<div dir="ltr">On Sun, Oct 12, 2008 at 12:06 PM, byzytym <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:byzytym@att.net">byzytym@att.net</a>></span> wrote:<br><div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" bgcolor="#ffffff">
<div>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.</div>
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<div>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.</div>
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<div>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. </div>
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<div>Anyone else got any suggestions ??</div></div></blockquote></div><br>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.<br>
--<br>Gundy<br><br></div>