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david a. Samba Artist/Designer

Joined: February 22, 2005 Posts: 248 Location: Los Angeles
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 11:51 am Post subject: interior panel materials? |
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what is the best and easiest material available at a home depot/lowes to use to make new interior panels. looking for flexability, ease of construction, and durability. eventually these will get covered.
oh and trying to keep it cheap.
i think that fiberboard? hardboard? has been mentioned before, is this correct.
thank you for any input.
david a.
Last edited by david a. on Fri Oct 21, 2005 12:05 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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dembus Samba Member
Joined: February 02, 2005 Posts: 1272 Location: Fleming Island, Florida
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 11:57 am Post subject: |
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I've been looking at that door skin called Luan?? It would definately need to be treated, front and back but it looks nice. It is thin but sturdy, flexible, nice wood finish. It seems like it would be good to cover with fabric too. I don't know how it would react to the elements though. _________________ "Want a little peace of mind, grab the lowest branch and start to climb"
JJ Grey
69 Westy (R.I.P.)
68 Kombi
70 Westy
68 Beetle Sedan
69 Beetle Sedan
68 Deluxe
71 Deluxe
71 HT Westy |
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tjon90 Samba Member

Joined: April 21, 2005 Posts: 32 Location: ENCINO, CA
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 12:04 pm Post subject: HDF |
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I recently rebuilt my front door panels with HDF (high density fiber) board. It's available in 1/8" and you can can get both doors out of a 4'x4' sheet. The HDF is smooth on both sides and takes almost any fabric with 3M super 77. I suppose you could water proof it with a coat of polyurithane or spar varnish.
I think the 4' x 4' sheet cost me $5
I traced the old panels onto the HDF and used a combo of jig saw, roto-zip and drill to cut it out. Any sander will smooth out rough edges.
good luck _________________ 1974 - California 9 seater
Casan Red |
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david a. Samba Artist/Designer

Joined: February 22, 2005 Posts: 248 Location: Los Angeles
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 12:08 pm Post subject: |
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is the HDF felixable? can kickpanels be made from it? |
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tjon90 Samba Member

Joined: April 21, 2005 Posts: 32 Location: ENCINO, CA
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 12:24 pm Post subject: HDF |
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It's pretty flexible. The kick panels do require a lot of technique and flexibility when removing and replacing. I actually re used my original kick panels and recovered them in the same fabric as the doors so I cannot say with any authority that the HDF will be flexible enough to do what you have to do to get them in and out.
If flexibility is key there are some great bendable plywoods out there. Do a search and you will find some interesting things not available at lowes or home depot. They are more readily available to cabinet makers and wood workers. They also offer some nicer finishes like birch, mahogany and oak.
If you are going to cover it maybe consider something like acrylic or plastic. you can glue anything to that. _________________ 1974 - California 9 seater
Casan Red |
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deadaheadub Samba Member

Joined: April 18, 2004 Posts: 797 Location: New Mexico
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2005 7:19 am Post subject: |
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If you're going to cover it, 1/8" masonite worked for both the door panels and kicks. Covered in naughahyde with a lining. Flexible to conform to curves. Strong; cheap, $15 for enough to do both kicks and doors. |
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david a. Samba Artist/Designer

Joined: February 22, 2005 Posts: 248 Location: Los Angeles
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2005 7:48 pm Post subject: |
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thank you, very helpful. ill let you all know how it works.
david a. |
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trackwesty Samba Member

Joined: May 11, 2004 Posts: 511 Location: Long Beach, CA
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2005 10:13 pm Post subject: |
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The baltic birch plywood looks really good you can stain it or just put a clear coat comes in 5X5 sheets in 1/8 - 3/4 thickness and most use a exterior grade glue so it hols up pretty well. In California Ganahl Lumber has it in most thickness'
http://www.ganahl.com/ _________________ AKA The Mummy |
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Blaubus Samba Member
Joined: October 25, 2003 Posts: 5153
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 3:26 am Post subject: |
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Quote: |
I recently rebuilt my front door panels with HDF (high density fiber) board. |
tjon90, is this material you are speaking of also called masonite?... or what home depot calls masonite- "hardboard". OR, is this a material that is less dense than masonite , yet more dense than MDF? i find that it is not easy to get masonite to bend enough to make good kick panels. i used to be a woodworker, but wasnt tuned into the sheet stocks cuz all i made was tables and chairs |
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DurocShark Samba Member

Joined: April 05, 2004 Posts: 6635 Location: Crappy town in a crappy state. But the beach is nearby, so I have that going for me.
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 6:01 am Post subject: |
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I miss Ganahl.
If you're just going to stain/finish the panels, you can get away with any thickness within reason except for the front doors. The handles and cranks won't be happy with panels too thick.
Watch out for Lowes or Home Despot. They want serious money for any kind of Birch. _________________ No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow. |
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Adventurewagen Samba Member

Joined: April 14, 2003 Posts: 1583 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 8:25 am Post subject: |
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Just did mine this summer, I have yet to write up a report on it though with all the specs and materials. I should do that.
Anyway I purchased the cheap 4x8 sheets of compressed board with white on one side from Home Depot. Bought a huge roll of 1/4 inch foam from the fabric store and about 6 yds of tan vinyl type material made for ship interiors from the same place. I think the sheets were 12 each, the foam was 60 and the fabric, on sale was like 70.
I cut the panels to shape making sure the waterproof white side was facing the bus, then glued on the foam with some 3m adhesive which was expensive, $8 each. I used 2 and have a 3rd left over. Then with a razor blade I trimmed the excess foam off beveling the edges. Finally we cut the fabric to shape leaving about 8-10 inches excess. I sprayed its backing with 3m jus to get it to kinda stick in the middle, then we used contact cement as recommended by an uphostry guy. That part was the hardest, but it stuck. Pieces look really good and I don't think they'll warp. Easier than working with the wood ceiling I put in last year, much more forgiving when you wrap it in the fabric.
Let me find and post some pics. I had enough material to do every panel inside my bus. Back hatch, just in front of that by the wheel wells, the sliding door, the large panel on the other side and both front doors (not done yet) and the kick panels. Took about 3 weekends solid. _________________ 63 Gulf Blue Notch
71 Sierra Yellow Adventurewagen |
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71_transporter Samba Member

Joined: July 02, 2005 Posts: 823 Location: Southern Illinois
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 9:07 am Post subject: |
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anyone ever use a hard wood for the floor??? _________________ Bryan
Old hippies never Die, They just go up in Smoke!
63 Bug
67 Bug
82 WestfaliaVanagon |
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shampoovta Samba Member

Joined: September 15, 2004 Posts: 108 Location: Ventura Ca.
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 11:52 am Post subject: |
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vw_72camper wrote: |
anyone ever use a hard wood for the floor??? |
I was thinking the same thing. How about bamboo? How much do you need? 9 feet? |
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WestyPop Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2005 Posts: 1734 Location: SoCal
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe it's obvious to all, but make sure you glue in a plastic sheeting "vapor barrier" between the new panel & the door frame, primarily to prevent the door panels from taking on water from the windows. It can also keep a bit more of the humidity out if the vehicle's interior.
Sure wish someone had told me that before my first door panel work years ago.
J.R.
69 Westy |
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ratwell Samba Member

Joined: April 26, 2003 Posts: 8731 Location: Victoria, BC
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tjon90 Samba Member

Joined: April 21, 2005 Posts: 32 Location: ENCINO, CA
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Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 11:57 am Post subject: Masonite is MDF |
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David A.
sorry to get back to you so late.
Masonite is a brand that makes MDF and other products.
Looks like Ratwell has done what your proposing allready and I obviously look great.
good luck, Tjon90 _________________ 1974 - California 9 seater
Casan Red |
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tjon90 Samba Member

Joined: April 21, 2005 Posts: 32 Location: ENCINO, CA
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Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 11:58 am Post subject: Masonite is MDF |
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David A.
sorry to get back to you so late.
Masonite is a brand that makes MDF and other products.
Looks like Ratwell has done what your proposing allready and It obviously looks great.
good luck, Tjon90 _________________ 1974 - California 9 seater
Casan Red |
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Elwood-Bluesvan Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2005 Posts: 520 Location: West Coast
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Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 12:57 pm Post subject: |
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Hi David, As per your PM, I do remember offering to do that for you, however at this time Elwood is torn apart for many things mechanical and I would be unable to do it right. Best of luck with this project, been following myself for future needs. Thanks from me board members for great tips. _________________ '69 westie weekender-1600 sp
" My main Man "
Looking for og steering box |
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hbjester Samba Member
Joined: October 11, 2005 Posts: 10 Location: Pensacola, Florida
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Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 1:19 pm Post subject: |
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Hey Everyone ,
The Idea of hardwood flooring is not hard. The floor needs a subfloor 1/8 inch ply and you can glue any kind of flooring you want like bamboo. If you are trying to to do headliner panels try looking at a cabinet shop for 3mil plywood 12$ for a 5x5 sheet. _________________ Wife's 71 Campmobile shadetree mechanic. Think she likes the bus better than me HA! |
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batjak Samba Member

Joined: November 23, 2005 Posts: 10 Location: Denver, Colorado
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Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 10:58 pm Post subject: |
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i'm kinda late to this, but...
i just bought panels from tmi through mid america and i noticed that the panel have rows of holes drilled in them spaced a few inches apart along the width and probably about 6 inches apart along the height. it helps them flex and with a cover of some kind they are not visible. it wouldn't work if you want a nice finish in a plywood.
now if i could just figure out these f'n clips to mount them i'd be in great shape. _________________ 66 Double Cab
"Good enough is good enough if
your standards are high enough."
-Steve Frykholm |
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