Subject: Re: [harryproa] Bending foam?
From: Gardner Pomper
Date: 3/24/2009, 11:14 PM
To: harryproa@yahoogroups.com.au
Reply-to:
harryproa@yahoogroups.com.au

The pipe idea is a good one. I may try that on a small piece.


This is all for my sidecar for fat people version. I was thinking of using 6 oz everywhere, except under the waterline, where I was going to use a layer of 18oz. Since that is where the bend is, I guess I need to do more testing with the 18oz.

Another possiblity I have considered, and is getting more attractive, is to get some Airex foam for just the highly curved sections. I was thinking of the ww hull with a 12" flat floor, and a 6" radius curve up the sides. If I use corecell for the flat section, glued to 12" strips of airex, then glue more corecell up the sides, then I should be able to bend it. I had a lead on some 3/8" airex a month or so ago that I didn't follow up on, so I don't know if it is still available.

I think it is about time that we talk about how I hire you for some design work on this. I don't want to buy 3/8" airex, if I need 1/2". I just need something preliminary. Or, I can just wait until I have the topsides built, but airex is harder to come by than diamonds nowadays.

- Gardner


On Tue, Mar 24, 2009 at 10:20 PM, Rob Denney <harryproa@gmail.com> wrote:

Sound good to me. I would do some more little panels first. If they
will bend, then the big one should not be a problem. Could also use a
6" radius pipe to bend it over. Is 6 oz the laminate you will be
using on the boat? If not, use whatever you will be using.

regards,
rob



On Wed, Mar 25, 2009 at 10:17 AM, Gardner Pomper <gardner@networknow.org> wrote:
> I tried bending it by hand and it bent unevenly, almost like a crease. If I
> was bending it over a mold, then maybe I could use tiedown straps or
> something and just tighten it once an hour or something. This was a small
> (3"x12") sample piece I was just bending in my hands. I didn't really want
> to waste a whole panel trying something bigger. If I do a 4'x8' panel,
> should I just hang it with straps from the ceiling and pour in sand or
> something to weight it down? Add more sand once and hour or something?
>
> - Gardner
>
> On Tue, Mar 24, 2009 at 8:46 PM, Rob Denney <harryproa@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> G'day,
>>
>> Surprised you needed to cut it for a 6" radius. Slow, steady and even
>> pressure which evenly crushes the foam on the compression face should
>> have done the trick.
>>
>> The depth of the cuts is trial and error, dependant mainly on the
>> radius of the curve and the foam thickness. Deep enough so it bends,
>> shallow enough so it doesn't show on the outside.
>>
>> More, shallower and thinner are best, but time consuming. You should
>> also make sure all cuts are filled with bog before folding otherwise,
>> if water gets in (usually through a skin fitting) it travels along the
>> cuts and eventually gets a bit smelly and messy.
>>
>> regards,
>>
>> rob
>>
>> On Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 12:58 PM, Gardner Pomper <gardner@networknow.org>
>> wrote:
>> > Hi,
>> >
>> > I am experimenting with vacuum bagging and resin infusion for the first
>> > time. I am trying to figure out how to bend the foam. I have tried 2
>> > pieces
>> > of corecell, one 1/2" and one 3/8", both with 6 oz fiberglass on one
>> > side. I
>> > tried using the circular saw, and cut 8 grooves 1" apart, 3/16" deep.
>> > This
>> > allowed me to bend the pieces into 6" semi-circle, but the foam creases
>> > and
>> > you can see the fold lines on the outside of the fiberglass; it isn't a
>> > smooth curve.
>> > Is there some information on how to do this with corecell? I have a
>> > older
>> > booklet that talks about airex, but it is bendable.
>> > Should I be cutting thinner grooves than a circular saw blade? Closer
>> > together? Deeper? Shallower?
>> > Thanks!
>> > - Gardner Pomper
>> >
>
>


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