would work for our application?

[GPW]

Thinned T2 should work fine for PM and provide waterproofing too ... common newspaper would work just fine , but common Kraft paper should work better , being uniform , and slightly shrinking a bit as it dries providing a nice tight surface ... Gluing paper to foam works well the porous paper drying from the outside in... I always had the idea in the back of my mind to cover a Foamie with the Funny papers , colorful , amusing , and providing a somewhat camo effect when seen from a distance ... I like Eagles patchwork interior , which could easily and quite successfully applied to the exterior ... more a cloth mache’...

Once dry , you can easily sand the surface smoother if desired ... then primed and sanded, painted , producing a “float” like finish ...

Speaking of Floats , when I graduated from HS , I was offered a job at Blaine Kern, the major float builder here ... a dollar an hour and I could work as many hours as I wanted ... I declined , but have known many starving Artists resorting to float decorating for a means of survival ... Even my buddy Vincent who is an Italian trained sculptor (now guitar manufacturer) worked for Blaine ... And if anybody wants to consult with him (he was their lead #1 painter for some time ) I can provide that information .

[mezmo]

'Came across a cardboard bike helmet design last night on Gizmag.
It's construction method may be of interest for adaptation by builders
on the forum:

Honeycomb cardboard cut into curved ribs set in a grid pattern:

http://www.gizmag.com/kranium-cardboard ... ble/25788/

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[razzer]

I'm just trying to read though all the posts , but here I can add my small experience with making a very detailed cardboard geodesic sphere . I simply taped the hundreds of cardboard triangles together and then painted a section at a time and while still wet applied a section of cloth and painted that . Much like the foamies just no Titebond II . After it was finished I put it outside in the the yard for the kids and dogs to play with for 5 years . It was fairly heavy . Cheers

[mezmo]

This is just a cross reference to another thread by loaderman that uses
paper in its construction, in order to try and help keep similar Materials Info
- here, paper and cardboard - together.

The "Cool Rocket shaped camper DIY" thread:
viewtopic.php?f=55&t=57416

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[GPW]

That’s so cool eh Norm !!!

We now know cardboard over foam works ... the whole inside of the FoamStream is covered in thin cardboard ... even the single ply makes it STRONG !!! Easier to work with than wood , easier to waterproof too .. although both are made of the same basic stuff ...

[GPW]

Just another thought on cardboard (chipboard in this case) ... Used as an outer skin , it would provide a nice smooth finish , and you could even glue a thin fine cloth over it (bedsheets) for even more durability and smoothness... Once waterproofed , it’s like everything else ...

[loaderman]

GPW do you have pics or info on this chipboard you have mentioned?
The chipboard I know was a predecessor to OSB and quite heavy.

[GPW]

L’, this is where I got mine .... http://www.utrechtart.com/Search/Defaul ... d&Search=+
Still looking for 4’X8’ sheets (I’ve seen them before )

Being made of the same material as wood (cellulose) , guessing the weights would be similar ...

[Prem]

I finally found it. Been looking for this for a while. Check this out:

http://www.cupery.net

[GPW]

That’s pretty AMAZING .... and to think , the idea of a Paper TD wouldn’t really be something “new" ...

[Mary C]

That is cool. I am planning on using cardboard, paper and old sheets on the inside of my TD. I will be starting on it sometime in the 2020's at this rate. cardboard will give the necessary thickness to fill in the difference between the 1/2 inch foam and the 1 in the 1x2's I found that cardboard will work fine. I just had to try a few different things till I found what would work.
\
Mary C.

[GPW]

Mary , you don’t mean corrugated cardboard huh ? You’d Have to treat that with the Mix ...