FoamStream...

[KCStudly]

Navy (gray -ish) To be authentic , just needs about 200 coats of paint over it

"Run she may, shine she must." - One of my favorite navy sayings.

[PKCSPT]

I like the woodsy green color and from the picture it doesn't look to dark.

[GPW]

I guess the Navy now hires “contractors” to do their painting , and wipe their nether regions ...... Not Dad’s Navy any more ... the good ship USS Dick Cheney ...


PK, thanks , I’m getting used to the color ...and the wife likes it , so that’s all that really matters eh ...

[GPW]

Just an observation about those Ribs.... Lightening holes , while looking appropriate, aren’t really necessary , don’t really save that much weight , and are a Big PIA to sand and paint ... And now , since we have the holes in the front ribs too , on the floor , we’ll have to fill those lest they grab dirt and the many foam bits which still seem to haunt the area ... Sure , they’re easy to hang things from , and I’m sure we’ll appreciate that in time, but a couple hooks could be as easily installed for the hanging bits...
Also , for anyone considering making or having ribs made , the elimination of the holes would cut down significantly on “machine time” , resulting in a big savings ... Thrifty -er’


Heat Index today predicted to be 105-109F ... Looks like another day off (sorry Mike ) ... another day of Rest ... I could get used to this !!! ...

The idea of installing the AC in the FS is looking more attractive, just for a test !!! ( a month long test)

[eaglesdare]

Just catching up on the FS. I know I am the odd ball here, but I do not like that color..ick. This would have been one of those times where I would have had to spend the coins.
All that matters as you say is what you and she who must be obeyed thinks. As long as you like it, that's all that matters.
You really have done an amazing job on the foam stream. I try to stay away from this thread sometimes, because it makes me want to get out and restart on mine. But we are redoing an old horse trailer, does that count? Not sure how we are going to finish it off, but we have the floor boards up and out. Need to get to working on the frame, which looks like its still in great shape. (oops sorry off thread topic again).

With the heat as high as you have it, I would stay inside with A/C!

[GPW]

Eagle , that may happen as yet ... the upstairs in the house is painted this very light purple color .. and the wife has been hinting at re-painting The same color ... so we might end up as yet with the other color .... depends on whether or not “she” changes her mind ... happens ... Still I could use this color to paint the floor , which will be covered with rugs up front and vinyl back by the Mini galley and potty area... or just paint the shed ... Nothing goes to waste ... not much anyway ...

Horse trailers ... we have a bunch out here , which surprisingly look very much like the FS (and I can’t think why ) Various stages of decay , some brand new ...
Sounds like the floor of a horse trailer is a good place to test “the Mix” for waterproofing ... extremely acidic water... Good Luck on that , and of course , you know we’ll want pictures ... a trailer is a trailer is a trailer ... sorta’ ...

You should really get back to your Foamie ... I always thought it was Very COOL !!! And what happened to the second one ... doghouse ???

[eaglesdare]

Well the first foamie is still sitting out there, ready to go. LOL I just have no plans on going anywhere this year. This year for me, its all about the equine. And you know, you are right! The horse trailer does resemble the foam stream. Will have to get pics of it. Raining right now, but when it stops I will get some pics.
Its an old steel trailer. Lots of rust and holes. But the frame looks good, rusty, but holding well. Just needs some good cleaning, paint and new floor boards..
I just got a hitch put on the truck, so there goes the play money for this payday. Hubby said since I was getting used to not having the extra play money he was going to up some other auto bill thing. I said Oh H*ll NO, I wasn't getting used to not having that extra 20%, the mortgage was!
But anyway, still trying to decide how to redue the trailer. Would be nice to make it lighter. I did notice that the outside shell is just a thin steel sheet (sort of). The inside is actually a wood wall. Plywood I believe. Of course I would like to add foam instead of the ply, but that is not going to work for a horse.
This one also has a heavy ramp. Too heavy for me to lower and pick back up. So I was searching youtube to find a solution and I see where one guy added a pully cinch thing. Pretty cool. Will be looking into something like that for me.

Is there an easy way to clean up the steel outside? Like removing old paint? Or do I just have to sand and sand?

[eaglesdare]

Oh and my hubby used my old floor (for the second foamie) and some of the old foam (for the second foamie) and he DID build a doghouse! Covered it in canvas, and painted. Its has 3 doors and a doomer(sp). So all 3 collies go inside together. Pretty cool.
Ok before you say it, I will have to get pics of that also.

[GPW]

A good sandblasting is the easiest way to go , then lots of Rustoleum ... The wire brush and drill takes a while ... Lots of work to manage rust ... But once it’s done , you won’t have to work hard to maintain it ...
I’ll see if I can get some pics of the old horse haulers around here ... some look very old ...

[tac422]

Eagle,
I would treat the rust with Ospho.
It chemically changes the rust and turns it black. It's thinner than water, and goes a long way. Just wire brush, and paint it on.
I get it at Norfolk Paint.
You can also use chemicals to strip the paint, a lot easier than sanding.

[pchast]

We had a good laugh at a WW meeting this morning. Apparently a Weed wacker works pretty well too
for removing paint.

After using and burning up a HF grinder with flap sander our member was trimming the lawn and
finished cleaning the cement fountain in his yard....

[Bogo]

Eagle,
I would treat the rust with Ospho.
It chemically changes the rust and turns it black. It's thinner than water, and goes a long way. Just wire brush, and paint it on.
I get it at Norfolk Paint.
You can also use chemicals to strip the paint, a lot easier than sanding.

There are many formulations of rust converters now. I get one from Gemplers that I use on farm equipment. Paint it on crudely with a gloved hand. First I put a heavy nitrile glove to protect the hand, then a cloth one as the paint brush. Then I dip the cloth one into the stuff and rub it on where I want. Makes it easy to get all sorts of varied shapes treated.

A word of warning. Most primers are not waterproof. They will let water through their structure and the steel will rust under them. So prime and paint, don't just prime and think it is protected. You can get primers that are waterproof, but they usually are not as good at locking onto the bare metal.

[GPW]

And then there’s galvanized trailers , which seem to hold up really well , but just get dingy after a while ... Boat trailers (here anyway ) are usually galvanized .. The FS trailer is ...the only rust was on the non galvanized steel parts ...

JMHO , boat trailers make better trailers for Foamies , and anybody who lives near the shore (any shore) can usually find an old boat trailer pretty easy and cheap (especially after a major storm ) ... usually better built to stand water exposure , able to carry more weight .... considering a single large outboard motor alone can weigh as much as my whole FS...
Chasing rust is never any fun , and you Must do a thorough job , or it will only re appear later ... Having hung around my brothers auto body shop many years ago , we learned that rusted panels were better replaced than repaired ... repaired panels eventually rusted through again , no matter how thorough we were... Rust never sleeps ... On trailers , you just have to do your best and just keep chasing it ... The “nature of the beast” ...

What a difference a couple days off makes ... feeling better now , aches and pains starting to disappear ... even my attitude has improved ... Rest is Good !!! And it’s given me time to just stand back and make some observations ... Such as noticing that all the parts of the FS are starting to FIT better ... The extended glue and paint drying (curing) and continuous heating and cooling (expansion and contraction) has caused the skin to become more uniform /tighter, small bubbles (slack areas) have disappeared, the fit much better/tighter now ... Looks like everything "shrunk to fit" ... much like F#1 , which is very tight now after all these years out in the weather .. and given the observation on #1 how after a hail storm , the foam ands skin eventually healed itself , this confirms the auto- fit theory .. Just sayin' ...

[GPW]

Inside work .... had to make a new bracket for the AC unit ... the other stock one had a lip on the back that prevented the unit from fully seating in the hole ... Quick job !!!

Both brackets shown in pics , the new one already attached...

[KCStudly]

Fire that sucker up!