Thrifty Alternatives ..Building Foam Campers

[GPW]

Yeah , that’s the idea ...

[Mary C]

Well I have a new problem at least one I haven't had before because it is cold the foam dust wont blow off or wipe off the foam piece, I am having to vacuum it off. The stuff didn't fly all around it just came back on the foam and me. I guess it is because of the static. when I was cutting before it would just wipe off now it flys right back on, which now calls for an extra step in the process. I measured and cut 6 pieces and now have to cover them in canvas. I am really getting excited then I find no TBII.

With all the talk about boats yaks and those other sail boats, oars and such I am getting up the nerve to make a fishing, floating. Thingy. not to be mixed up or confused with Dingy , I sorta want to steal the plan GPW has. or at least something similar.

Mary C.

[GPW]

Mary , foam dust and static electricity (more prevalent in the winter ... drier air ) is always a problem ... just vacuum it up and hope for the best ...

Boat ideas are still in the works ....

[Jack B.]

I know that up here in MN that if you take some cheap liquid fabric softener, dilute it and put it in a spray bottle (like Windex for instance) you can spritz clothes, carpets, etc. to cut way back on the static cling and spark shock. Might do the trick for static cling in foam dust as well. Haven't tried it yet as I've not been cutting, but a fine mist of water has helped in foam dust clean up in the past for me.

Just was reading the manual for a '99 VW Rialta RV. Seems they're not designed for using a lot. Right in the manual it states that the finishes and fabrics will suffer if you use them for long term habitation. They admit they're not designed with the proper ventilation for moisture build up from cooking and breathing. Seems that's something that would have been easy to design for. They are cute buggers though, although I'm 6' and they're about 5" 11" inside. And they get around 18+ mpg.

JC

[rowerwet]

Postby KCStudly » Mon Oct 28, 2013 10:07 pm

Not sure where this might fit in, or if it is even a viable build material, but I thought it might be a way to get an aluminum look exterior, or perhaps a light weight option to full on aluminum sheet skins.

On a recent project at work I have been coordinating an insulation vendor who is installing a combination of aluminum skinned yellow foam and fiber glass duct "pipe" insulation on a roof top HVAC filter unit. Over the top of the insulation they are sealing it up with a product called Venture Clad. Not sure if I've seen this mentioned here on the forum.

Here is the spec sheet.

Also interesting to note that these professional insulators use regular filleting knifes, like a fisherman would carry, for most all of their detail work. They did have what looked like a large one of those Japanese draw saws for doing the large rip and cross cuts.

The Venture Clad cuts easily with scissors or a knife and appeared to be easy to work with, but is pretty tough.

Guy said that they used it as a final layer on some of the roofs at Pfizer.

[KCStudly]

Here it is with the links:

Not sure where this might fit in, or if it is even a viable build material, but I thought it might be a way to get an aluminum look exterior, or perhaps a light weight option to full on aluminum sheet skins.

On a recent project at work I have been coordinating an insulation vendor who is installing a combination of aluminum skinned yellow foam and fiber glass duct "pipe" insulation on a roof top HVAC filter unit. Over the top of the insulation they are sealing it up with a product called Venture Clad. Not sure if I've seen this mentioned here on the forum.

Here is the spec sheet.

Also interesting to note that these professional insulators use regular filleting knifes, like a fisherman would carry, for most all of their detail work. They did have what looked like a large one of those Japanese draw saws for doing the large rip and cross cuts.

The Venture Clad cuts easily with scissors or a knife and appeared to be easy to work with, but is pretty tough.

Guy said that they used it as a final layer on some of the roofs at Pfizer.

[GPW]

A while back , we talked with a local RV mechanic that was going to GLUE Al sheet parts directly to the foam ... he must have known of a good adhesive for that ...
Seems the best way to go for a real AL outer skin ... and no need for canvas... and the foam underneath , unlike the more conventional plywood , would better expand and contract with the Al skins (no floating) ... and doesn’t Rot ! Plausible !!!

If you won’t be happy with anything other than an Al skin outside , then best to learn metalworking and forming .... anything’s possible ... (although not exactly “Thrifty” , probably Much less $$$$ than a manufactured one ... )


JMHO... thinking something with a Thicker Al skin would be better, seeing all the dented cargo trailers around here.... those skins seem to dent easily ...

[KCStudly]

Agreed, probably not durable enough for our use directly over foam, but over a thin skin of ply I think it would be an excellent light weight option to get the look and water resistance of trad alum skin. No need for trim, either, just overlap the edges.

For its intended use, the material performs very well.

Just throwing it out there for discussion; you never know where these whacky ideas might lead, eh? (irony)

[GPW]

QUOTE: “ you never know where these whacky ideas might lead, eh? “ .... How TRUE !!! I think it was wacky ideas that got us into Foamie’s in the first place... and look where we are now ...

Still, as yet, I’m an advocate of the foam/canvas approach... It’s just so Easy and Thrifty ... if I wanted an Al look , we’d just use the Al paint like the Old Timers did ...especially now I’m an Old Timer (officially) ...

[Mary C]

I am just using grey paint!!!

Mary C.

[GPW]

Now might that be a light gray or a dark gray... ? Just FYI, you can add a little color to any gray to shift the color in a particular direction if you like ... Ex. gray + blue makes a bluish gray ... etc. etc. Decorator colors ... And if you paint a small scrap of canvas with the “new” color , you’ll always have a sample on hand if you ever need to match that color again ... With the computer color matching systems at paint stores today , it’s simple to get an exact match if you have a good sample ...

Being Thrifty , we’re always mixing old paint together to make new colors ... Just mix compatible paints , latex with latex, oil with oil , etc. Never mix latex and oil together...

[atahoekid]

I'd think an aluminum skin backed by foam should be a bit better than a cargo trailer at avoiding dents. I thought cargo trailers are just aluminum skins. Am I wrong? If I'm right, I'd use thinner AL skins. If I'm wrong never mind.....

[KCStudly]

I think that most cargo trailers have a thin layer of ply or other inner panel, at least on the lower sections, no?

[Mary C]

Now Today I was out cleaning up my car and I was thinking about the information Post card I was going to put together for handing out to "guests" the awed public , the ones who just need to Look, made out of what?, where can I get information about building one?, You all know what I am referring to. I just want to be able to put together a post card of information and a simple way to explain what I built,How, Why, and the advantages of building with foam. If any one would like to contribute to the postcard information, the way to put it all down, make suggestions please do so . I don't mind saying I am 63 and yes I built it myself. I can put some little pictures 3 or 4 on one side then a writing on the other side. I want to give the best information about building TD foamies and TDs with wood. If you have any suggestions you can put it here or send it to me in a PM. I just know I want to say it right an not forget anything important. I am not a writer nor am I very good at getting my point across. I ain't no English major. Thanks for your suggestions.

Mary C.

[GPW]

KC, the many CT’s we’ve seen are just the skin riveted to the steel studs.. any plywood is on the inside of the stud..ly...

Mary , that should be Easy !!! just keep it simple ...