Canvas alternative ...

[GPW]

Well stated Mary !!!

[Don L.]

I appreciate your 2 cents Mary. My concept of the foamie process is solidifying with some of the rehashing of the big thread. I have read a lot of that thread and many others and thought I had a decent idea but I'm at the age where I can't keep it all straight or remember what all has been tried. The updated condensed versions of the technique is helpful and I am glad y'all are willing to repeat yourselves on occasion.
I'll try to keep a promise to myself and that is to do a search and do some reading before asking my dumb question of the day. I seem to have a knack for doing that, even though I think I am fairly smart, I know I have a few missing cogs.

[greygoos]

Don - Not having built a tear, I have built many food trailers and carts, all metal and or fiberglass construction, I suggest you take and respect the advice of previous builders if you are looking to emulate them but do your own thing if that is what is going to make you happy. Edison failed a thousand times before the light went on.

[Don L.]

Thanks. Believe me I do respect the advice and experience from everyone here. I hope I didn't sound like I don't.
I plan to build a foamie and would never have considered it without having discovered the group here. I am most grateful!

[Socal Tom]

Maybe I don't get it but havent we been through alot of different fabrics, Glues and paints ? Either im guessing here but a lot of people are not reading the thrifty thread because if they were the questions about glues and other materials were answered. not only that but the reasons for each has been covered. Like part of the reason we used Glidden Gripper was beause it filled in the open squares in the canvas providing a smoother finish. I know I tried a third coat of it in some areas and it really did a nice job. The main idea of this was to build a camper cheaply, using all the things we could to build making the build thrifty. I bought a cheap aluminum hinge well it is falling apart litertly, the little bar going down the middle of the hinge is rusting on the ends and has come apart. I have to replace it. That is what made the Thrifty thread so important we have discussed these things and others as they have come up Through expierence and trial an error. So you all can go out an try your plastic fabric and you can get all crazy with your different glues and paints. We have been doing this for four years and we kinda know the things that work. Builders have built here but some have not stuck around or revisited to give us updates on the different things they have used. Most of us that are still here give periodic updates on our campers and how they are holding up in the weather and since they live in different climates we are getting the detailed info on what really works and holds up. I am currently doing an expierment with a product called Big Strech. I t is a type of silicone rubber, water resiistant and can be used with a painted ssurface and a wood surface I know that it works but my question is how will it hold up? Look for my report towards the end of the summer at least I will know how it holds up outside in the weather. First understand the premis, a foam that melts with some glues, a fabrick that will asorbe the glue and glue to the foam. A paint that will smooth out the material and a finish paint that will be cleanable and hold up in all kinds of weather. And build this without spending a lot, it be light weight and use products easily found, scrounged, and known.

My 2 cents

Mary C.

Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I tried to read the thrifty thread. over 400 pages, but I see someone made an index. But the pages listed on the index didn't have what the index said??....
Tom

[Talia62]

(clipped for brevity) First understand the premis, a foam that melts with some glues, a fabrick that will asorbe the glue and glue to the foam. A paint that will smooth out the material and a finish paint that will be cleanable and hold up in all kinds of weather. And build this without spending a lot, it be light weight and use products easily found, scrounged, and known.

My 2 cents

Mary C.

Putting on my chemist goggles...

Mechanical adhesion is only one way that an adhesive can work. Fabric doesn't necessarily need to "absorb" glue in order for it to stick to a substrate. To oversimplify, it can stick through specific adhesion, mechanical adhesion, or a combination of both.

[KCStudly]

Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I tried to read the thrifty thread. over 400 pages, but I see someone made an index. But the pages listed on the index didn't have what the index said?

Could it be that you have the thread sorted by last post first? That will screw the page numbering up backwards. The index is calibrated to the thread sorted first post first.

Same thing happens with photo galleries, if you change the sort option the page numbers flip.

[lrrowe]

Mary, I believe I know what you are talking about. During my early posts with questions, I did try and use the search features and all that to read up as much as I can. I still do when I venture into an unknown area. It might be easier for we posters who have been here a few years or so to recall whether something has been done and many times we might just jump into a question because we know it is new territory.

In the back of my mind, I may try my hand at building a TD even though I have my CT. I know I have a great library here of information that I will use when (should I) start a new TD project. And I love it when we received feedback on projects. I am always considering different ways of doing things and that is while I am old and set in my ways.

[Mary C]

I am just sayin over and over what GPW has said, a lot of people want to try different things, and that is ok, it seems everyone wants to try some of the things we have tried and through trial and expiements but we have been doing this for quite a while and it comes down to the simple things that work and so far are holding up. It like everyone wants to make it harder than it is. Simple glue on canvas, use a piece of plastic or metal to scrape it on, smooth it out. like wall paper, then use gripper or concrete paint to smooth out the surface put it on thick. sand, then use a good exterior house paint on the outside. It is so surprizing how easy it is and how sturdy it is. It is just not that complicated. expierment with some foam egg carton or meat tray and glue on some cotton fabric then paint it thickly, let it dry for a few days then check it out. This whole project was ment to be thrifty. and easy and water resistant and it turns out light weight to boot.
wood around door frames
wood around doors
these wood frames are what I used to connect the shelves to inside. and for the galley shelves. Dont make it harder or more difficult than you need to.

Mary C.

[dales133]

I hear you mary.
I did ask alot of questions but most hadnt been asked before.
My build isnt totaly unique ... i just copied what was there in front of me, there for the asking.
Im not to sure how many people skinned in canvas over ply before me but i was sold on it when i heard about it.
I was always going to over build as my first build. Who dosnt... but take what you can from those with knnowledve.
Ask questions.
And give it a go.

[Thelgord]

Mary,

I did not mean to offend you, or anyone on this forum. However, the thrifty thread is 1) Over 400 pages, 2) Badly indexed, 3) Contains a lot of contradictory information with resolutions that are not well explained, and 4) Contains of lot of side track conversations that a person unfamiliar with faomies is forced to sort through. I did in fact read the thrifty thread. I still had questions.

I, as a moderator on other sites, can understand your frustration when you see the similar questions asked repeatedly. However, that is less a symptom of laziness and more a symptom of the clarity of the available information. If your goal was merely complain about my asking questions and boast about how much more experienced you and others are, you have succeeded. However I doubt that was your intent. As I said I do understand. I really do. However, coming into a discussion with things like, "So you all can go out an try your plastic fabric and you can get all crazy with your different glues and paints. We have been doing this for four years and we kinda know the things that work.", does absolutely nothing to advance knowledge or contribute to the conversation beyond touting your own superiority while highlighting just how much newbies, like myself, do not understand the process this build method.

Thank you for 2 cents. It was well received.

[Mary C]

So very sorry if I offended anyone . I think i remember to the first few things I said and one of the first things or questions i asked and was told to read and I felt terribly offended because of the way it was said so I am sorry. I know that I didn't say a whole lot for the next four months but I decided to read the whole forum, I didn't do anything but eat sleep and read. in the begining I was all set to build a woodie. When I finally got to the foamie section I read and read and decided that this would be so much better, I was 64 and needed easey, light weight because at the time I owned a mitsubushi eclipse. People make impressions and sometimes I get to saying things in a not so great way. but now to your using the material. I didnt mean to be mean but the fact is there has been lots of discussions as to material, the problem is the glue and finding a glue that wont melt the foam and still keep the plastic based material on the foam the problem is then how to paint it. what sticks to the plastic materials. The canvas and sheets and cotton seem to be glued on and will not come off nearly as easily as the plastic or metal sheets. Think Thrifty. Thrifty easily obtained. dropclothes. hospital and motels and hotels, our own used sheets. glue on with a 30/80water glue or 50/50 water with glue, smooth on with a home made plastic smoothing tool. Think how to seal the canvas with a thick paint, we went through the paint question a lot . what we found, is you want a paint, that if put on heavy, would fill in the canvas and smooth out on the surface. I wish you had been here for all the discussions. I am sure all of you could have added a lot.

Mary C.

[GPW]

QUOTE: “ If your goal was merely complain about my asking questions and boast about how much more experienced you and others are, you have succeeded. “ ...

Gord , not meaning to be un friendly ,BUT , we’ve had to endure a lot of un-constructive criticism from people ( Experts) who never built a foamie or have absolutely Zero experience with foam ... People that came ,without properly identifying themselves or listing their location , and wanting essentially to argue !!! ( I thought FaceBook was for that ? ) Some wanted to be spoon-fed the information ( no reading ) and naturally there is not enough time in the day to do this with everybody .... Although a Foamie looks Simple , it really is not .... Not the development anyway .. ... This was proposed all in good faith as a Thrifty Alternative to the more conventional trailers ... Tested with most every variation we could afford . Now a PROVEN Method , well tested after tens of thousands of miles by many Foamie builders. all this information offered FREE of charge and in goodwill .
However , being Old now , we don’t play well to those that continue to criticize our efforts , despite the fact that all this information is based on Example ,extensive testing ,and travel, and we’ve never made a penny off this , all offered for the “Greater Good” ... All this was done on a Voluntary basis with anything Badly done , done at least with good intention by many Good people willing to share their experience ...
That’s the problem when people think .... they don’t always agree, which is OK as long as nobody takes it the wrong way ...
I’m also a Moderator elsewhere. So You know what this is like to deal with ... all the time ....

note: Anybody thinking they can do a good ( or Better) job Organizing all this Foamie information in a format that pleases Everybody .... Please be so good as to do so !!!

[lrrowe]

[Don L.]

Postby GPW » Fri Jan 29, 2016 7:01 am

QUOTE: “ If your goal was merely complain about my asking questions and boast about how much more experienced you and others are, you have succeeded. “ ...

GPW, you forgot to include the next sentence which was "However I doubt that was your intent."
I thought Thelgord's comments were well worded, accurate and constructive and spoken with empathy. Did you feel Thelgards' comments about the thrifty thread were unconstructive or was criticizing people's efforts? The amount of effort and sharing in that thread is really commendable. I thought it sounded like an accurate assessment of the thread.
And using being 'Old" as a reason to not play well is no excuse, you're never too old too set a good example, you usually do set a great example. If you don't want anyone criticizing anything just come out and say it.