J.Squirrel wrote:rruff wrote: Sorry for the segue, but a couple quick questions:
Hey, I actually haven't started cutting yet, I'm still in the planning stage. But I have been looking around for some tutorials. One of the best I've found is by rowerwet
viewtopic.php?f=55&t=56186. looks like he uses Loctite PL Premium . Also on cutting the foam.
viewtopic.php?t=40958&p=751880Good luck, I'll post what I end up doing. I like the sound of the hot knife with a soldering gun.
J
Thanks for that! It does look interesting, but I don't understand what NathanL is saying. Do you?:
"Homemade hot knife, took an electric soldering iron (the pistol grip kind) and cut length piece of coat hanger and made a loop out and back into the other deal.
Cuts like a hot knife thru butter and leaves a perfectly clean edge. Can also be used to follow a template as well. When you are done you take the loop of coat hanger wire out (use uncoated or clean it real well to get the laquer off the new kind) and put your soldering iron attachement back in."
The problem I had with the jigsaw was it wanted to jump around, and the blade would bend if I changed directions. I tried to cut the foam freehand though, without a guide (2" foam). I was no better with a long utility knife. So my foam did not fit the openings in the wood frame very well. A little trimming fixed the tight spots, but then I still had to deal with some significant gaps. I did epoxy fiberglass for the skins, so I needed a good surface with no gaps or cracks at all. I ended up using a combination of spray foam and epoxy paste, but it was a PITA to get it right.
Obviously this will be much less critical for you since you are using plywood skins. But I wouldn't recommend plywood skins, unless you fiberglass over them.
My critique of your plan involves this statement: "My goal for my first TD is to learn the skills to build my next ones properly, (and take it camping this summer, probably and ambitious goal). I'm focused on making something cheap and quick, with a life span of ~5 years."
You can make it cheap and quick, but if you don't use the methods and materials you feel are best, will you really learn how to do the next ones? I would at least use the materials and methods that look optimal to you. Much of the time in any of these builds is spent on details and making it pretty. You can more readily cut corners there. That's what I'm doing anyway.
![Beer :beer:](./images/smilies/beer.gif)
It won't be pretty, but it will be light and strong and last 20 years. I hope!
![Not Certain :NC](./images/smilies/confused4.gif)
At least I'll have the epoxy/fiberglass/foam experience for the nest one if it breaks.