The Cabinetry...

[Classicvibe]

Does anyone know what that miraculous substance used for the cabinets is/was? I pulled my weekender closet out last night, and was amazed at how light the forward panel holding the speakers is (A/C compartment). I would like to redo that piece, and maybe a couple of others if I can find an adequate replacement material. Yes, the request is a little anal, because a few extra pounds using regular plywood is no big deal, but this material is really cool, and I like "light" as should we all with these anchors. It's like a plastic or foam fused/layered plywood. Neat stuff. I would rebuild all the cabinets if I found the right stuff.

This is all part of my sound proofing/thermal/vibration control experiment. You can follow my brainfart on a thread that has like 3 hits (all mine).
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On a mission, the destination is just an excuse.

Syncro Solstice 2022...see you there!

1986.5 Wolfsburg Syncro Westfalia Poptop Weekender Transporter

[RCB]

Cant exactly say what the original materias is but there is a light weight MDF on the market and its called Trupan.

Try GOOGLE for Trupan and where to get it...I know its light as hell cause as a wood worker Ive had to chug units of it from point A to point B.

There may be an even lighter product on the market too but Trupan would get you started.

[motelvw]

It looks like some sort of Baltic Birch to me (a cabinetmaker). Baltic birch is fairly lightweight and strong. It's what I'd use to replace any panels in my van. Any kind of MDF won't hold fasteners as well as plywood.

[PDXWesty]

Yep, the original was a seven or nine ply baltic birch. You can buy it at any good woodworking lumber store. The big box stores could probably special order it if you asked.
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto

[Classicvibe]

Motel & PDX (as usual) thanks! And RCB, thanks for that recommendation as well. The requirements for this stuff seems simple...have some rigidity, hold small silly screws, be lightweight and strong, easy to clean...I emailed my local wood supplier for the Trupan, but wondering what materials you might choose were you to rebuild a couple of pieces? Any huge advantages to be had by going super hi tec? I will weight that whole box tonight to get a better idea of what I am working with, and to confirm all the material is the same.
_________________
On a mission, the destination is just an excuse.

Syncro Solstice 2022...see you there!

1986.5 Wolfsburg Syncro Westfalia Poptop Weekender Transporter

[RCB]

Hi Guys, one reason I mentioned the Trupan (ultralite) is because of the weight factor. Price could be considered too.
A 1/2" sheet of Baltic Birch weighs in at about 47lbs and the Trupan comes in at 30lbs. The Trupan is pretty dense compared to the Baltic.

For any type of furniture or cabinets that would get a good working over, I would suggest a plywood, but for a small cabinet in a Westy, I thought the Trupan would be an good choice.

It takes a finish real well since its dead flat and hasn't got the voids that are common in todays plys.

For fastening I usually prefer a flat head wood screw and not the speed screws that are normally used. Carpenters glue injected into the pilot hole as well as glue on both sides of the joint can yield a strong union.
If I was to use a 1/2 piece of material I would incorporate a 1 1/2" wood screw as my fasteners.

If a laminate was to be used on top of the substrate, be it a ply or a MDF type of material I would tend to lean towards the Trupan.

If you wanted to go with a beefier material a sheet of 3/4 " Trupan comes in at 60 lbs and the Baltic Birch is a bit heavier at 71 or so lbs.

[ragnarhairybreeks]

I don't find the westy ply to be as dense in ply numbers as some of the baltic birch you can buy. Not saying its not a birch ply, but it "seems" lighter. In any case, the westy ply is pretty durable.

I have to look into the Trupan mentioned, probably a little less expensive than skinned aluminum honeycomb

alistair
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'86 7 passenger syncro, converted to westy pop top, project still in progress
'82 westy, diesel converted to gas in '94, now gone...
https://shufti.blog/
Old address still works...
http://shufti.wordpress.com

[PDXWesty]

Baltic birch comes in all types of grades and plys; 3,5,7,9, all the way up to 13. Depends on what you're looking for.
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto