Printable Version | Subscribe | Add to Favourites
<<  1    2  >>
New Topic New Poll New Reply
Author: Subject: Plug fabrication - fragile foam?
Avoneer

posted on 6/6/04 at 08:58 PM Reply With Quote
If you use the foam as originally planned, couldn't you then cover it with just fibreglass resin? Have seen this done before and it works.
Pat...





No trees were killed in the sending of this message.
However a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.

View User's Profile E-Mail User Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
stephen_gusterson

posted on 6/6/04 at 10:11 PM Reply With Quote
UK readers have something equivalent called

the yellow pages


duh

atb

steve





quote:
Originally posted by pbura
quote:
Originally posted by sgraber
Wow Pete, that's a good list. Please don't tell me you googled it! I'd be embarassed. heheh I went to H Depot and didn't see the pink stuff. What department is it in? Not construction materials. At least not in Phoenix, but maybe it's a regional thing.


Nah, it was from some online Yellow Pages (commercial phone directory for UK readers).

Come to think of it, the pink board has limited usefulness even in my area. I put some under a wood floor on a concrete slab porch once, but can't think of anywhere else I'd use it. May be NFG in AZ because of termites, which are not much of a threat here.

One thought I've had for filling the gaps is to cross-brace between the profiles, staple chicken wire 1/2" below the surface, and fill with plaster. I'd think that this would be very fragile, though (wouldn't dare moving it without many hands), and that you'd only get one shot at making a mold.







View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member
pbura

posted on 6/6/04 at 10:40 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by stephen_gusterson
UK readers have something equivalent called

the yellow pages


duh


Wasn't sure, exactly Now you know what a big-time traveler I am.

Pete





Pete

View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member
MustangSix

posted on 7/6/04 at 02:23 AM Reply With Quote
Steve, maybe I misunderstood the type of foam you are using, but I thought it was rather thin strips that you were going to lay over the outline of your form.

What I had in mind is similar to the method used by some artists to make large scale figures. Wire mesh over a buck, layered with plaster, then formed to shape. Kind of like a stucco house or plaster wall, but with shape. window screen is pliable enough to form but stiff enough to hold a shape.

Not sure if the technique would work, but it's an idea.






View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
marc n

posted on 7/6/04 at 07:21 AM Reply With Quote
the foam we have used was purchased from a company who makes industrial buildings, it is used as insulstion in the roof and wall structures, comes in 8 x 4 sheets. not too expensive cuts and sands very easily. We have sucessfully used this to make the bucks for all the bodywork on our car.

regards

marc

NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
View User's Profile E-Mail User Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
sgraber

posted on 7/6/04 at 05:09 PM Reply With Quote
Thanks Marc, that's helpful.

I bought some 2" (5.08cm) 4'x8' styro sheets from the hardware store, But I need to glue them together (stack) to make enough height between my ribs. Any suggestion on adhesives to use for bonding Styro that I can still use a hotwire with?

Graber





Steve Graber
http://www.grabercars.com/

"Quickness through lightness"

View User's Profile E-Mail User Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
chrisf

posted on 8/6/04 at 12:33 AM Reply With Quote
Foam Source

Don't you live in the Pheonix area?? I suspect that construction is booming near you. Perhaps you could pull midnight shopping spree for the sheets of foam.

Or if you are honest (like me) you can offer $10 to the framers and they will look the other way.

View User's Profile E-Mail User Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
marc n

posted on 8/6/04 at 12:56 AM Reply With Quote
what about model shops, thought that some models where made from styro foam, i.e plane wings etc. we used sikaflex to bond all the pieces of insulation foam but not sure if this is ok for the foam you are using. After all the hours we have had making our seven type bodywork my hat goes of to you, A project of that size is a lot of work, but it certainly looks like you are going to have a very nice looking car indeed at the end

regards

marc

[Edited on 8/6/04 by marc n]

NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
View User's Profile E-Mail User Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
sgraber

posted on 11/6/04 at 03:41 PM Reply With Quote
Well, foam carving is well coming along. Styrofoam adhered between mdf ribs using liquid nails construction adhesive. It eats the foam a little, but cures to a skin fast enough that the bond is acceptable.

I've already decided that I am going to skim the foam with a layer of drywall mud to fill in the really low spots and big gaps between the panels, then skim that with a layer of strand reinforced body filler for hardness, then continue out over top of that with another layer of drywall mud so that I can final shape and sand with ease. Covering that will be Kilz Hifill primer and possibly a final coat of Duratec. But I'll wait for that.

To me, this seems like a fairly efficient and cost effective method.

And speaking of costs. To create the entire front of the car - up to the windshield - I used about $15 worth of foam sheets, about $7 worth of adhesive, $7 of wood for the ribs and .50 cents worth of NiChrome wire.

Foam Front Finished
Foam Front Finished


[Edited on 6/11/04 by sgraber]





Steve Graber
http://www.grabercars.com/

"Quickness through lightness"

View User's Profile E-Mail User Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
Spyderman

posted on 14/6/04 at 01:59 PM Reply With Quote
Wow!

That is taking shape very quickly!

A bit late now but you could have used predrilled holes in the ribs and used cocktail sticks for fixing the foam in with.

Guess you have it all sussed now though!

Looking good!

Terry






Spyderman

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
locoboy

posted on 15/6/04 at 08:41 AM Reply With Quote
what a fantastic thread, this goes to show the kind of people that are members on here, all willing to stick their idea forward and nobody is beaten down for a bad idea, they are all considered on their merits.

I dont think there is a lot that cant be achieved with the wealth of knowledge and practical solutions available on here.

big pat on the back for everyone i think and an extra big one for Steve for actually taking some of the advice and trying it!

Looking good too Steve





ATB
Locoboy

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
Peteff

posted on 15/6/04 at 09:47 AM Reply With Quote
It looks real, already.

Those are the styrofoam billets I was on about earlier. Are you using gypsum plaster over the top of it? Body filler, bondo I think you call it, would be better but more expensive. The "drywall mud" is easily disturbed if you flex it in any way. It should be o.k. if you are taking the mould from it without removing it though.





yours, Pete

I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
Dale

posted on 15/6/04 at 12:17 PM Reply With Quote
This is insperational as I have to build a custom back end for my build and hopefully one piece hood with scoop and rad shroud (hotrod style front end)
Nice hint with the hot wire cutting--how are the fumes??
Dale

View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member
sgraber

posted on 15/6/04 at 02:58 PM Reply With Quote
Thank you guys. Not a negative comment throughout the thread really... Amazing. Encouraging.

I received several emails from some people experienced in drywall who were concerned about the gypsum based drywall just like yourself Petef. The concensus is that I should mix up a batch of the powdered plaster. It reacts chemically to dry, dries in 1/2 the time (not really an issue when its 105f outside) but more importantly is waterproof and much harder then the stuff I am using. If it weren't over foam, I wouldn't worry about it so much. But there are certainly areas of the body right now that are still eggshell thin and they break with the lightest touch. I think it's almost essential to get a harder coat on there.

The wire cutter does make fumes that are a little irritating. I use a fan to blow them away while I am cutting. From what I have read PolyStyrene (open and closed cell) is not toxic, Polyurethane is supposedly very, very toxic!

I also read Paul Stockleys latest update about making the seats for his LMP. He made a hotwire too. Much, much nicer than mine (as is everything he does) but he used mig welding wire in place of the nichrome wire. Simple and even more convenient for most of us since we now don't even have to leave the building to make the cutter!

[Edited on 6/15/04 by sgraber]





Steve Graber
http://www.grabercars.com/

"Quickness through lightness"

View User's Profile E-Mail User Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
PHULL

posted on 16/6/04 at 05:36 AM Reply With Quote
dsss

you could staple laging wire to the wood forms if you wanted it wo bond together
View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member
chrisf

posted on 16/6/04 at 01:20 PM Reply With Quote
Powder Plaster

Is Plaster of Paris the stuff used for this??
View User's Profile E-Mail User Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
sgraber

posted on 16/6/04 at 03:44 PM Reply With Quote
I don't think so. It's a product called Durabond and it's available in the USA in all hardware stores. It's specifically for wall application. It's waterproof after hardened.

Steve

View User's Profile E-Mail User Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
chrisf

posted on 16/6/04 at 04:50 PM Reply With Quote
What section of the depot did you get this stuff?
View User's Profile E-Mail User Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
Dale

posted on 16/6/04 at 06:29 PM Reply With Quote
The durabond stuff is great as in its origanal use I have used it for doing arches ect when I renavated the last house. You can lay it up thick to a half inch or more thick and If I remember right it comes in 20,40,and 90 minute formulas. Just remember to get it formed and sanded quick as its a bastard to sand afterwards as its very hard.
Dale

View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member
<<  1    2  >>
New Topic New Poll New Reply


go to top






Website design and SEO by Studio Montage

All content © 2001-16 LocostBuilders. Reproduction prohibited
Opinions expressed in public posts are those of the author and do not necessarily represent
the views of other users or any member of the LocostBuilders team.
Running XMB 1.8 Partagium [© 2002 XMB Group] on Apache under CentOS Linux
Founded, built and operated by ChrisW.