Bamboo DIY Headliner

[VeeDub1971]

I've been on the samba for quite a while, but just recently actually registered, I saw some very cool stuff all around, especially a diy bamboo headliner. My headliner is in horrible condition, and I searched around for a tutorial or a guide on how to make the bamboo style one but couldn't find any, so my goal is to document how I make it so others can too.

I'm hoping it will turn out something like

The first step towards this is to take the existing headliner out, I did not want to save mine so I cut it out, marking where the supports were that kept it up, those locations will be important later. After you take out the headliner, take out all the gross insulation in there. I will replace the insulation before installing the actual new headliner.

[VeeDub1971]

Update: I bought some thin, relatively cheap and thin 10' piece of pine molding from Home Depot to hold the bamboo reids in place. I found out that I will need to bend them into shape but actually bending them to the right height and shape without cracking them is quite a feat, I managed to fine the exact length through trail and error (50 3/8"). This is for a 1971 Bus, I am unsure if other years will need a different length.

I am going to secure the by attaching it to the upper lip where the headliner was. I'm using adjustable clamps to hold the wood in place and bend it over a period of about three day, tightening them slowly as not to crack the wood (at least intervoles of 3 hours.) Eventually I want the wood to lay flush with the metal. I have also been misting the wood with water about a foot from either end (not sure if that's helping or not?)

Also be careful not to pinch any wires that may be up there

[69Weekender]

Following
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Mitchell
ISO any California Road Runner Camper parts or info
1969 California Road Runner Camper: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=646780
2015 Toyota Tacoma V6 4x4
Past:
01 Honda Insight, 06 Beetle TDI, 77 Toyota, 96 Geo Metro, 06 Tacoma, 13 Jetta Wagon, 05 Jetta, 96 Corrado VR6
Other ICE Machinery: Alco 251F 16v & 8v

[Charlie57]

I am editing my first response because I thought the wood was wrapped in vinyl but it's not. If you were going to cover the wood in vinyl or something similar you could cut relief marks on the back and fill them with bondo. Leaving the wood fully exposed I think doing what you are doing now they will eventually crack. Youtube bending wood and you will see where they do this with water.
Best of luck will follow your progress.
Charlie

[VeeDub1971]

[danfromsyr]

steaming the wood around the locations to bend should help quicken the pace and minimize the risk of cracking.. jut make sure they're good and saturated
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[Tcash]

Tea Kettle Steaming
Tea kettle on a boston burner with a length of hose attached to the spout?

[SGKent]

Q. How many people here have experienced fog in their buses, or the inside soaked from condensation?

anyone who owns a bus knows how wet the interior skin and glass get when it is cold out - especially if driving in a heavy rain and the heater is on. I've seen fog coming out of the heating vents in heavy rain like that. A bamboo roof will be fun - I love the smell of wet bamboo. Wood also swells when it gets wet. Maybe consider using a clear coat on it to help seal it from the moisture.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[VeeDub1971]

[SGKent]

some people make a PVC or ABS pipe steamer where the steam enters one side and exits the other.


Link

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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

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I achieved the bent wood slats using 3 layers of thin plywood glued together.

You put glue between all the layers, I just jammed pieces of wood to hold the curve. When the glue dries the arch is permanent.

Not a van, but same principles apply.

[VWDog]

If you are going to steam them, which seems like a reasonable method, from a boat builder's perspective I would first get those pieces of, probably kiln dried, wood soaking in some water for a while. The steam set-up posted by SGKent looks pretty sweet, if somewhat elaborate. The main thing is to get a volume of good HOT steam in the tube, or box or whatever. Gaps in the set-up shouldn't be too great, but they can be a good indicator of whether you have 'good' steam or not.

If you are just wanting to bend the tightest bends, rags wrapped around those areas and repeatedly soaked with boiling water might do the trick to loosen up the fibres and get them slipping against each other. But a form to bend them over might be helpful.


The glued laminate method like this:

[VeeDub1971]

I like the idea of thin plywood glued together, it seems like it would work well.
And before I get too far along I would like to put some insulation/sound dampening material up there, does anyone think this stuff will work??
http://m.homedepot.com/p/E-O-12-in-x-15-ft-Self-Stick-Foam-Foil-Duct-Insulation-FV516/100028603

[raygreenwood]

Steaming is great....but not really necessary. If you are not in a hurry and can make the forms you need or use the roof curve as a form in some way....and its been done this way for centuries...you can simply put the wood in hot water first and then leave it soaking for a couple of days to saturate. It becomes pliable. Clamp it into place and let of dry for a couple weeks...or you can rig up a tent with a hot air heater.

In many cases... for ship and architectural timber they would soak it for long periods (big pieces of wood)...block and tackle it into place on the form...and then load the wood and the forms into a kiln to dry it.

Several ways to skin the cat including that cool steamer that SGKent posted ...which for thn pieces may be ideal. Ray

[69Weekender]

[scubasteve321]

Any update? I'm itching to do this as well
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1971 Campmobile Tin-Top
1971 Campmobile Pop-Top
1974 VW Bus

[VeeDub1971]

No update yet, I've been super busy with school work, my next step is to insulate the roof (probably with self adhesive duct insulation without fiberglass) I've gotten bamboo blinds from lows and I have to figure out how to attach them, I'm working on it though bear with me

[scubasteve321]

any update?
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1971 Campmobile Tin-Top
1971 Campmobile Pop-Top
1974 VW Bus