OK, so, I am working on putting a new interior in my 4108 and I am struggling with the ceiling. It had a FRP material in it but it had some sagging in it. I was trying to use luan but, the curve at the walls is to tight of a radius and breaks the luan when I try to push it up in there.
I was wanting something up there stiff enough that will retain it's shape, and then I was planning on glueing up plastic (imitation) pressed tin ceiling tiles.
So, what would you suggest?
If you have some pix of yours, I would like to see what you all did.
Thanks in advance!!
Custom Coach installed padded white vinyl on the ceiling. Still up there 46 years later. Washable and adds a bit of insulation. Also helps to quiet things down.
That faux tin ceiling will look nice, but it could create more of an echo chamber for noise if it's not offset somewhere else. To me the more soft surfaces the better.
Soak the luan before placing. It'll bow and dry to your shape.
Typical luan might delaminate if soaked. What many do is to run a saw on the backside with the blade set to a just shallow enough depth to increase the flexibility of the board. Spacing and depth are entirely dependent on material amount of curve required.
We installed plywood in our coach and because we live in a dry climate when we traveled to more humid places it all bubbled up. That was our first interior over fifteen years ago. Now our interior is smaller pieces that don't mostly seem to move. We still have a few places that swell up but not like the first time. Good luck with however it works out. We also tried the small grooves on the back side of plywood and it made subtle angles so that experiment is also gone.
HTH
Melbo
Quote from: Chaz on December 09, 2021, 05:17:24 PM
OK, so, I am working on putting a new interior in my 4108 and I am struggling with the ceiling. It had a FRP material in it but it had some sagging in it. I was trying to use luan but, the curve at the walls is to tight of a radius and breaks the luan when I try to push it up in there.
I was wanting something up there stiff enough that will retain it's shape, and then I was planning on glueing up plastic (imitation) pressed tin ceiling tiles.
So, what would you suggest?
If you have some pix of yours, I would like to see what you all did.
Thanks in advance!!
Hey Chaz! How ya doin? What you are looking for is called "WiggleWood" Gary and I used alot of this stuff at B&B with great results. https://www.macbeath.com/products/wiggle-wood#:~:text=Wiggle%20wood%2C%20also%20known%20as%20bending%20plywood%2C%20is,and%20can%20be%20applied%20on%20a%20curved%20radius. Good luck!
Quote from: windtrader on December 10, 2021, 01:32:02 PM
Typical luan might delaminate if soaked. What many do is to run a saw on the backside with the blade set to a just shallow enough depth to increase the flexibility of the board. Spacing and depth are entirely dependent on material amount of curve required.
Don you wouldn't want to do that with Luan. It is only 3/16" at most thick. Not like other plys. you would have a mess with it.
Van's right with Wiggle Wood. Works every time. :^
Quote from: Dave5Cs on December 10, 2021, 06:10:28 PM
Don you wouldn't want to do that with Luan. It is only 3/16" at most thick. Not like other plys. you would have a mess with it.
Van's right with Wiggle Wood. Works every time. :^
I like it for doing head liners. ;)
They also sell plywood with kerfs already done.
Bendable plywood - good to know. The link the "MacBeath" - ouch - everytime I drove by, my wallet started melting. They have it all for a price
Thanks gents!!!
Local hardware stores don't have it (small town) but a local woodworking company had a piece so I could check it out. Looks like the ticket for the corners. I may use luan for the flat(er) part of the ceiling as I want to be sure it doesn't sag. GM didn't seem to worry about the spacing between ribs so it will be another challenge for creativity. The stuff I found was 5' x 5' square.
My other option was aluminum but, it would have to be kinda thick and aluminum is a bit on the salty side, albeit coming down a bit in price.
Now, I have to figure out what I want the visable part to be. Still considering faux pressed tin ceiling tiles but keeping my options open. The faux suede front section I did looks good too. (?????)
Thanks a ton!
Quote from: Van on December 10, 2021, 08:21:23 PM
I like it for doing head liners. ;)
Your headliner is exactly what I will be looking to do. Very nice pictures. I haven't been able to find any videos on the best way to achieve that look.