Somewhereinusa

[somewhereinusa]

Wow, what beautiful weather we're having. I took advantage of it and got the first skin put on today. WOOHOO.

As with everything the first took a while to figure out how I would do everything. I got Mumsywumsy involved in holding some bolts I couldn't reach. I had to pull the area where I cut the old roof back into place so I could rivet things back together. We put a bolt in every other hole, then riveted then replaced the bolts with rivets. After we got going on it, it really didn't take long. Hopefully the rest of this side will go quickly since I now know how I'll make the window frames and install the skin.

[Hawkcreek]

Google Cleco fasteners and pliers. They are a big help in putting sheet metal on metal.

[somewhereinusa]

I have cleco's, the clamps are holding a glued section that doesn't have any holes in it yet.

[Chadluc]

the way the skin on my bus was done, it was put in small 2feet section and rivited. that way it dose not get wavy...be sure to use a sealant in between the steel bus framing and the skin. it will remain to flexible and it will rattle bad.

[Tango]

Just maybe the best trick to avoid "oil canning" on a skin job is to make sure & heat it up good as you attach it. Plain old propane/butane torch will do. If you put it on cold, the first time it warms up, it will expand and wrinkle like crazy. Steel is not as bad as aluminum, but either will buckle in heat if fastened down while too cool.

[dirtygoat]

Originally Posted by Tango

Just maybe the best trick to avoid "oil canning" on a skin job is to make sure & heat it up good as you attach it. Plain old propane/butane torch will do. If you put it on cold, the first time it warms up, it will expand and wrinkle like crazy. Steel is not as bad as aluminum, but either will buckle in heat if fastened down while too cool.

Mine did that...

[Tango]

Hey dirtygoat --- don't feel too bad. I've seen some high-dollar "professional" conversions where the same thing happened. Looked great until the first hot spell, then...WTF!!??

[thommassey]

Originally Posted by Tango

Just maybe the best trick to avoid "oil canning" on a skin job is to make sure & heat it up good as you attach it. Plain old propane/butane torch will do. If you put it on cold, the first time it warms up, it will expand and wrinkle like crazy. Steel is not as bad as aluminum, but either will buckle in heat if fastened down while too cool.

Is there any chance of separating from rivets after cooling? In other words, can it be overheated (while using common sense that is)?

[bus-bro]

Anybody remember Smitty. He welded his skins on and I guess they oil canned pretty bad. He covered over the the metal with FRP. I built window blanks with FRP laminated to plywood using epoxy resin. After I installed them, and painted the bus, they developed blisters. Really bummed me out for a while until I got used to it, and anyway, it's only a school bus.

[chev49]

which steel u guys using? hot or cold rolled?

[somewhereinusa]

Don't you just love it when you get something done and it really looks like you did something.
First section of skin done with window.

which steel u guys using? hot or cold rolled?

hot

[bus-bro]

That looks really good!

[bansil]

Not to sound like an azz,but that looks more like cold roll,it's nice and shiny.all HRS sheet I'Ve seen has very nasty and tough scale on it

[somewhereinusa]

I thought you were talking about the square tubing, it's hot roll the skin is aluminum.

[bansil]

I really like how the skining turned out, I showed my wife and she liked it a lot,good job

[Tango]

Gotta ask...do you have any thing in between the aluminum & steel? Without some form of insulation isolating the two metals, electrolysis can corrode them both very, very rapidly. There are some 3M adhesives & tapes made just for that purpose.

[somewhereinusa]

I'm using Silipreen (see post above)it's the same stuff they glue semi trailers together with.

[browncrown]

Very nice job on the skin and window

[Tango]

Ya...Royal makes some excellent sealers & adhesives. Good stuff.

And while I've never heard of pre-heated panels popping any rivets or tearing the metal when it contracts, I suppose it could happen if overcooked. From what I recall in a chat with a Blue Bird engineer years ago, he said about 125 degrees was what they shot for. About the same temp as a really hot shower.

[somewhereinusa]

Left side skin on, windows in.