Partition attachment

chessie4905 · August 15, 2016, 12:32:24 PM

How to best attach the top of a partition to the roof? I need to add on in my coach as the previous owner had the shower door do double duty. I've got a general idea but looking for alternate opinions. The ceiling is finished in naugahyde, so I'll need to carefully cut it also. It is a Tejas coach conversion from Pipe Creek Texas.

Iceni John · August 15, 2016, 03:07:25 PM

How wide is the partition? If it's not too wide, how about using aluminum channel that the partition will fit inside? I'm going to use 3/4" inside-width 6063 channel 1/16" thick to attach my 3/4" plywood walls to the floor, side walls and ceiling. 6063 can be bent without buckling the sides - 6061 cannot be bent this way!

John

gumpy · August 15, 2016, 06:43:58 PM

Depending on the width of the partition and what it's attaching to, you might be able to use a Kreg pocket screw jig. I did that on the walls I've installed so far, and it works quite well with 3/4 plywood wall and screwing into plywood floor or ceiling. You can trim to hide the pocket screws if desired, or use plugs made for filling the pockets.

Otherwise I like the channel idea offered above, or use angle iron on one side.

kyle4501 · August 15, 2016, 06:52:37 PM

6063 is about half the strength of 6061 -- that may make a difference.

How difficult is it to remove the ceiling covering? If that is possible, your options increase.

chessie4905 · August 16, 2016, 05:34:28 PM

Probably not difficult for installer. I am thinking of carefully measuring twice, cut slit in Naugahyde. Use aluminum channel modified to match curve of roof in that area and attach to roof with shavehead rivets. Slide 3/4 inch oak veneer partition into channel and secure with hex headed screws into predrilled pilot holes and maybe also use Gorilla glue.

Iceni John · August 16, 2016, 09:20:59 PM

Quote from: chessie4905 on August 16, 2016, 05:34:28 PM
Probably not difficult for installer. I am thinking of carefully measuring twice, cut slit in Naugahyde. Use aluminum channel modified to match curve of roof in that area and attach to roof with shavehead rivets. Slide 3/4 inch oak veneer partition into channel and secure with hex headed screws into predrilled pilot holes and maybe also use Gorilla glue.

If you bend thin-wall 6063 channel, the sides will ripple unless you make a simple jig to hold them flat while you bend it. Obviously, the shorter the side walls, the easier it is to bend. I made my jig from two lengths of flat bar with a bolt between them - on the bolt is a stack of washers that squeeze the channel's side walls as you bend it, preventing them from rippling and buckling. It's not fancy, but it works fine, and I can easily bend the channel to exactly fit the compound curves of my ceiling.

John

somewhereinusa · August 17, 2016, 03:59:25 AM

Quote from: Iceni John on August 16, 2016, 09:20:59 PM
I made my jig from two lengths of flat bar with a bolt between them - on the bolt is a stack of washers that squeeze the channel's side walls as you bend it, preventing them from rippling and buckling. It's not fancy, but it works fine, and I can easily bend the channel to exactly fit the compound curves of my ceiling.

John,I'm having trouble picturing that, any chance of a picture?