[TheForge] fiberglass?

Thu Mar 11 06:32:05 2004

Phlip, Mike, Ralph, et al,

Working on the truck yesterday I was able to get a mirror and look at a
blind edge of the wall.  It's actually 3/8"-7/16" plywood.  Not your regular
CDX grade either.  Had 4 maybe 5 tight layers,  a marine grade perhaps?
With a thin veneer of fiberglass, you can see the weave under the gelcoat,
it's coarse, about 1/4"+ between fibers.  But looks like a thin coat of
paint on the edge of the plywood, can't see any glass cloth.  I figure they
must make these sides out of tongue-groove plywood glued together and made
one unit with the glass/gel coat.  If I get motivated enough, I'll take out
one of the little side windows to see if it reveals anything.

Thanks everyone for your input.  I'll definitely drill in a graduated manner
to not chip the gel coat.  The plywood seems to offer quite a bit more
flexibility, as far as stabilizing the benches to the side, especially the
shoe racks that will be the height of the truck behind the bulkhead on each
side.

Kevin

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Phlip
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2004 9:42 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [TheForge] fiberglass?

Ene bichizh ogsen baina shuu...

> Thanks Phlip,
>
> I think that would make a great smooth hole, but I'd be concerned it would
> make it even more brittle.  Then give rise to stress cracks across the
wall.
> I might even overdrill the holes and fill around the bolt with RTV or some
> such.  Have to see how patient I am following the instructions on the
> website Charles sent ;)  Kevin

Well, any time I deal with any material, I try to avoid making any holes any
bigger than absolutely necessary, just as a general principle of
construction (I also hafta watch myself- I tend to over engineer ;-) In this
case, with most fiberglas, you're talking a material that doesn't transfer
heat with anywhere near the efficiency that the metals we usually work with
do. Essentially, all you're doing is sealing the edges as you might seal the
ends on a piece of poly or nylon rope- beyond the very small (about a mm,
I'd guess) bit you're melting, you won't be affecting the rest of the fabric
at all- a bolt head would likely cover it and to spare- if you wanted to
make it a bit more secure, and give it a greater immovable/ non-flex area, I
imagine you could add a washer under the bolt head.

But, it's up to you- I'd use plywood, for the combination of aesthetics and
strength ;-)

Saint Phlip,
CoDoLDS

There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well
please.
And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the
consequences. -- P. J. O'Rourke

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