Thrifty Alternatives ..Building Foam Campers

[swampjeep]

I think I read (earlier in this thread) that when you glue the foam together, the connection with glue is stronger then the foam, so a larger sheet is not realy resasary, nor is a complicated splice.

Looking forward towatching an other fomy build here

[Cliffmeister2000]

I'm standing next to it to put the size in perspective.

Not knowing how tall you are, I'm not getting the perspective like I think I should. It makes you look short!

[mikeschn]

Good point Cliff! I'm 5'6 - 5'7".

Gary, That's 69" high by 10' long.

Swampjeep, I've not yet decided how I am going to do the splice.

GPW, Chell is thinking we need to stretch the shape a little bit. Maybe a foot longer? She thinks it looks too much like a bubble. And my competent helper has taken an interest in the squirrel next door!


Mike...

[eaglesdare]

holy cow, i log off of for the day to spend with family and look what happens.

i love your shape, and wow, that is a big one. you are going to put mine to shame with your experience in general. but i can't wait to see it.

that shape you have cut out, is that already the foam cut? or just a pattern?

personally i think when having 2 piece of foam glued together, will be fine. if that is what you mean by the splicing. once its wraped with the canvas it will be good.

[GPW]

Bubble !!! I think it looks pretty Cool !!! But we understand... gotta' keep the wife Happy eh !!!

If I may make one observation ... I'd leave a bit more Foam over the top of the door , just a little bit more ... JMHO...

Squirrels rare in your area ? ... We have Many now... for a while after Katrina ,there weren't any at all... now they're Everywhere... I can send some up if you need to amuse your helper ... plenty to spare ...

Just gluing one edge to the other works fine ...the foam will fail long before the glue does .... been testing this on my Foamie airplanes for 10 years ... Crash testing ... Interesting is the repairs .... When my planes get damaged , I can just cut out the damaged area , and just splice in a new piece ... Very easy ...
The seams can be quickly filled in with lightweight vinyl spackle ... if
needed ...

Eagle , what a difference a day makes ... Did I miss the cupcake pics .. ???

[eaglesdare]

here ya go. i tried yesterday but puter would not cooperate with me. so honestly that is why i closed it up and spent time with family.



you can see the little guy in the back there.

and can you see how thrifty we were with wrapping? christmas paper and duct tape.

[GPW]

Whoa COOL !!! Looks Yummy , probably all gone by now ...


Mike here's what I meant about the door ...
Just an idea ...

[eaglesdare]

Whoa COOL !!! Looks Yummy , probably all gone by now ...


Mike here's what I meant about the door ...
Just an idea ...

thanks gpw.


mike, i concur with gpw on the space above the door.



i just made a comment to hubby about getting this computer fixed or i am going to buy a new one. he said go ahead. so i might be looking for a new one. not sure i want to pay those prices though. but i will be looking.

[GPW]

Eagle , I got a Mac Mini , and it's worked flawlessly for some time now ... Not Too expensive (for a Mac) and you can use your old monitor ... Regular PCs always gave me headaches with things going wrong ... The Mac actually worked out cheaper in the long run as I don't have to pay , bargain ,or barter to get my computer fixed ... Something frequent with PCs ... grrrrrr!!!! 

[Miriam C.]

Can't get wider than 4 feet wide foam....I was hoping to not have seams to cover not strength but that is not going to work.

[john warren]

While playing with test panels for foam core; I used cotton t-shirt material in place of FG cloth. Panels tested out as strong as the FG cloth panel.

in the "old days" canoes were made using comon cotton canvase painted over. it always worked and was easy to repair.

i have made several cafe tables that are used outside.
i gave then a coat of spar varnish, then laid down a cotton print fabric while still wet, then varnished the fabric into position. after six to ten coats, sanded in between, you end up with a smooth durable and decrative table. no reason the same couldn't be done to a foamy.
with all sorts of pretty fabric designs, the posibilities are endless.
though i think i would reinforce the seams with several layers. or one thicker layer of white canvas.

[starleen2]

Geez guys, where a re you getting the two inch stuff? I sure would hate to laminate two one pieces together

[lm248]

Geez guys, where a re you getting the two inch stuff? I sure would hate to laminate two one pieces together

In my area both the "blue" store and the "orange" store has the 2" foam board.
I've seen prices ranging from $27 a sheet to a low of $19 a sheet.
Les

[CARS]

Geez guys, where a re you getting the two inch stuff? I sure would hate to laminate two one pieces together

I thought it was everywhere??? It's even available in two different density's. Regular for walls and a stronger (denser) for under concrete floors.

My idea for a foamie would be to laminate 2 sheets from the start.

Imagine your door opening. The inside sheet would be cut smaller than the outside sheet for a built in lip. Bond the 2 sheets on the walls and doors and add some FOAM gasket to the lip and a lightweight (plastic) hinge and your done. Might need a gutter over the top of the door.

I wish I could draw on my computer like some of you do. Pics would explain it much better than I can with words.

[eaglesdare]

a while back, its in this thread somewhere, the 2" stuff was near imposable to get in several different areas. quite a few of us went looking and reported back.

but when i started mine our lowes had the 2" foam, so i bought a few sheets.