Thrifty Alternatives ..Building Foam Campers

[HandyAtLeast]

Share my pain:



The tape came off while the glue was setting. Half of the curve set and the other half sprung out. The half that set seems very strong and, with skin, would hold up as a hatch with no additional support, I think.

GPW, yes, compound bending. I thought about that yesterday when I was cutting the kerfs. I could have rotated it 90 degrees and cut more kerfs. I'd like to try that.

[GPW]

HAL, it was a great Test anyway , and we know now that works ...

Compound bending could lead to many different TD shapes .... Foamie Roswell anyone ...

[mikeschn]

Foamie Roswell anyone ...

I think that's a great idea GPW. I think that should be your next build...

Mike...

[mikeschn]

Share my pain:



The tape came off while the glue was setting. Half of the curve set and the other half sprung out. The half that set seems very strong and, with skin, would hold up as a hatch with no additional support, I think.

GPW, yes, compound bending. I thought about that yesterday when I was cutting the kerfs. I could have rotated it 90 degrees and cut more kerfs. I'd like to try that.

It look like your method works. You could always tweak your profile with a jig, or a couple band clamps tightened around a couple ribs.

Mike...

P.S. I'd really like to see someone play with it in 3 dimensions like you suggested.

[GPW]

Mike , I edited everything I even thought might be controversial, objectionable or suggestive in any way ... I'm still a little confused about what ...

Bending it in a compound curve really adds a new dimension to this huh??? I've bent thinner foam (1/4" ) in the past to many interesting shapes , but being able to bend the thicker material really makes something like a Roswell or jelly bean very possible ... Have to be done in sections , but that's no problem with the foam ... Best thing is if we can't bend it we can just glue on a block or multiple layers of foam and just carve/sand away till we get the shape we want ...

I'd like something like a Big bumper Car ... (still on with that idea )

[pat g]

Glad to see this thread continue. Very informative stuff. HAL and Gary Thanks for sharing your tests. I got to the store and started a build today. I'll start a build journal to show progress.

Thanks for all the advice!

Pat G

[eaglesdare]

once that curved part of foam is covered it will hold. i do not think you need anything in the scored parts. or is that word suppose to be kerfed? i did not fill in the cut sections. started to , but there were too many and said the heck with it. so i just covered with full t2.

i think as this thread started and gpw beat the dead horse with paraphasing here, but the strenght is in the skin. the foam just holds it in place.
do i have that right gpw?

that piece of foam that bend back, will stay in place with a support. i personally do not recommend using spars made of foam, so using the wood and then attaching the curved parts to the wood will work. then the skin will hold it all together.

also i just noticed on my last pic i posted here, you can see that screws were used. we just screwed right thru the foam into the wood. covered with canvas, i doubt anything is going anywhere.

[eaglesdare]

Mike , I edited everything I even thought might be controversial, objectionable or suggestive in any way ... I'm still a little confused about what ...

Bending it in a compound curve really adds a new dimension to this huh??? I've bent thinner foam (1/4" ) in the past to many interesting shapes , but being able to bend the thicker material really makes something like a Roswell or jelly bean very possible ... Have to be done in sections , but that's no problem with the foam ... Best thing is if we can't bend it we can just glue on a block or multiple layers of foam and just carve/sand away till we get the shape we want ...

I'd like something like a Big bumper Car ... (still on with that idea )

suggestive? what did i miss that had to be cleaned up?

[eaglesdare]

Glad to see this thread continue. Very informative stuff. HAL and Gary Thanks for sharing your tests. I got to the store and started a build today. I'll start a build journal to show progress.

Thanks for all the advice!

Pat G

your build is looking good. what are you going to cover the outside in? canvas?

[GPW]

Eagle , you got it Right !!! Better that right !!! You're camping already !!!
Now with so many innovations going on at the same time ,it's difficult to pick just one thing that works ... It's just another building material and it's How you use it !!! With so many great minds working on this , I'm sure things will develop in a most positive direction ... the more of these we build , the more we learn ...

Pat , anxious to see what you come up with ...

[eaglesdare]

http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=43987

that link is to pats build journal. he has started.

[Steve_Cox]

I just read this thread for the double entendres GPW, always hoping you can do a triple which is extremely rare in forum land.

Today though was different, I had a vision of how to make the top corners of a bread loaf type camper in foam. Now to experiment with the kerf cuts to make the perfect 1/4 ball radii.

[pat g]

Hey Steve,

Would be cool if you get the kerfs figured for a 1/4 sphere!

I plan to use the 2 inch foam on the roof and kerf cuts to make my radius. My front radius is 24" and the other curve is pretty gentle. Should not be a problem. I'll let you know how it works out.

Gotta work on my truck today so may not get much done on my build until Monday.

Pat G

[eaglesdare]

i asked hubby if tomorrow before we do anything else, if we could weigh the foamie. he said yes. he wasn't thrilled, but he said yes. so hopefully tomorrow we will know that answer to the question.

[GPW]

THANK YOU Eagle !!!! (and Hubby)

Steve , Cool idea !!! Just another great design element to add to the knowledge base...

Pat , I'm using 2" foam for my roof too ... that's pretty Stiff, not very Hard to Erect a strong structure without the Wood ... Eagle used the thinner foam ... hence the flimsy Performance issues ... But if you Feel you need the extra Enhancement , then go for it .... Stronger is always better ... and the extra added weight is probably not much a concern ...