metal vs. wood

[mikerob643]

I was wondering if anyone had thought about framing out the interior of their bus with structural steel instead of wood? The size and amount of steel needed to hold the same weight as a 2x4 is much less.

( I have been looking online to try and figure out some sort of weight comparison for the amount of steel needed to hold x number of pounds vs the weight of wood to hold the same x number of pounds but I'm not finding much.)

Back to it though, it seems that in a situation were space is precious it could save you some inches and it would be easy to weld into the already existing body framing of the bus.

This is all just what I'm imagining though. Anyone with thoughts or actual experience with this

[Thomas1985]

"Based on the numbers that engineers use when designing, the average weight of a commercial 2x4 is 1.28 lbs per foot... A 2x2 weighs 0.64...

I'm using .065 wall 1x1 steel tube, that weighs .827 lbs per foot...

So, it's considerably less weight that a 2x4 and a little heavier than a 2x2..."

That information is from The Dirtybus...

[mikerob643]

Wow looking at the dirty bus thread has fully convinced me on framing it all out with metal . thanks for pointing me in that direction

[Thomas1985]

For sure. It's one of my favor builds. I'll be doing a little mix of both. My floor and outer walls will be wood because it's something easy to sink screws into and make attachments for the framing for cabinets and bench seats which I'll be doing in metal.
The key is to create a thermal break between the outer metal wall and ribs and you're inside surfaces. If nothing else you can put wood furring strips and then more metal if that's what you're aiming to do.

[Jdawgsfanasty]

Originally Posted by mikerob643

I was wondering if anyone had thought about framing out the interior of their bus with structural steel instead of wood? The size and amount of steel needed to hold the same weight as a 2x4 is much less.

( I have been looking online to try and figure out some sort of weight comparison for the amount of steel needed to hold x number of pounds vs the weight of wood to hold the same x number of pounds but I'm not finding much.)

Back to it though, it seems that in a situation were space is precious it could save you some inches and it would be easy to weld into the already existing body framing of the bus.

This is all just what I'm imagining though. Anyone with thoughts or actual experience with this

Look up "blue collar preacher" on YT

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[Jdawgsfanasty]

Originally Posted by mikerob643

I was wondering if anyone had thought about framing out the interior of their bus with structural steel instead of wood? The size and amount of steel needed to hold the same weight as a 2x4 is much less.

( I have been looking online to try and figure out some sort of weight comparison for the amount of steel needed to hold x number of pounds vs the weight of wood to hold the same x number of pounds but I'm not finding much.)

Back to it though, it seems that in a situation were space is precious it could save you some inches and it would be easy to weld into the already existing body framing of the bus.

This is all just what I'm imagining though. Anyone with thoughts or actual experience with this

https://youtu.be/OiVTFGgI25A

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[dbhost]

Why not aluminum?

[Jdawgsfanasty]

Originally Posted by dbhost

Why not aluminum?

Expensive...

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[Tango]

Expensive...and...has to be well isolated from contact with steel.

[Jdawgsfanasty]

Originally Posted by Tango

Expensive...and...has to be well isolated from contact with steel.

That 2...which is tough since screws are steel

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[mikerob643]

The mix of wood for the walls and floor and then the metal for all the framing other than that sounds like the best of both worlds. I think that will be my plan of attack as well. It may be awhile before we get there but when we do Ill post photos !