Thrifty Alternatives ..Building Foam Campers

[GPW]

OUCH !!! Those can hurt .... But ”the show must go on” , so wrap it up good , give him an Advil , and get on with that floor ...

[eaglesdare]

i went shopping today. i got a table saw, and a sander, cinder blocks, fencing and more glue. the really good part is that hubby did not get mad when i told him about the saw. now to figure out how to use this thing. maybe now i can get straight lines.

next time i will get the router. i almost got it today, but just wasn't sure about which one to get. their was a dremmel, skill and the roto zip. each doing differenct things, but some doing multiple stuff, so i just wasn't sure.

[KCStudly]

Eagle, If you do not have any experience with a table saw, especially the smallish entry level ones, you probably will want to get some safety pointers from some one who does. They can be quite dangerous, kick back issues, fingers in the wrong place at the wrong time.

#1 rule, after safety glasses is to use a push stick rather than put your hands anywhere near the blade.
#2 rule, for me, is to always wait until the saw comes to a complete stop before clearing any pieces that did not push well away from the blade after the cut.
#3 rule, use feather boards to hold the part down to the table so that it does not climb up the blade, and they prevent kick back. Long thin cuts are likely to become high speed spear like projectiles that shoot out of the saw back toward you if not checked by a feather board.

I am sure that there are better trained and more experienced people than me that can give you some tips. Start by actually reading the safety precautions that came with the saw.

Just want you to be safe.

[eaglesdare]

thanks kc. they showed me that push stick at the store. i am not yet ready for using that machine, so i will read the booklet in the meantime. for now, i am almost ready to start destroying the shell that was being built. going to see what i can salvage after the destruction.

[Wolffarmer]

That push stick is only slightly better than not having one. imho. I don't suppose you got a Sawstop.

If got one of those hubby would still be passed out. Those are down right expensive but a very good saw. And about the safest one out there.

Sawstop

Randy

[eaglesdare]

that is pretty cool! mine was a cheap model (in price at least), so i am not sure if that safety feature was included. i some how doubt it though.

destruction of the second foamie is complete. so i have some pieces of foam that i can use for the new shape. but some is pretty beat up, so i will be buying some more foam panels for the shell. this old stuff will be perfect for the interior furnishings.

now want to hear a mystery? there were two groups of bubbles on the roof of my foam. like moles on top. so what do you think would have caused that? this one has been tarped since it was put together. no bubbling on the sides, front or back, just on the top. none on the inside. this was just plain foam, no glue, paint or canvas. i might have to get a pic tomorrow of it. they were solid and hard also, like expanding foam hills. i know i can't really describe it. but this could be a problem if foam expands and in hill like fashion. perhaps what ever has caused this is what caused the bubbles on my first foamie..maybe its not caused by the cinch straps after all.
hubby was trying to drink his portion of the 500lbs of beer today, so he ended up doing yard work. maybe tomorrow i can talk him into doing the floor. i would attempt it, but i just can't lift it. and until the floor goes in, i am at a stand still. i want the floor in so i have accurate measurements.

so thats all i got for today.

[Wolffarmer]

About the bubbles. Could it be a surface contamination?

Randy

[eaglesdare]

About the bubbles. Could it be a surface contamination?

Randy

what do you mean, like what?

[KCStudly]

I'm wondering if it is heat blistering from direct sunlight.

Is it the pink or blue?

[pete42]

Louella some saws come with a push stick but none of them come with extra fingers so be careful

a sawstop can be added to most table saws or they sell saws with them already attached.
a very good thing to have even though it ruins the device it's better than losing a finger
check out utube to see haow they work.

pete

[Wolffarmer]

A Sawstolp can't be added to any saw. It is only on the Sawstop saws starting at a couple grand or so. Nice saws from what fellow lumber jocks say but the community is up in arms at how the inventor seems to be forcing other makers to buy his technology. Many experienced wood workers will not have it, including a cousin of mine. For us fair to midlin wood workers might be worth it if you can spend that much extra for a saw that will take up a chunk of your bank account and space in your area.

I have heard rumors about other methods but have yet to hear of any proven to the extent of Sawstop.

When I worked at Dell I once talked to their IT guy and he told me that at that time the worst injury required a couple of stitches. It does work. And when it fires it will cost $100-$200 bucks in destroyed blade and brake parts. But that is way better than a mutilated hand.

Randy

[TJinPgh]

Pet Pics ...
Every morning I come out here and do my “net” thing, dark and quiet , except for some occasional splashing sounds ..
Turns out I’ve had a pet Toad living in the Studio for months ... I wondered how he stayed alive , and this morning found out .... He has a regular soak in the dog bowl ... Might have to give him a name ... I have noticed a lack of bugs in here lately ...
Now , back to Foamies

Definitely explains it. Though I hope the dog doesn't drink out of that bowl a lot.

Frogs (or toads in this case) give off quite a few toxins. An occasional dip in his bowl probably wouldn't hurt him, but it can accumulate in the dog's system over time.

If you do plan on letting him hang around, best to make sure you wash out the dog's bowl before letting him drink out it. Wouldn't want him getting sick.

[GPW]

I scrub that bowl thoroughly every day , before I refill it , or the dog can get to it ... I tried to move the Toad outside , but he hops away inside ... seems to like it here ...

Pretty weird about that foam .... never seen that before ...

[eaglesdare]

I'm wondering if it is heat blistering from direct sunlight.

Is it the pink or blue?

i'll take a pic or two in a bit. this foam has been under tarp the whole time, since march.
the foam was brand new, the tarp was brand new. no direct anything was hitting the foam.

but i now have concerns about this. i have accepted the first foamie has bubbles, they are hard, hasn't changed anything but the look to the camper (that i know of). that camper is still a very solid piece.
but after the time and money i will invest in the second one, i will be very p.o'ed if it bubbles. why does my foam bubble!!!!!!!!!!

there is scrap foam out back, just thrown about in the junk piles, no bubbling, no damage, just lots of slugs. have i mentioned around here, slugs love foam. anyway, i have junk/scrap pieces that are out in the weather and nothing happens to them. i have foam that i tarp and the top bubbles. i just don't get it. or is that my answer right there? not to wrap? maybe i should just let the foam alone. i just don't get it. gpw has his foamie out in the weather and he says no bubbles. he also has not tarped or covered. i wonder about the rest of the foamies out there, are they tarped? there just has to be a reason for this, and i need to figure it out.

[eaglesdare]

oh i keep forgetting to mention that the destruction of a foamie isn't as easy as you would think. its also not that hard, but it shows me that they are quite sturdy. now about the hammer....yes, i took a mallet to it, to hit some of the joining pieces apart. after cutting with the jigsaw thru the gg, and after removing the nails, it took a few good wacks to completely seperate the pieces. this one was a pretty strong box, and the only thing holding this one together, was the gg and a few nails(screws). but there was no inside supports, it was just basically a box.