| Author | Message | ||
| Rob King (Skykingrob)
Registered Member Username: Skykingrob Post Number: 54 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 72.161.20.174 Rating: N/A |
Several weeks ago I started a thread about this and I didn't get very many answers so I thought I would try it again in hopes I might get more answers with options. I am ready to put the ceiling in my coach. I have angle iron running crossways of the coach every two feet the length of the coach. I plan to build panels to stick to these "rafters". I was planning to build the panels from some type of light weight flat material such as paneling, coroplast, etc, covered by 1/4" foam and fabric stretched over it. I was planning on "fastening" the panels to the rafters by using velcro tape but had also thought about using "christmas tree" fasteners. These are my ideas but I want to hear what others have done or if you have other ideas that would work for my situation, please advise. Sorry to keep asking but I want to only do this project once and need to make sure the best answer is what I do the first time. Thanks for your ideas. Rob 91 Prevost LeMirage XL Missouri | ||
| Terry (T3rry)
Registered Member Username: T3rry Post Number: 9 Registered: 2-2010 Posted From: 209.167.172.135  Rating: N/A |
post pictures of what you have to work with, it would make it much easier to make suggestions. | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 1147 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.245.107.30 Rating: |
Rob...there are many "thoughts" on this in the archives.... Lotsa' ways of skinnin' cats. I used 1/16 inch oak plywood, stained white. Others have used many other ideas; all good. Just depends on your approach to it. Check it out. And, if I remember correctly, Dave G has a book on it....available here on this website. (Sold mine, years ago) Keep pluggin'...you'll get THE answer you are looking for.!!!  RCB | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 1238 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 74.4.63.215  Rating: N/A |
I think Ace used "Christmas trees" to attach his ceiling panels and I think Nick Badame used a "velcro type" fastener that has a much tighter hold than standard velcro. You might want to also post this on the BCM BB http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?board=1.0 to get more responses. Although many of us frequent both BBs, there are some that only use one or the other of the BBs. Both BBs are great, but each has their own personality. Jack | ||
| gary throneberry (Garhawk)
Registered Member Username: Garhawk Post Number: 32 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 68.119.106.206 Rating: N/A |
Hi Rob, Your choice method of 'hanging' material from rafters spaced twenty-four inches on center is not nearly as important as the spacing itself. It will be difficult to find a suitable product capable of spanning two feet and sustaining its own weight without sagging. Your best bet will be to add a rafter between each of the existing ones, then fasten your chosen material on twelve inch centers. I believe I posted this answer to a similar question recently. No matter, ask again, same response. | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay)
Registered Member Username: Oonrahnjay Post Number: 526 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 70.60.107.49  Rating: N/A |
Jack Conrad wrote "I think Nick Badame used a "velcro type" fastener that has a much tighter hold than standard velcro." And I was thinking, "I'll mention that Gary Throneberry used a super-velcro in his aviation business that would hold an anvil to the ceiling (OK, ... kinda ...)" and then Gary posts next. I don't know if Gary still has any of this "industrial velcro" that he could supply to you but if not, he should be able to give you a 3M part number to "google" on. If you want to go with a Velcro-type system, this has to be it. BH NC USA | ||
| H3-40 (Ace)
Registered Member Username: Ace Post Number: 1016 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 75.203.68.199  Rating: N/A |
Using Christmas Tree fasteners does allow for easy removal of ceiling panels but, you MUST use a sub ceiling and a finish ceiling to be able to make them work as designed! These are different than what you might be familiar with on car door inner panels. Same principal, just different! These are tow sided or ended where as the door panels are one sided with a flat top on one end! Ace | ||
| Rob King (Skykingrob)
Registered Member Username: Skykingrob Post Number: 55 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 72.161.20.174 Rating: N/A |
I appreciate the answers received so far and the expertise from the group. RC-I did review the archives but did not find all the info I wanted. I do have Daves book I bought 4 years ago when I started this project and have read it as well. I agree, the right answer will be offered by someone, given enough opportunity to give it. Gary-I did remember you mentioning the 12 spacing. I have an idea, see below, that I think might offset the possible sag, what do you think? If you have a 3M part number for the velcro that "hangs anvils from the ceiling" I am all ears(eyes) to know. I was hoping I could offset this sag by using 1/8" luann panel laminated with 1/2" thick blue closed foam sheet insulation then cover this with a very thin fabric to form 4' X 8' panels which I could suspend to the angle iron rafters with 1" wide industrial strength velcro. I had also considered placing christmas tree fasteners up through the luann into predrilled holes in the angle iron using the car door panel christmas trees. Jack-I do also go to the other site but rather than trying to keep up with two posts on separate sites, I planned to run one till it died out then move it to the other site but thanks for the idea. My thoughts don't seem to have been used before in exactly the way I was purposing to use them so what I amy have to do is buy some materials and do a mock up just to see what it will and won't do. If you have more ideas/thoughts, lets hear 'em. Rob 91 Prevost LeMirage XL Missouri | ||
| gary throneberry (Garhawk)
Registered Member Username: Garhawk Post Number: 33 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 68.119.106.206 Rating: N/A |
Hi Rob, First off, the 3M part number is 86283 and, the material is called "Dual Lock". I don't know about hanging "anvils from the ceiling" but, it is very strong. My plan is to use it sparingly (1" X 3/4" strips) directly onto the 3/4" steel rafters in my bus. It will be holding random sized panels of upholstery cardboard covered with finish material (cloth, vinyl, etc.). One more time on the 24" on centers, sagging issue. The attachment of blue foam to the 1/4" luan will not "off-set" the sagging but, only add to it. Then, pile on the finish material and the compound increases. How about this procedure, Rob? Since you already have angle iron rafters on 24" centers, use the money from the luan to install more rafters (i.e., 12" centers). Install the foam in between the rafters inside the half-trays created by the angle iron. Then, attach a light-weight, finish-covered material directly to the underside of the angle iron. This method is not my idea. Marathon coach used the procedure in many of its upscale conversions. You can literally reach up and pull down a panel from one of their ceilings then, just as simply reattach it by pushing the panel back into the dual lock material. | ||
| Debbie and Joe Cannarozzi (Joe_camper)
Registered Member Username: Joe_camper Post Number: 233 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 99.23.140.245  Rating: N/A |
Our entire ceiling was done in 1/2 in plywood front to back creating a "sub ceiling" that IMO needs to be there for sound and temp insulation as well as a good mounting surface for any of the finished part of that same ceiling. The walls as well, top to bottom, 1/2 in ply. The ceilings that you enjoy that Matathon does, first they line the entire inside of the coach with ply. Anywhere you need to secure something from that point on becomes better |
