Started cutting wood for all these bits.
wood
- Bus
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Panels and ply experiments
Goofing around with the panel stuff. I’m finding steel framing affords a lot of flexibility for interesting ways to connect stuff. Precision cutting plywood sucks. I hate working with wood. Got the last interior surfaces on the bed area. This was a pain in the butt too, because of tight clearances and the need to […]
Why steel tube frames?
Kiln dried untreated Douglas Fir 2″x4″ (actual 1.5″x3.5″) lumber is specified to weigh 1.28 lbs per linear foot. This can change with prolonged exposure to humidity and variation in suppliers, species, and other variables. 1″x1″x.065 seam weld ASTM steel tube is .814 lbs per linear foot. With ends fixed, the calculated deflection for a 4′ […]
- Bus
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Shower frame
I need to come up with a shower door I’m happy with probably. The hole is drilled in the floor for the drain, so that’s cool. Door latches are nice. The entrance door closes with a nice automotive style “thunk” and locks. I have a neat spring retracting air ram and a pneumatic circuit (not […]
Paneling progress
More paneling installed. Got the insulation behind the bunks complete, and fitted the odd shaped panels behind it. I think the next thing will be some misc framing to connect the sides, and the galley and pantry cabinets. Windows show up next week, I have an air nibbler ready to chop big holes in both […]
First draft of new layout
Some modeling work in progress shots. Interior framing will be 1×1 16 gauge (.0625) wall tubing. At .83 lbs/foot, it’s lighter than kiln dried 2×4’s (approx. 1.2 lbs/foot), and if some care is given to the way it’s assembled, should be strong or stronger than a wood structure. For example, the overhead storage structure near […]
Bunk bed idea
I think at the beginning of this project I had envisioned bunks that were fixed, like little kennels or cubbies that the kids can hide in. Recently though, I’ve come to terms with the limited space inside the bus, and I think that foldable “murphy” beds are the best option. This setup with a tall […]
Foam cake recipe.
The foam insulation is a couple layers. There are two foam layers, with the foil backing facing both the outside and the inside. I’ll describe it here: 1. Exterior Sheet metal 2. Small air gap where possible (approximately 1-2 mm) 3. 2″ polystyrene foam a. foil backing b. 2″polystyrene c. poly plastic substrate 4. Mylar […]
Floor progress
Floor support rails installed. They are cut down pressure treated 2×4’s to 2″ tall, to accommodate 2″ foam insulation. The fasteners used are 1-3/4″ self tapping hex head screws with a washer head. They are countersunk into the wood. I’ll be applying some sealing primer to the untreated surfaces of the strips, as well as […]
Thoughts on foam insulation for a metal bus
Some folks were asking about different foam types, I’d say go with the polyiso, it’s a better insulator. The reason I went with the EPS is more to do with cost than anything else. There is a rule of diminishing return on engineered or installed R value for a given structure, and for my needs, […]