General Problem Solving ...

[Mary C]

Thanks KC Now for my Problem (IN MY DESIGN) I plan to make a foam shelf for my kitchen for food preparation. First I can cover with canvas but I am thinking what to use, to make it food grade serviceable, water proof and and Clorox proof and cleanable!!! What would you do? Thinking foamie.

Mary

[GPW]

Mary, what about insetting a Formica counter top dropout ( Thrifty) into your foam shelf ...or using a plastic liner over it ? ... the thing is , try Not to think RV , Think “Camping” ...

[Wobbly Wheels]

I'm getting ready to start my counter top so I've been kicking ideas around for a while. I think I'm going to use a 1" foam core, 1/8 luan adhered with latex contact cement, then a laminate glued onto that. It should make it easy to clean and still provide enough thermal break that the foam doesn't melt. Of course it won't tolerate sitting a hot pan directly on it, but that's to be expected. The nosing and the one exposed end will be trimmed in solid wood (probably Douglas fir)

Once I get this water tank done and laid out in the trailer, I'll be starting the counter top.
I've got the materials, I just have to get the tank off the bench so I have the space !
I'm going to do some testing shortly to be sure it works - I'll post pics and results in my build thread.
Part of that will be using a pot of boiling water: stay tuned. (gotta love destructive testing!)

[KCStudly]

Well, TPCE hybrid has, ...frankly, a huge amount of wood in it... by choice. Never the less, and despite the weight penalty, I am seriously considering skinning my future 1/2 inch ply counter top in .06 thk (16 ga) stainless steel, #4 brush finish, either screwed down at the perimeter using SS flat/socket head screws or contact adhesive.

I can do a Z-bend with a short trim lip folded down at the front of the counter (rear of galley), and a larger back splash lip folded up at the rear of the counter (front of galley).

MaryC, have you looked at FRP? You could wrap the foam then adhere a piece of FRP on top, trim the edge in alum. or wood. Won't take a hot pot, but would be suitable for wash down. Cuts okay with a plywood blade in the circular saw if you don't push too fast (can chip out if too fast). Some people even turn the blade around backwards to cut it, which tends to reduce chipping.

[Mary C]

Thanks for your answers,
I have a hobby which is: I enjoy cast iron trivets, I collect them too. I have about 30 or so. and you know I will be taking a couple along camping and after really thinking about the shelf. I called my friend who used to own a paint store. He suggested NO hot pans. I could cover the foam in in canvas and paint then he suggested the spray paint you can use for making something look like stone then use lots of polyurethane coats and coats with sanding, lots of sanding. I would really love to top with Formica that would be so easy and clean compared to the other but I am interested in how yours comes out so please take pictures and let us know. I may get one one inch sheet of foam this weekend. I have determined just how to lay out the shelves and other support pieces so I will cut it into pieces at the Depot so it will fit into my little car. I have lots of small pieces of canvas so I can at least start my shelves. I am trying to find my cord that came with my camera to up load pictures to my computer. I found out that, for what it is worth I will buy a new printer this next week because for what the ink cost for the one I have now i could buy a new printer and 2 black and 2 color inks. The only other thing I use the printer for is to download my pics. I can not on the one I plan to buy so Gotta find my cord. I am taking pictures and will get them on as soon as possible.

[Ned B]

I'm a Long way from building my foamie, but I'll chime in here on the counter question/topic...
Knowing my skill set, my Foamie will likely be a hybrid as well, and the galley section will wind up being a plywood construction of some sort & here is why:
I think there does come a point when you have to build what is functional out of useful materials. I understand that using plywood where it may delaminate etc... is something to avoid, as well as keeping the weight down etc... but let's think practical as well. If what you're looking to do is hold up cooking utensils etc. in a galley, at worst I'd put in that one piece of plywood or melamine and call it done. Another alternative is to get a short piece of pre-fab countertop from the Borg (that's woodworker speak for Home Despot etc...)
Mine will probably be more like what we used to haul around for scouting campouts... more of a chuck wagon/box affair. Back then we'd haul it out of the back of a pickup and put it up on a picnic table, but it was basically a box that one side opened up and had cubbies for storage, a small counter top for food prep and then an area below where we could keep water jugs/coolers etc...

[GPW]

Since we have no Rules here , please do what YOU feel is right and correct for your needs ..... We’ve much discussed the pros and cons of many and various Foamie Fabrication methods ... so choose what YOU like !!!

Then take a lot of pictures and tell us all about it ....

[ghcoe]

I been thinking of using Tileboard (Thrifty White Hardboard Panel Board). It is hardboard with a tile like coating on one side. Usually they come in a pattern of some sort, but I have found it in a solid white at HD. I was going to make the shelf out of foam and then cut a piece of this to fit on the top. Would give a nice cleanable surface that should be fairly resistant to heat and most every day kitchen type use. This hardboard is tempered on the non coated side so should be fairly rot resistant especially when treated proper.

http://www.homedepot.com/Lumber-Composi ... reId=10051

[Mary C]

Building to be thrifty and light weight!! Very light weight!!!!

George is that the board they use as walls inside showers and use for the surface for "white boards" you can write on it with erasable markers? I have thought of using, it is about 1/8 thick but I am not sure how it will hold up ? They came in 4x8 sheets. I got some on sale several years ago for cheep because the pallet fell off the lift and got corner damage. what do you think GPW?

Mary

[GPW]

Mary , depends on a number of factors .... How Big is your trailer going to be , and how much Food prep are you doing ??? Think I’d go with the foam with canvas and use a few rollup plastic cutting boards ... All cleans easily with Vinegar ... Not hot pots of course , but you’ll likely be cooking outside anyway ... (camping) Mr. Coffee wouldn’t hurt the foam ... Go simple , you can always upgrade if necessary ... Nothing like that first trip to tell you what you need ... or what you should have left at home ...

[Mary C]

Building light weight and thrifty!!

GPW, I have been camping all my life so I know what I need for a kitchen but I just need to make my top of foam as my kitchen counter. I sew so I came up with some different Ideas. I will share them when I can find my camera cord. and learn how to get pictures on here. can I up load straight from my computer?

Thanks
Mary

[wagondude]

Start here for info on uploading pics : viewtopic.php?f=26&t=49037

After you create your gallery, go here to find out how to add to your post: viewtopic.php?f=26&t=48764

[Mary C]

Thanks Bill !!!
Mary

[ghcoe]

Building to be thrifty and light weight!! Very light weight!!!!

George is that the board they use as walls inside showers and use for the surface for "white boards" you can write on it with erasable markers? I have thought of using, it is about 1/8 thick but I am not sure how it will hold up ? They came in 4x8 sheets.
Mary

Yes.

[Wobbly Wheels]

FYI, I just added the counter top heat test to my build thread.
A 1" foam countertop core covered in 1/8 luan does work. Scaled up, it should work great.
I'm covering mine with laminate, but one could use hardboard, canvas, or whatever.