| Author | Message | ||
| Brian (Bigbusguy)
Rating: N/A |
I been replacing my floor in my 4905 and in the bedroom. I want to put some thing on it like paint or? To protect it during the converson. And keep it from getting all stained. I plan on carpet for the bed room when closer to finishing. I dont want to use a water sealer. Any ideas ? Brian 4905 Klamath Falls Oregon | ||
| Marc Bourget Rating: N/A |
Brian, Replacing or recovering? Luke at Bussin'2002 stressed in his lecture that the floor is an essential structural member, especially in the rear of the bus. Are you replacing with the equivalent of the high quality plywood originally used by the GM Factory? Are you using the same type and number of fasteners? Is the wood orientated in the same way/pattern? Sumthin to thunk about! Marc | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A |
PAINT....any color...my friend found some terrible blue paint at a discount junk store for 2.00 a gallon,knowing he was going to cover it with carpet...AND....paint the edjes....that's not spelled right ...edjge..edge...hey..it's 4:00 in the morning... | ||
| Marc Bourget Rating: N/A |
2Ds reminded me. If you seal it remember, in addition to the edges, paint/seal both sides as well, i.e., all surfaces. | ||
| Brian (Bigbusguy)
Rating: N/A |
Replacing it all Marc Yes I know the floor is part of a structural member. But what I did not know when I removed the rear part over the axle there is a thick piece of aluminum over the entire area fastened down very well tied to the air bag beam and walls . I dont see even with out plywood that the bus could twist in that aera. The plywood I used was the best Home-depo sells Im sure the trees used to make it are just as good as the trees used to make the GMC ply wood. Over the axle I use to thinner sheets and glued them togther to make one large one like GMC had in there. And I used more fasteners then GM and I used what was localy avalble. So every thing is as good or better then GMC did. Im also going to spray the wheel wells with bed liner stuff to make sure if stays dry and help with any wheel noise. And I know what Im doing is better then covering over a bad floor . I may go to the local boat yard and check out some of there paint . But Im sure just haveing the word boat on the can of paint It price is 50 time higer then house type. Brian 4905 Klamath Falls Oregon | ||
| DMDave Rating: N/A |
Forget boat yard paint, try some porch and floor enamel. takes a while to dry, tough stuff tho. | ||
| Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)
Rating: N/A |
Right, porch and floor enamel. That is what the conversion company used in all my exposed plywood in some of the bays. Thin it about 30% with mineral spirits (paint thinner) to use it as its own primer coat so it will soak into the wood surface better. After a day or two apply the finsh coat. Porch and floor enamel is also a good metal paint, so get a color you like and use it wherever you need paint. | ||
| John that newguy Rating: N/A |
What the hell's wrong with clear polyurethane or simple varnish? | ||
| Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Rating: N/A |
Just a question, was the GM plywood structural rated? The plywood I have used from home depot has had knots and voids in it. Seems to me that structural plywood would not have voids and would probably use a much higher quality glue and have a much, much higher price. If it were me, I'd like to KNOW before I made a change so as to compensate accordingly. To each his own, I guess. That said, I have no idea where to start looking for 'structural grade' plywood. As to the paint question, a good primer-sealer followed by a decent top coat (primer-sealer protects the wood and the top coat protects the primer) will be the best. Given the total cost of converting in time & money, a few $ more here will give freedom from doing this task again. Good luck | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Rating: N/A |
Hello. I've always been led to believe that we should use a marine grade ply in the bus. There are extremes of humidity inside that many folks don't realize, as well as direct water spray from below in some areas/models. If you don't believe the humidity thing, just check out the swelling of sawdust board construction after a few years in a stick & staple, or your own coach, if you used the nasty stuff... Marine grade ply is more resistant to soaking up the moisture, and withstands it better when it does. ie: the layers stay laminated and structural sound longer. Now, whether regular ply or marine grade is of as much concern to a busnut, as to a commercially operating coach, let the debate rage on! FWIW happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| Brian (Bigbusguy)
Rating: N/A |
Well I talked to several plwood mfg. One local here I spoted box cars to. And the glue used now is all the same . What your paying for is the word "marine" when used in a bus . What you dont find in the marine ply is the small voids in the layers in the middle. I also checked around and most supply places high end type, said why I would want marine ply and almost no one could even get it. Thay all say a good grade ply wood finshed on both sides is the same stuff. I see a lot of posts. You need to use marine wire, marine wood, marine this and that. Lets see boat floats in the water. Bus you drive it on land. The only thing I see the same is both words start with "B" . Maybe some of the cheeper built buses have the plywood exposed to water spray . But the well built GMC's at least a 4905 Have a thick piece of aluminum prectecting the plywood in the areas where the wheels are from road spray and the tires comming apart. Im not going the cheep route on my bus. Any thing I have done is as good or better then was built by GM and most I done is better or improved on. I just dont see the need to wast extra money on some thing becouse it has the word marine in it. Now where do I buy the marine 11.00-24.5 tires? Brian 4905 Klamath Falls Oregon | ||
| Stan Rating: N/A |
You can use any name you want to descibe plywood but the main difference in strength and stability is in the number of plys. High strength 3/4" plywood has seven plies with no voids in any plys and all plys made of the same wood. The plywood usually available at the big box store is five ply and if you buy douglas fir it may have a pine of spruce interior. If I was replacing the floor of a bus I would just take a sample of the old floor to the lumber yard and ask for a direct replacement. | ||
| Brian (Bigbusguy)
Rating: N/A |
The sample I have from my bus is the same as what is avalable local same plies but I got one grade better both sides finished. Yes I can get more ply at $40. more per sheet .But what Im using is the same as GMC in plys I dont know what type of wood is in the factory floor but its not that good or I would not be replacing it. The ply wood has the same Water Boiled Proof (WBP) glue as the ply sold in marine wood supply. Just with out the name Marine to add $$. A lot of things are the same but change the name and people will pay more for it. Just like the metal tubing I bought for my hitch Im bulding for my bus they sell reciver tube at all most $10 per foot more or you can buy the same as normal tubing for $10. less at the same place . If people will pay more just for the name why not charge more for it. I know I should have bought marine tubing. I also know if I was buliding a all wood bus I would use the more ply plywood but Im not just replacing the bad stuff with the same that was on it and NO GMC did not use "marine" ply wood It has voids and open knot holes on the underside. Send me salf addresed stamped box I will send you a peice of it. Thanks for the tip on porch and floor enamel thats what I will use. Brian 4905 (bus not boat) Klamath Falls Oregon | ||
| gusc Rating: N/A |
If the floor plywood is backed by Al sheeting then that is probably the structural component. Plywood is not the greatest structural material since it will depend on the fit of the fasteners. If the frasteners are small and the holes not tight fitting it will provide very little structural strength since the fasteners will tend to tear out the holes. As already mentioned, the edges are the important area to seal. Plywood edges are like sponges and really soak up moisture. | ||
| Bob Oakman (Bobsbus)
Rating: N/A |
You guys are making me nervous now. I just used plain old 3/4" A/C on the floor of my Eagle. I drove it around with no floor or side skin, in or out, and it seemed fine, so I didn't really consider the structural issue when choosing wood for the floor. I hope I'm not going to be in trouble in the future. | ||
| Cliff (Floridacracker)
Rating: N/A |
Bob, If only you had used marine plywood. Hang your head in shame and realize that you will never be able to put pontoons on the side and feel safe in the water. P.S. really enjoyed your conversion pictures. Cliff | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Rating: N/A |
Brian - when i talk about marine ply I'm referencing a product that is treated w/ the likes of Copper arsenate - this is what I mean - http://www.glen-l.com/wood-plywood/boatbuilding-plywood.html Niles | ||
| Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)
Rating: N/A |
Bob, an Eagle does not depend on the floor for structural strength. A 4905 does. | ||
| DMDave Rating: N/A |
marine ply to me is mahogony ply with waterproof glues no voids etc. so when it is soaked when the bilge pump fails it wont rot or swell tho it usually does swell up when really soaked. it looks nice too.I would not use it for a bus.how about nitrogen impregnated arsenic injected cca | ||
| Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)
Rating: N/A |
If you are worried about the quality of the plywood you are using, cut up one sheet into tiny pieces looking for voids. Then take a piece that will fit in a pot and boil it. Then let it sit for a day. If the laminations hold and it has no void it will be fine. That is what is expected of marine plywood. | ||
| gusc Rating: N/A |
Bob, Be brave and keep on busin' | ||
| Bob Oakman (Bobsbus)
Rating: N/A |
OK.  |