Balsa end grain core thickness?

[Clyde_Wanderer]

Want to screw strips of 12mm ply to the inside of my coach roof for the purpose of fixing pvc sheet linning.
How thick do you reckon the coach roof thickness is? generally.
Its a cored construction, and I need to be careful I dont go through with the screws.

 

[Mudplugger]

Do you need to screw? (!!!) In past, when had a similar scenario, used Isopon P40, ( the one with chopped strand mat in it) sticks like the proverbial to a blanket...providing surface is cleaned up. Abraded & acetone wiped. and stuck backing strips up with it. HTH

 

[abbott013]

My cockpit sole has a 12mm balsa core, the best thing to do would be to drill a small hole through the skin, and with something like a alan key force it through the balsa until you hit the outer skin, mark the depth on the alan key then measure. drill bits snap if used for anything but drilling hole.

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

Mudplugger.
Yes I do want to screw them up as I dont have time for all the cleaning sanding and all the tidying up after, and the hastle of getting the whole length of each strip to match the curve of coachroof while the adhesive sets.
Thanks, Eamonn.

 

[bigwow]

Start to drill your hole and when you go through the first layer of fibreglass, take the drill bit out of the drill and just push it up by hand till you hit the top layer. Sounds stupid but it works.

 

[boatmike]

Most common is 12mm but unlikely to be less than 8mm.

 

[oldsaltoz]

G'day Earmonn,

If you really must screw the battens through the underside of the saloon then make sure the not only the length but also the width of the screw is correct or one of two things will happen soon after.

Hole to big, battens fall off the first time fall off a wave.
Hole too small, cracks will cause the screws to loose grip and battens fall down.

As this is a Balsa core you also need to ensure NO Moisture enters, so seal each hole with a dob of suitable sealant between the batten and the screw hole as you screw them in.

I wish you good luck, not the best method in my book.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[richardandtracy]

I may be teaching you to suck eggs, but make sure the screw screws into the fibreglass and don't expect any strength from the balsa.

In the past balsa core was available in 5/16", 3/8" and 1/2" thicknesses as the most commonly available types.

Regards

Richard.