Insulation

[lostagain]

I just finished spray foaming the baggage doors. I had a water line freeze last winter driving in cold weather, even with the water heater and the furnace going downstairs. I used 5 rattle cans of the professional Right Stuff. That is for 4 doors on my 5C. Filled all the cavities, leaving out the latching mechanism. I sprayed the rods with silicone so the foam wouldn't stick to them. I might get ambitious one day and cover the foam with sheet metal, maybe not.

Spray foaming the front under the dash would be good too. Albeit a lot of work to be able to get everywhere.

JC

[Oonrahnjay]

...  If you have a few high spots like I did I just used a hack saw blade to cut them off , I tried not to grind too much as it is really messy...

    Thank you, Steve.  That's good info.  But I wanted to add a question.  Back when I was a useful, productive citizen (you know - back before I got my snout in the Gummint trough and became fodder for them retired-peoples' Death Panels), we used to make prototype parts from styrofoam, pack sand around them, and pour molten aluminum into to the sand to make sand-cast parts.  The foam would vaporize and the metal would fill the shape.  But to shape and cut the foam, we'd use a plain electrically-heated hot wire -- it would cut through the foam like butter.  Actually, we used a couple of differently shaped wires and the most useful was just a straight wire between a wooden "bow" that held the wire straight and tight.  Would this work on sprayed insulation?  It was super easy and made fine, accurate cuts and shapes on the foam that we used.
     Thanks,  BH

[DoubleEagle]

DoubleEagle, nothing to access on the top side of the floor. Nothing at all. All access to the air lines and wiring is via the luggage bay roof panels.

Nothing in the engine area to access? At least in an Eagle, there are many things that are easier to get to from the top, and the baggage bays provide access to only part of the wire & pipe runs.

[scanzel]

I don't see why a hot wire as they call it could cut off excess foam but then again be care full of fumes and possible catching fire. The professionals use some sort of motorized saw. Saw this on one of the home flip shows. An old electric knife may work too.

[ArtGill]

I am prepping my bedroom to foam.  We are experimenting with fishing leader wire to make a hot wire to cut the foam.  Our plan is to build something like a huge compass, like you draw circles with, to hold the wire on it's tips and then ride on the furring strips.  The wire gets hot at 12vdc and 2 amps. But, we haven't gotten to the point to check the temperature of the wire.  More as we learn more.

Art

[Brassman]

I use ni-chrome wire from an old electric heater for a hot wire, and use 12 VDC to make it heat. You vary the length of wire to get the proper heat level.

[Brassman]

...double post....

[Jeremy]

The spray insulation foam is polyurethane foam rather than polystyrene - the way the the two types react to heat (ie., if you cut them with a hot wire) is very different - polystyrene melts very happily and cleanly, whereas polyurethane burns and gives off noxious gases (including cyanide I believe)

Also - some insulation foams are actually fire-retardant as well - not sure how those types would react if you tried to use a hot wire on them

Jeremy

[bigred]

I have reached the point in the build on our MCI 96A3 where we need to do the Insulation.

From everything I have read and seen, it looks like the best way to go is Closed Cell Spray Foam insulation.

The Bus is located in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, does anyone have any recommendations for a company to use to have this professionally done in the Tampa Bay or Central Florida area?

If needed I could easily bring the bus to them to have it done or there is certainly room where the bus lives.

I have contacted a local company that does refrigerated Trailers and they were not even remotely interested in doing it, when I pushed them a little I was quoted a ridiculous price.

If I do end up doing it myself are there any recommendations for which kit to use and what size kit would cover the inside of a 96A3?



Peter

Peter .I am guessing since you are in Florida ,spray foam may not be a major item.This is just a suggestion,if you don't mind a road trip.The farther north you go the more people you will find that does this.For instance ,Greenville S C has several people that does this .

[DoubleEagle]

The spray insulation foam is polyurethane foam rather than polystyrene - the way the the two types react to heat (ie., if you cut them with a hot wire) is very different - polystyrene melts very happily and cleanly, whereas polyurethane burns and gives off noxious gases (including cyanide I believe)

Also - some insulation foams are actually fire-retardant as well - not sure how those types would react if you tried to use a hot wire on them

Jeremy

These different types of foam raise serious questions of safety within our coaches should there be a fire. Some of us have more fire exits in our coaches than others, and some, have too few. Everyone should be aware of what type of insulation they have, and plan accordingly. It seems to me that it would be prudent to have exits on each side of the coach, and on the roof, and a way for everyone in the coach to reach those exits (and be able to open them).

[Oonrahnjay]

The spray insulation foam is polyurethane foam rather than polystyrene - the way the the two types react to heat (ie., if you cut them with a hot wire) is very different - polystyrene melts very happily and cleanly, whereas polyurethane burns and gives off noxious gases (including cyanide I believe)

Also - some insulation foams are actually fire-retardant as well - not sure how those types would react if you tried to use a hot wire on them

Jeremy

    Good info, Jeremy.  Thanks.

[Jeremy]

Just on the subject of escaping burning buses, there was a very nasty coach fire in Italy just yesterday in which multiple children died because they couldn't get out:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38703536

My own bus has a rear escape door but also came equipped with little hammers mounted periodically along the overhead baggage racks which were intended to be used by passengers to smash the windows or the skylights in an emergency

Jeremy

[Scott & Heather]

Art do let us know how that goes I've always been curious.


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[RichardEntrekin]

If you decide to DIY, you already got good advice to cover EVERTHING that you don't won't foam on. That includes yourself. Full body suit including shoe covers, head cover, and respirator. The foam is second only to POR 15 in terms of permanent adherence. If you get it on you, you will wear it off. Don't ask how I know this.

[Scott & Heather]

Walter, this is OT, but you should post at least one more time. I looked at your stats today lol



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