Club 80-90 Forums

I was surprised how heavy my holdsworth units were. They were made of a type of Chipboard. They looked as if a high resin content, presumably to repel damp.

I was getting some quotes from an Irish based supplier for the sheet material.

Using the available lite weight plywood cored sheets, specifically designed for weight reduction in camper
units, the prices were astronimical. So if i re vamp and add to the existing, I will be considering using an
alternative material/construction method.

Ahh nice, more specific, nenagh,area
mm

So,
Lightweight 15mm ply construction

Or

Thin ply and frame construction?

Thoughts anyone?


Cheers

Si

Vhoringer board is by far the best/lightest stuff for interiors.Not cheap but well worth it.

You can see why I went for birch ply
6mm birch ply 12kl
Vhoringer 15mm 23kl
and a lot cheaper

metalmick8y wrote:Ahh nice, more specific, nenagh,area
mm

Westmeath, kilbeggan area. bang in the middle

Specialist lightweight material is seriously expensive. But from a diy standpoint for the novice, its ideal.

I have the facilities and the skills to make light weight thin multiply construction, look good, so I may go down that route.

Or revamp existing units, with a bit of solid material, turning....maybe carving ect.

Nothing set in stone at the mo.

Vhoringer board here averages about just under 200 euro a sheet, expensive stuff.

Is there a huge difference in weight between that and say 12mm faced mdf or ply?

Weight wise would I be in the same boat if I had Vhoringer units and a 12 stone passenger

Or 12mm ply units, and no passenger?

Very little difference between 15mm Vhoringer and 12 mm ply but ply less than half the price

nicq wrote:Very little difference between 15mm Vhoringer and 12 mm ply but ply less than half the price

Thats what I was thinking myself.
I,m currently waiting on pricing form this site,

http://designedinlismore.com/poplarplywood.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Anyone any experience of this material??

You can go even thinner than that with some strengthening. I ran a load of 1"x1" pine along the top of the blade on a circular saw to create a channel. From that I created frames into which I could slot ply sheets. Make several and you can glue/screw them together to make a series of small and large boxes that are incredibly strong but light. Its also a very quick way to make a buddy seat.

CovKid wrote:You can go even thinner than that with some strengthening. I ran a load of 1"x1" pine along the top of the blade on a circular saw to create a channel. From that I created frames into which I could slot ply sheets. Make several and you can glue/screw them together to make a series of small and large boxes that are incredibly strong but light. Its also a very quick way to make a buddy seat.

Rebate joints are an excellent way to build in strength.

OP is an experienced cabinet maker so this would be childs play. With suitable framework you could go down to 4mm ply or 3mm MDF and face it. (I hate MDF though so prefer not to use it). The quality of finish depends on the time and skill of OP, if you are a dab hand at veneering it could look stunning, even spraying it with modern paints can look amazing (as with modern MDF furniture) but it may look a bit to modern for a bus of such heritage

Appreciatew the input, thanks

I know I can use a few different types of construction methods, to maximise the strength of thin materials,
thats going to be no problem at all. I have all the gear. I haven't really decided at the moment, whether to stick with

fully restoring the original units, or go for something completely different. Just want to get some sort of focus for the near
future, when I start. When I do get something tangible decided on, I will be sure to bounce it off you guys for your input

Skilset wont be a problem at all, just finally deiciding wots wot, will. You can see here what I have been involved in woodworkwise

http://www.irishwoodwork.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

k

hmm i pass your way every year .will have to call in me thinks.
nice wood butchery there
mm

Well I suppose an open invitation to call whenever you are next passing , is the order of the day so
Only 2 mile from lockes distillery, where you can sample an old dram or 2.

Wood butchery is in the family going back a few years, maybe a wood turning lesson in return for some
mig magic