Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hi!

I am a new member fascinated by foamie construction and starting on a project of my own.

I attempted to canvas my first sheet of foam and I'm not sure if the results I'm getting are typical...



This is a 4 x 6 ft 2" pink foam sheet with flush mounted 1 x spars.

I preshrunk/ironed the canvas (10oz HD drop cloth), rough sanded and vacuumed the foam, rolled 100% titebond ii on the foam, applied the canvas from left to right, working the glue into the fabric and then added some 3:1 thinned titebond on top. I "squeegeed" out the extra glue, stretched everything tight to the edges with bamboo skewers, and let the whole thing dry for 40 hours (50-70 degrees, 80-90% humidity).


Here's my question!

The canvas still feels very soft. Is this normal? When I squeeze the panel between my fingers there isn't much of a difference in hardness between the canvased side and untreated side.

I guess I was expecting a much harder surface. I keep reading "the strength is in the skin," but it feels like the skin added nothing!

I've been lurking on the forum for a while, so I'd like to say thanks for all the help I've gotten so far, and thanks for helping me with this!

The canvas will give some resistance to a poking force, but it gives more strength structurally across the entire surface of the foam. Paint will also add some resistance to the poking effect, but it is not fiberglass.

Let it dry some more ...

The paint will make considerable difference to id imagine

Seanc, so how is it now ? better ?

GPW, more time to dry helped a little bit.

I canvased another panel, and this time glued the canvas down at full strength, then rolled on 1/2 strength glue and REALLY saturated it. After 48 hours this panel feels stronger. Really laying on the glue instead of squeeging it out like I did the first time makes a better result IMO. The weave is smoother to the touch.

ghcoe, I think I've adjusted my expectations, which has helped as well. It's not fiberglass! haha

dales133, I think you're right. With some primer and paint it will have a much harder feel to it.

Thanks for the support, guys! I'm working on this project 100% alone so this little encouragement means a lot. This is a great website/resource/community!

Here's a teaser for what I'm working on....

Cool project !!!

Now to follow the roof curve and round it down to the rear bumper that would be cool and then it could pop up for a awning.....