Bendy lining for top cupboards?

[hilldweller]

Hello all I need some (more) advice please The 4mm ply I've bought to line the van is fine for the gentle curve at the van's 'waistline' but can't cope with the tighter curve where the walls seamlessly turn into roof. I'd appreciate ideas on what to use instead. It doesn't need to carry any weight and I think it'll be hidden from view by the front of the wardrobe and top cupboards all the way along both sides (hmm.... thinking about it, maybe not directly above the door... will need to take a closer look at that area). But everywhere else it will be out of sight unless you stick your head in a cupboard. I was wondering about offcuts of flooring vinyl maybe? What do others use for curvy vans?

For insulation in that area I experimented today with one of those roll-up camping mats (had an old one lying around). Dead easy and pretty much holds itself in place ;D

[atouchofglass]

Hey Hilldweller
I haven't tried it yet - but was thinking of trying polycarbonate.
While it is clear it could be coated a different colour on the back before fitting.

Might be worth a go.

Atog

[seeshell]

Hi Hilldweller

There are two things you might try:

You can take your 4mm ply and do a series of release cuts on the back (say 1-2mm deep and some distance apart - would require some tests!). They don't show on the front, but make the ply more flexible. You could use what you have that way.

Alternatively there is a ply product you can buy ready made (name is bendy ply and it comes as 6mm or 9mm - Amerind sell it). Dear Hubby believes (foggy at the moment - late and had a few tipples) that it has all the layers laminated in the same direction (as opposed to regular ply which alternates by layer) and that is why it is more flexible. It's mainly used to dress bendy walls, or curved tables or reception desks and is for interior use only. Nice though, and it's made of the same material as their product Lighta-Ply - not too heavy and good for vans. Wou;d probably work ok for the interior of your cupboards.

Cheers!
Seeshell

[JBJ]

Hi Hilldweller

I've also used a "bendy ply" several times. The plies are fixed with grain in line with each other, & the one I used had a fairly strong plastic sheet between 2 plies. It bent down as tight as 20mm radius without a problem.
Only slight disadvantage is that when time comes to paint it, the cracks in the ply surface absorb a lot of primer to fill, & I found it took several coats of primer , with sanding in between coats, to get a smooth surface. I dont think the one I used would have been suitable for staining.

I have no idea of the trade name or maker of it.

I think if you cut relief cuts in the normal ply would bend in a series of flats between the cuts. Possibly if you scored the one side with a sharp Stanley knife & straight edge, every 5 to 10mm , it might bend better, but thats a fair bit of work if you have a long length to do.

JBJ

[DND380]

www.awpanels.com.au/products/plywood/bendy-ply.htm

[Deleted]

Oct 23, 2011 6:53:48 GMT 10 JBJ said:

Hi Hilldweller

I've also used a "bendy ply" several times. The plies are fixed with grain in line with each other, & the one I used had a fairly strong plastic sheet between 2 plies. It bent down as tight as 20mm radius without a problem.
Only slight disadvantage is that when time comes to paint it, the cracks in the ply surface absorb a lot of primer to fill, & I found it took several coats of primer , with sanding in between coats, to get a smooth surface. I dont think the one I used would have been suitable for staining.

I have no idea of the trade name or maker of it.

I think if you cut relief cuts in the normal ply would bend in a series of flats between the cuts. Possibly if you scored the one side with a sharp Stanley knife & straight edge, every 5 to 10mm , it might bend better, but thats a fair bit of work if you have a long length to do.

JBJ

Hi.. bendy ply .. or any other form of ply with rebate cuts on the inner surface will work.
The problem we have with any form of ply bending and fixing is that the van is exposed to all sorts of stresses when towed down the road.
After years of dragging Bondys around i am resided to the fact that no matter what you do to fix and paint bent plywood on your van it will always end up showing signs of cracking and "coming away "in places.

Its part of the romance of messing with bondwood vans,,,,, and.. doing lots of kilometres with them on the road.

Just accept that they do come "unstuck"and be prepared at the end of a days travel to wander around your van with a cordless drill and / or a screw driver/hammer to whack in a few new screws or nails to keep things taught.

Dont worry.. be happy
Reddo

[hilldweller]

Thanks all, useful suggestions there. Still not sure what I'm going to do LOL, but you've given me a few options I had previously looked at bendy ply for the lining but it was going to work out very expensive and had a hefty delivery charge on the top as none of the local suppliers carry it. Might have to look at it again, just for the one or two sheets needed for those top curves. Will also have a look at polycarbonate next time I'm in the big green or orange shed. I tried making cuts on the ply I have and it didn't really work. It seems very dry and brittle and I'm not very good with a Stanley knife!

[LinPet]

Hi, we have just relined all out overhead cupboards - found a great product at the local rubber supply shop - it is actually a packaging material, so got a whole sheet for $20! It is a foam with a sort of plastic coating that is imprinted with little squares - cuts easily with stanley knife or sissors and you just wrestle it around until you make it fit! Looks really good, is flexible and insullates a little bit too. It covered all the thin sheeting that was lining the cupboards and was quite brittle. If you are coming to the Canungra run, we can show you. Not sure if this is what you are wanting but, if this sounds like what you want, I could ring the rubber shop and ask what it is called, or post a sample to you maybe?

Linda

[hilldweller]

Hey thanks Linda. Sounds like another good option. I'm in NZ so won't trouble you to post but I'll check out the local rubber shop here. Thanks heaps for the offer.

[retro1]

Go to this link and look at my van
vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photo&action=display&thread=1140&page=1
As I have had this van for 6 years now and still looks new.
I used 2 mm ply
As you bend it is get stronger.
If you eant use 2 layers of 2mm and glue.

[hilldweller]

Right. Floor vinyl doesn't work - too floppy. 2mm ply might bend sufficiently, if I can find some, but on experimenting it turns out there are going to be problems with anything that starts out as a flat sheet, since the van, being fibreglass, didn't start out as flat sheets of anything. The only polycarbonate I could find locally was too thick to bend sufficiently but thinner sheets would work well in the areas where the curves permit. I like Atog's idea of a painted backing behind it - might try that for the splashback, when I eventually get to doing the kitchen. Couldn't find anything resembling Linda's packaging material. I will continue experimenting - there has to be something out there somewhere. Foam bedrolls are definitely the way to go for the insulation though

[Franklin1]

G'day hilldweller,

When you say "...2mm ply might bend sufficiently, if I can find some,..." does that mean you've tried and it's not available?

I recommend you do an internet search for 1.5mm exterior hoop pine plywood. The supplier I bought my plywood from says on their website they export to NZ, USA, Fiji, and Asia.

1.5mm plywood is used in the timber boat industry. Costs about $81.00 for an 8 x 4ft sheet over here (for example, click here). Bends to a very tight radius, so the website says.

cheers,
Al.