Fantastic Fan Install

[deryk]

could put a good amount of butyl tape down and bolt the fan down tight. Doesn't matter if it sticks to the starboard, as long as its a tight fit the butyl tape would act like a gasket.

Probably the best solution is fiberglassing it.

deryk

[Otters]

Originally Posted by stevebaz

I cut and bonded the tube last night.
Clean-up today and paint it.

Steve, how did you bond the pieces???

[stevebaz]

I used epoxy resin and stitched fiberglass cloth. I mixed the resin and applied to the fiberglass cloth and put the cloth between the mitered joint and braced the joint together, I used several layers at each joint. The cloth fills any mismatch and resin and cloth squeezes out inside the tube increasing the bond area and making a solid joint accross the mitered area. this increases the joint strength tremediously. I have it in my pictures. After cured cut off the excess sticking out. Made a potentially frustrating job very easy. Its going to be painted so joint estethics aren't a big deal.

[Thomas G.]

Great solution.

[Otters]

Originally Posted by stevebaz

I used epoxy resin and stitched fiberglass cloth. I mixed the resin and applied to the fiberglass cloth and put the cloth between the mitered joint and braced the joint together, I used several layers at each joint. The cloth fills any mismatch and resin and cloth squeezes out inside the tube increasing the bond area and making a solid joint accross the mitered area. this increases the joint strength tremediously. I have it in my pictures. After cured cut off the excess sticking out. Made a potentially frustrating job very easy. Its going to be painted so joint estethics aren't a big deal.

I had to ask... Seriously though, you're amazing. I've never done any work with fiberglass, but I think its the time to start. I'll try to following your instuctions. I'm up for the challenge.

[glamourpets]

Originally Posted by stevebaz

Graingers in Canada carries 1-1/2" square.
Fiberglass Square Tube Stock - Fiberglass - Grainger Industrial Supply

In the US they dont sell direct to the public but have to go to a buisness. I don't know in Canada.

Yesterday morning I ordered my tube online with Mc Master Carr and it was delivered to my work at 3:30 same day. I cut and bonded the tube last night.
Clean-up today and paint it. I took pictures and will post them as I get time. So now I have to get the guts to make the actual cut in the roof.
I still have to get the 10 ohm resister to make the speed mod before I install anything.

Thanks for the web link for Graingers.

It would be great to see some photos of your progress. Please?

Derek

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by stevebaz

Graingers in Canada carries 1-1/2" square.
Fiberglass Square Tube Stock - Fiberglass - Grainger Industrial Supply

In the US they don't sell direct to the public but have to go to a buisness. I don't know in Canada.

............

The Graingers in the US seems to have varying policies with respect to selling to the public from store to store. Sometime you can bluff them by using a phony company name. If they turn you down, go to Carr McMaster or Zoro Tools.

[stevebaz]

Pictures attached. Mitered tube, tubes in bonding with fabric in corners, trimed and sanded tube frame, spacer frame painted rustolem white.

[Thomas G.]

A1 work! Thanks for posting the pictures. I was having a little trouble picturing the joining process.

[glamourpets]

Originally Posted by Thomas G.

A1 work! Thanks for posting the pictures. I was having a little trouble picturing the joining process.

Yes, these photos are excellent. I'd like to know about those joints too. I wonder how strong they are. Then again, it may not matter since this square will be permanently fastened with the vent on one side and the trailer on the other. Thoughts?

An idea I was pondering was whether there would be any benefit in filling the tube with spray foam. It would act as a filler. If you had a leak, it would minimize the amount of water that gets in.

Derek

[stevebaz]

Today I got the guts to cut the hole and start the install.

[stevebaz]

More pictures

[stevebaz]

My new best friend, my Harbor freight 3/16" Air Hydraulic pop rivet gun. My portable scaffolding and exterior finished picture. I still have to install inside finish trim and hook up the electrical. More to follow when finished.

[Otters]

Nice job. I didn't know HF had the hydraulic rivet guns. I bought a regular one last week--one of their better ones though. I hope it will do the job. If not, I'm going to go hydraulic. Love the scaffolding too, nice color. I'm hoping to install mine later in the week if the weather holds. I'll post pix as well.

[Donna D.]

I have a database of literally 100s of modifictions that I like or thought were "best in class." I bookmarked Rob's Fantastic Fan install because I LOVE what he did with the light around the fan. You need to read the posts after his for an explanation, so totally COOL! http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...tml#post325237

[Otters]

Thanks for mentioning that one Donna. That is VERY cool. I'm going to take a close look at that entire thread. A lot of very creative ideas from very creative people

[Ed Harris]

Nice job Steve but really Nice Bronco!

[stevebaz]

Thank You I did the Bronco Last year.

[glamourpets]

The mod Donna referred to is pretty cool. I wonder if one could tuck one of those led light cords in behind the flange and achieve the same results. I'm talking about using the clear plastic flexible tubes with leds in them. One might use a little glue to hold them in place. It should give similar results with less work.

The fan install photos look great so far. Thanks for those.

Derek

[Reid Larsen]

This idea for an exterior build up is just what I needed. Plan on installing a FF in our new to us Trillium 45oo. I wanted to compensate for the thickness on the outside to keep interior height and wanted not to have to do fiberglass work on the top and wanted a build up that wouldn't rot or swell like wood would- You have clearly illustrated the perfect solution-Thank you!!! Great job w/ the photos.