[Ravensfort] showers / Re: [rfofficers] Gundy's Find

[byzytym]

Would you spell out FRP please ?  
Michelle suggested plastic sheets as well, but I didn't mention it because of the drawbacks.  
Both fiberglass and plastic breakdown and get brittle in the sun after a few years.  
The stress of moving the showers could crack an old panel... especially in cold weather.
If it fades or scratches it could start looking pretty bad.  It is hard to get paint to sick to it in long range terms.  It peels after a few years and has to be completely scraped off.  That can be a nasty job.
Ten pounds a sheet is still heavy compared to thin sheet metal, but not overly.
How much is the cost of a 4x8 sheet.  Can we get larger sheets that cover an entire side ?

I'm not trying to be negative.  I'm just trying to look at all sides of suggested materials.  
Wood is too heavy, expensive and rots after a few years
Fiberglass or Plastic becomes brittle in the sun and does not like paint.
Metal rust.

What ever we use should be light weight and be able to withstand being loaded onto a trailer and moved to a different site if need be.  

In service,
Vlod NotVlad


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: SF Tester 
  To: byzytym 
  Cc: rfofficers at yahoogroups.com ; A Kindness Of Ravens 
  Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2008 2:15 PM
  Subject: Re: [Ravensfort] showers / Re: [rfofficers] Gundy's Find


  On Sun, Oct 12, 2008 at 12:06 PM, byzytym <byzytym at att.net> wrote:

    Speaking of events... we need to sit down and look at plans for the new shower walls.  The first weekend in April will be here before we know it.

    Having Autocrated at The Stones and therefore maintained the showers more than anyone else and also being the person that has filled the water barrels more than anyone else, I would like to give my input, for what it is worth.  Whatever we decided, I will be happy to lend a hand in reconstruction.

    I really like Saint David's idea to use metal for the walls.  It should be cheaper and should never have to be replaced in our life time.  ( Something that should appeal to the financial committee.)  We could bring the metal almost to the ground and not have to worry about rot.  Rust can be dealt with by using a good quality rust repair paint.  They are remarkable now adays.  They actually convert the compound of the rust and bonds it to the metal.  Also the showers will be lighter and so easier to move around if need be.  That is especially important if we are planning to use an alternate primitive site.  The old wood was so heavy we had to remove it before we could relocate the showers to DSD's for repair.  Marine grade plywood is very heavy and very expensive.  The bulky 2x6 wood frame work could be eliminated all together.  A small amount of door frame wood would be good to keep soft naked bodies away from sharp edges.  That could be installed so that the metal would not have to be removed to change the wood.  If we do decide to use metal, a design improvement would be in line.  

    Anyone else got any suggestions ??

  Actually, yes, I do have a suggestion. Steel is the right choice for the frame, no question there, but how about FRP panels for the walls? Much, much lighter (under 10 lb for 4x8 ft. if I remember right), a good bit cheaper, no rust, and easier to work with. I've used it in some commercial construction projects I've been involved in and it's easy enough to cut with a fine tooth blade in a circular saw. This is NOT the translucent stuff used for carports and similar in place of corrugated steel. It's flat, usually with some kind of molded texture on one side, and opaque white. Scuff it with 100 grit sandpaper on a random orbital sander and latex paint sticks great. To attach it to the frame we just drill 1/4" holes and use 1/4-20 screws and fender washers. I suggest tapping holes in the frame so there aren't any nuts or ends of screws sticking out the inside to snag stuff.
  --
  Gundy

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