splitter board

[fatbillybob]

Hi,

Anyone know where to get foam sheets or better yet honeycomb foam sheets to make splitters like 4'x6' sheet stock? The sheets need to be big like a splitter and near so. Los Angeles? Any ideas? Everyone I know has small sheets.

Thanks!

[emcon5]

No idea on your question, but foam is about the last thing I would use to make a splitter. I used aluminum, but plywood would probably be better. Tough, relatively light, cheap and easy to work with.

Tom

[gestalt1]

mcmaster-carr has many sheet materials that will work. they have aluminum, honeycomb core aluminum, carbon fiber, garolite, etc... i think mcmaster has a warehouse near LA.

[trekkor]

Maybe try a sign shop.

I made mine out of 3/8 inch plywood laminated with fiberglass.
I think 1/4 inch would be fine.


KT

[barney911rs]

It sounds like he was going to use it as a core for a fiberglass or carbon fiber layout. But I agree that I would rather use aluminum as it is or 1/4 plywood and fiberglass over that. You need something that is going to be more durable then the foam as an underlayment.

[stownsen914]

The point of using foam is to add thickness to the part (say, .25" or .5" without having to use fiberglass, carbon, or kevlar to make up the entire thickness. You still use as much material as if you just created a plain, flat part, but the increased thickness makes a stiffer part (and still light). Look at the splitter on any prototype -- they're usually about an inch thick. If you didn't use foam to make a part like that, it would weigh a ton.

You can get foam in various sizes and thicknesses for doing composite layups at aircraftspruce.com. Have fun!

Scott

[Jack Olsen]

My sources.

For all different kinds of sheet plastic:

Gavrieli Plastic, Metal & Sign
11733 Sherman Way (at Lankershim)
818-982-0000
http://www.gavrieli.com/index.htm

For raw aluminum:

Burbank Metal Supply
3207 N San Fernando Blvd.
818-846-4333

[trekkor]

make it strong...they take a beating.


KT

[Walt Fricke]

Make it cheap. They take a beating.

Walt

[Chuck Moreland]

Make it disposable. They take a beating.

[barney911rs]

Make a template/mold to make it repeatedly.

[Walt Fricke]

And give some thought to the mounting. How easy will it be to replace when it gets torn off or otherwise busted?

And how much damage will be done to something else as it is being torn off (assuming it was just an off without smashing into a wall that caused the damage)?

I've never been able to accomplish either of these goals. But good goals they are.

Walt

[trekkor]

Here's some of my build pics:


Laminated plywood


Mounting brackets


Assembled



Installed


In use!!



KT

[trekkor]

It's attached to the car with 7 Dzus fasteners.

It's never come off.
I have repainted it and done fiberglass repairs many, many times.

I adds a good amount of stability and control at high speed.


KT

[barney911rs]

KT,

I like that, I'm going to "copy" some of those pictures to use a future reference.

[TClinton9146]

AAR composites is one of many companies that make 4' x 8' fiberglass honeycomb composite panels. The stuff is very strong and light but $. I think a 4' x 8' sheet of .25" thick 2 ply is about $300 + shipping. Good luck!

[cgarr]

Here is a honeycomb board, or you could use a foam core sheet and glass it?

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cmpages/01-00488.php