Am I doing this right?

[seanc]

Hi!

I am a new member fascinated by foamie construction and starting on a project of my own.

I attempted to canvas my first sheet of foam and I'm not sure if the results I'm getting are typical...

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This is a 4 x 6 ft 2" pink foam sheet with flush mounted 1 x spars.

I preshrunk/ironed the canvas (10oz HD drop cloth), rough sanded and vacuumed the foam, rolled 100% titebond ii on the foam, applied the canvas from left to right, working the glue into the fabric and then added some 3:1 thinned titebond on top. I "squeegeed" out the extra glue, stretched everything tight to the edges with bamboo skewers, and let the whole thing dry for 40 hours (50-70 degrees, 80-90% humidity).


Here's my question!

The canvas still feels very soft. Is this normal? When I squeeze the panel between my fingers there isn't much of a difference in hardness between the canvased side and untreated side.

I guess I was expecting a much harder surface. I keep reading "the strength is in the skin," but it feels like the skin added nothing!

I've been lurking on the forum for a while, so I'd like to say thanks for all the help I've gotten so far, and thanks for helping me with this!

[ghcoe]

The canvas will give some resistance to a poking force, but it gives more strength structurally across the entire surface of the foam. Paint will also add some resistance to the poking effect, but it is not fiberglass.

[GPW]

Let it dry some more ...

[dales133]

The paint will make considerable difference to id imagine

[GPW]

Seanc, so how is it now ? better ?

[seanc]

GPW, more time to dry helped a little bit.

I canvased another panel, and this time glued the canvas down at full strength, then rolled on 1/2 strength glue and REALLY saturated it. After 48 hours this panel feels stronger. Really laying on the glue instead of squeeging it out like I did the first time makes a better result IMO. The weave is smoother to the touch.

ghcoe, I think I've adjusted my expectations, which has helped as well. It's not fiberglass! haha

dales133, I think you're right. With some primer and paint it will have a much harder feel to it.

Thanks for the support, guys! I'm working on this project 100% alone so this little encouragement means a lot. This is a great website/resource/community!

Here's a teaser for what I'm working on....

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[GPW]

Cool project !!!

[ghcoe]

Now to follow the roof curve and round it down to the rear bumper that would be cool and then it could pop up for a awning.....