Thrifty Alternatives ..Building Foam Campers

[GPW]

Yeah , but youze’ guys are “used to it” ...

[Wolffarmer]

Yeah , but youze’ guys are “used to it” ...

And it is getting damned old.

Randy

[KCStudly]

oh sure glen, just rub in those temps! we have been in the low 20's, and it going to get worse tomorrow.

Yeah, and he's got no excuse not to be building right now (I'm sure you can knock together that hot wire cutter from stuff you have on hand). Get 'er done!

[GPW]

OK, no more excuses .... I’ll get right on it ...


No chirp !

[Mary C]

lets see .......got my hitch coming from New York......... got two 2 inch foam 4x8 and two half inch 4x8s so does this mean I am building or just getting ready. I am so excited!!! I now must pay my bills. I am on my way........

Mary C

[eaglesdare]

ok we have temps right now of 13. and i have to say it is DAM COLD!

[GPW]

I really LOVE visiting up North.... in the summer !!!

[eaglesdare]

I really LOVE visiting up North.... in the summer !!!

the worse part about these temps really is that i have to lug water out to the horse. the hose froze up so i have to lug the water. i don't enjoy that part. i am now adding insulated hoses on my list of things to get when refund comes back. if they ever decide to add my forms to the list so i can submit them that is.

[GPW]

Really nothing more Fun for me than wrapping my chops around a nice oniony’ Philly cheesesteak . Or a traditional Hoagie sub ... or eating at “diners" (we don’t have diners here, or cheese steaks ) ... Love the rolling hills with their quaint barns and farmhouses (painted pictures of many of those ) . Love the shore (what’s left of it ! ) That COLD and SNOW .... you can have it !!! Have to pass on that !!! Never been colder than standing on Marconi point in a 40 mph wind off the Atlantic in January ... in the snow (blizzard) .... BRRRRR !!!!!! Nearby tappy' saved the day !!!

[Jack B.]

I know how we hate that phrase "on topic" but . . .

Rather than go back and re-read 300+ pages due to old brain syndrome issues, what would be the best stuff to use to stick sheets flat foam together. I'm thinking 1 1/2" or 2" single thickness for sides and perhaps three layers of 1/" for the top which would allow me to do flowing bends with no kerfing and no angular stick together joints. I know it makes very little aerodynamic difference when towing but it does make a difference to the eye. Just spread on some sticky stuff and then strap the next sheet over the first until dry. Repeat as needed.

Also thinking perhaps the white bead board foam for the sides and Mr. Pink Sheets in the thinner sheets for the top. Plenty of 1"X2" or there abouts "rafters" running across from side to side for lateral strength. Probably some for vertical uses such as door and window frames. Without going the fiberglass route I hesitate to trust glued in wood hard spots for anchors as I keep seeing in my mind's eye somebody use the open door as a prop. I then see rolls of duct tape coming out for:
A.) holding the door in place going down the highway
and:
2.) binding some clumsy oaf to a picnic table somewhere

And there are those who think I worry too much.

Jack

[Jack B.]

And now that I too lately proof read my post, fractions don't translate too well if you leave some of the numbers out. Like 1/2" sheets for the top. In my defense though the keys on this keyboard on this 'puter don't always go down when pushed. With the old one I thought it was me. But this one worked great for a year or so. And now the gremlins are back. Good thing I just got another.

Jack

[KCStudly]

Jack, if you like, you can go back to your own posts and hit the edit button to clean things up. I do it all the time when I revisit my posts and see that I have slipped up a bit.

BTW, Welcome.

[atahoekid]

Jack, getting back to your question about what's best to stick foam to foam. I used epoxy but others have used Tite Bond II. There is also stuff called Foam Fusion from a place called the Hot Wire Foam Factory. When I did tests (which are in this thread (I think about page 200-220 or so) all three were virtually impossible to take apart. Someone used the "foam in a can" as adhesive. I used it for an emergency road repair and it worked very well. It's a permanent fix. 1 x's worked great as spars across the top. Since my build is over 7' wide I used 1 x 3's. Worked great. Just glued them in place. I then skinned with fiberglass but canvas will work just as well. Hope that helps

[eaglesdare]

foam to foam=gorilla glue. some are now starting to use glidden griper.
canvas to foam=titebond II
and everything the atakid said.

[GPW]

Still not sure here about using the Gripper for laminating foam ... How does it dry inside ? That and Acrylic Latex products have a loong cure time ... In reality it takes about a week or so for Latex paint to completely harden ... I’d stick with Gorilla Glue for laminating , spread very thin with little water sprayed ... then weighted /clamped ... that even worked gluing those Huge paddleboard blocks together ... More testing is indicated for the Gripper , but I’m Sure it will work great for attaching the canvas... so sure , I bought a gallon ..