Always enjoy your videos not scared to show your mistakes and how to correct him that is my favorite thing about you. Thank you for sharing. God bless you and yours.

Duuude!! Yes, we can scribe and measure floor plywood around curves, wheelwells...but omg...that crafting hot knife...no need to take material out and to table or saw...can do right where it stays!! MIND BLOWN!!

@falkornomad

8 ай бұрын

It is nice... I had to stop my self a few times as I walked with a piece of foam to my saw... "Wait, I can just cut this right here!"

I'm stumbled upon this series out of random, now I'm thinking about building some custom furniture for the house (ik not sustainable but I'm not planning on keeping it for long) this will GREATLY HELP SOME FUN IDEAS I HAVE. Also since this one is on flooring, this helps me get either laminate or vinyl flooring for my accord and jeep build cause screw carpet man.

@falkornomad

Жыл бұрын

Have fun with it!!

Really impressed with your foam bones build.

@falkornomad

11 ай бұрын

👍🏽

Great video, all questions answered. Ty

@falkornomad

Жыл бұрын

👍🏽

I here ya on the floating floor I learned as you did to buy the better 25 year brand will 👀how it works out! I appreciate your videos thanks 😊

@falkornomad

Жыл бұрын

👍🏽

Built my van in 2018. Wasn't confident in this system at that time. Wish I would have gone this direction. My van is extremely heavy with all the 1/2 and 3/8 plywood. Will utilize this in my next one.

Thanks for all of your hard work and sharing of honest experience for free. I’m grateful. Personal experience, a 2mm pencil style “hot knife” would cut a 5mm channel so I switched to just a utility knife blade for precision cuts. I have to admit that I didn’t have access to a thin blade the way you used but I was able to make snug cuts down to the millimeter where I wanted it. Love you❤️❤️❤️ Baiiiiii❤️❤️❤️

@falkornomad

9 ай бұрын

👍🏽 you’re welcome

Thanks for your informational videos. I feel like the foam build makes so much sense but have never heard of it. The foam build idea is much more do-able, especially as a female. It just makes so much more sense bc it's lightweight and it's better insulation and you can achieve the same aesthetic as wood with the veneer. Thanks for your videos. Much appreciated 👍

@falkornomad

8 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Thought you might like an interesting challenge, I’ve been trying to figure out how to make a foam skirting around my RV. Piece of cake for you and tremendously helpful to me! Thanks , like your style dude…

@falkornomad

9 ай бұрын

Sure… I’d start with an accordion fold idea… cut the foam to the height of your RV’s clearance, then the length of the storage area you plan to store it in. Use my screening method idea, or use a fiberglass with epoxy coating for even better protection from elements. Either way screen both sides and all edges of the individual pieces first, then to create the accordion system you could glue a fabric like wax cloth or vinyl to create hinges on alternating edges. To attach to RV, maybe Velcro under the bottom edge of RV. That’s my first pass.

For those looking for a hot knife: I recently invested in a crafting style hot knife and having a variable voltage control up to 12v makes them a lot more helpful. Crank it to 12v for the thicker stock and it seems to perform on par with the heavy-duty Harbor Freight blade style hot knife.

@WisconsinWanderer

Жыл бұрын

What’s the name and where can I get it! Thanks

@falkornomad

Жыл бұрын

These are the two I use: hotwirefoamfactory.com/-K11B-Crafters-Basic-4-inch-Hot-Knife-Kit.html hotwirefoamfactory.com/035I-Industrial-6-in_Indust_Hot-Knife.html

@falkornomad

Жыл бұрын

👍🏽

thanks for the video

@falkornomad

8 ай бұрын

You're welcome

👍 Thanks man, always wondered how you attached that monolithic "cabinet/counter" part to the floor., not overkill in my book but necessary for all the constant jostling when driving. Truly is monolithic now. Had no idea that that foam would compress that much as well, wow. Yea, anything press board and floor should be avoided for sure. take care

@falkornomad

Жыл бұрын

👍🏽

Thank you for sharing your ideas. Great video!….😊I havent seen you since your first one. I have to catch up now.

@falkornomad

8 ай бұрын

Yay! Thank you!

@BelindaTOV

8 ай бұрын

@@falkornomad :)

Been a carpenter for over 40 years, never really used a hot knife. Always a razor knife. Bet my soldering iron would do the same thing, right? Hell of a build, Brother.. Very well done! Great detail.

@falkornomad

Жыл бұрын

Thanks… sure you can cut it with anything… the hot knifes are just the cleanest and quickest.

ThankQ

The more conversions I see, the more I'm convinced that I want to just use one solid sheet of vinyl for my finish layer. No laminate. No peel and stick. (especially in my area. the heat murders everything.) Glue it down and still the cabinets and edging need to be in place to make sure it doesn't move if the adhesive fails.

@falkornomad

11 ай бұрын

I’m totally in favor of that!! Too much torsion in vehicles for flooring with joinery.

Looked at another build same problem. Its better to use a whole vinyl piece simulated tongue and groove than multiple pieces vinyl.

07/23/2023 Hello Nomad. Once again a good video. I did learn a lot about using 1 inch foam on the floor. I have watched flat concrete workers using the foam board for knee and toe pads for finish hand trowling. They pretty well destroy the foam if used for a long time on one job. New pads are used for the next job. I do not like the wood vinyl flooring. I do not know of a better solution. However the vinyl wood floor would perform better if laid across and not straight through. Maybe a particle board over the floor to bridge over the humps and valleys then a sheet vinyl would work. They do make some completely ugly vinyl. but you may find one you can be satisfied with if not just happy about the patterns. The kraft covered foam sub fill is a good sound barrier but is not listed for use as a substraite as you now know.I have no recomendations for a subsitute material, but perhaps a full cover with a single top sheet would add enough strength. Then the particle board crossway to utilize the listed stringth span rating. If I had done this project I would have screwed it up worse. I would have tried to overhead the wiring, Not good. Your wire tricks were very inventive.That would work in a lot of auto and truck cab wiring. The clips seem to always break when the cold weather and dry rot of the plastic. Another thought would be to place the particle board and vinyl under the cabinets. That may help you to notice any water leaks and assist with cleaning below the cabinets. One more note, I would have planned a refrig with rollers for easy moving to clean behind at every curve in the road.I told you I would screw it up. I enjoyed the video and hope you understand my non wit or nit wit comment. I have nothing else to do. Sincerely Don

@falkornomad

Жыл бұрын

Don, it’s always nice to read your thoughtful comments. My second version of the floor (foam then 1/8” chip board, then the cheap vinyl plank flooring is actually working fine… I wish I would have invested in a higher quality vinyl flooring, but until it’s shot, it’s fine. The idea of running the planks short ways rather than long, may be a really good idea that I had not considered, thanks for that!👍🏽

@dongrider9040

Жыл бұрын

@@falkornomad

@dongrider9040

Жыл бұрын

@@falkornomad 07/25/2023 Hello Nomad. Thank you for your channel and the nice or gracious replies. I do enjoy your video. I just had some thoughts that put together several thoughts from many videos. On line has gotten so bad that about the only safe thing to watch on line is good channels. I do enjoy your calm and laid back presentations. Sometimes my wit exceeds my knowledge. Thanks for allowing me to be free to comment even if my thoughts are from old memories. Sincerely Don

Been watching many of your videos, maybe I have missed it.. How would you go about securing a cabinet to the frame of the van? Getting transit connect tomorrow and I want to build out light weight shelves for a work van. Thanks for putting out these videos!

hey brother, new builder, long time tinkerer. for your floor, do the paint and possibly screen over the top of the floor insulation, and about a quarter to 2 inches up the wall in areas where you think moisture might soak into the floor, then use the thin, either 1/8th or so ply wood, double ply is fine, then use a 2 part thin pour epoxy to soak into the wood once it is fastened in place. this creates a demi permanent layer of epoxy, structurally supported by the wood, and sealed by the paint and screen layer, or even screen and glue. the floor is the one layer of the bus (in my case) that needs to be as solid, yet flexible as possible, without having lots of heat loss from structural beams, so insulation building is going to be an absolute benefit. but with the composite of flexible glue layered with screen on the floor, then that is scraped down in the over ran areas, and painted with one of the primers you spoke of before, this creates an impermeable layer for the epoxy to cure to, and then harden the thinner wood panel, and create a plastic like finish on the wood that makes it completely impervious to moisture expansion, and helps hold it all nice and solid. if you want some grip, when you pour the epoxy, dust it lightly with course sand and spread it evenly across the surface, this cures into a nice super material that is both very flexible, water proof, wear resistant, and adds some grip to the floor. give it a try, the epoxy sand on wood trick, you can also mix sand into the epoxy and pour that then spread it thinner for a nice even layer. i dont make videos, you make far better quality content than i do, but i do a LOT of testing for my final build in which i will turn a large highway bus into my nomadic mansion on wheels, a full sized home that lets me travel across the nation.

@falkornomad

8 ай бұрын

Thanks for the tips!!

If you use foam on the floor you have to stick wood or metal dowels through it about every 4 inches and cover with plywood. Other wise walking on it will cause it to sink.

@sonofrobert

10 ай бұрын

Yes and he showed how much it collapsed. Alot!

@falkornomad

9 ай бұрын

The compression was my first attempt, I later opted for a 1/4” ply on top of foam and then the vinyl planking… year of use full time and it does not seem to be compressing.

@atta6061

7 ай бұрын

Not true with plywood on top of the foam to distribute the weight. Check out Chuck Cassidy’s video where lowered the wheel of his bus on some XPS with plywood on top. No compression at all .

Ooops, I learned that lesson the hard way too. I put vinyl planking straight on the foam thinking the compression wouldn't be too bad. I have cracking all along the seams now. I also had a sliding bed frame and the bed legs just murdered the floor at spots. I was just going to give up and go with a roll of lumpy carpet rugs. At least it'll be easy to roll up and clean outside?

@falkornomad

Жыл бұрын

Learning to adapt to our mistakes is a crucial human skill 👍🏽🤷🏽‍♂️😂

Thank you! Been waiting on this one. Do you think applying the screen method you have used for your furniture to the foam before laying it down as the floor would have aided in preventing that compression you pointed out?

@falkornomad

9 ай бұрын

You’re welcome! Screen has very little if any effect on the compression strength, so no.

3:20 Sometimes just having h Knowledge is heavily important :)

@falcornomad Where ya' been bro? Hope all is well. Hoping you'll do a video on your experience with the Transit, MPG, driving comfort, quality, any regrets, etc., especially your driving habits and the MPG with that lightweight build. Thanks again for sharing.

@falkornomad

10 ай бұрын

Good idea for a video! I’ve been forced to take a break from video editing… we bought a home in Vermont last month AND I came down with Lyme disease and was barely able to move for a few weeks… picking back up with releases soon!

@toddincabo

10 ай бұрын

@@falkornomad Damn, Lyme desease, that's gotta' suck, hope you fully recover from that crap, tough road I hear, kick it's ass dude! Sending my best wishes your way, we can wait, heal thyself!

@falkornomad

9 ай бұрын

👍🏽

Hi can you show me hoe todo a SUV with a floor that is not level to a weekend camper. I have a older Toyota. Would love to get away for weekends on a small budget. Thanks for your videos🌻

@falkornomad

11 ай бұрын

I think the way to approach that would be to build multiple pieces that fit together in car… so you could put them in one at a time, connect them together some how and have all the features and functions you want from 6-10 smaller units that are easy to lift and store when not in use. Good luck!

People make teardrop 'foamies'. I'm assuming that one could use XPS foam, finger jointed and fiberglassed for strength. I'd love to get your opinion on how you might blend a timber or aluminium frame around doors and windows for strength with the foam.

@falkornomad

Жыл бұрын

Foamie trailers are usually XPS foam. The foam anchor system (white spiral drywall anchors) that I cover in my foam screw and glue tests would work fine for wood or metal for door / window frames. Also gluing them in at the same time. The anchors are 80+ pound pull out strength each so however many you need for the expected loads.

Any tips for cutting recesses into foam rather than through-cuts? I'm thinking about cuts for running wire/conduit or inletting wood stringers...

@falkornomad

8 ай бұрын

You can do this several ways: It is possible to use the hot knife and melt only half way through the foam, you can also make your own hot knife ( see someone else's video) that has a loop of metal wire that will carve out a recess, or you can use a router like you would for wood.

I bet you could make a great foam bones vneck 7x12 cargo trailer! It would be the parking spot king!

@falkornomad

11 ай бұрын

Trailer project is on the list… it’s WAY down the list, but it’s on it 👍🏽

@ahowl7mx

11 ай бұрын

@falkornomad been doing research and it looks like 7' wide is the minimum to unlock sideways bed layouts. 7' tall seems to accommodate mini splits or foldaway showers/cassette toilets. My plan is to fit in a regular parking space yet pack a 12x12 frame tent and fold out the ramp. But to do it with your foam bones method would be neat!

@falkornomad

11 ай бұрын

You thinking toy hauler (ramp)? Like bikes or motor sports? How would you utilize the V front? Tell me more! It’s my turn to steal your ideas, lol.

@ahowl7mx

11 ай бұрын

@falkornomad Allow me to make a few edits to this post so I can track down the right links with the designs i had and you might be interested in as well. 1) This 7x12 minimalist ramp design would make a great foambones conversion, plus light enough to be hauled by your van: kzread.info/dash/bejne/gqpt1KiQpNOdfNY.html 2) The back sliding screen door on this ramp model is icing on the cake: kzread.info/dash/bejne/aaiYzrV6ZNq1XaQ.html 3) No one has done a camp shower inside their conversion yet so I'm thinking pairing up an intex mini frame pool 4x4 with a Joolca Nomad hot water shower system. Of course you could set up the shower inside the unit or outside depending on the mission. Just needs roofracks and awnings :). Also being able to haul a 12x12 frame tent (those commercial tents) would make semipermanent camping feasible. 4) Update 4: just saw a holy grail design of a full time liveaboard in a 6x10 package which is impossibly small to fit everything, but they did. The front half kitchen/shower combo is genius and original and makes it possible. kzread.info/dash/bejne/na2N08V_pqqsfNI.html The fish processing table as an outdoor sink and ikea kitchenette is just stuff no one thinks about.

@falkornomad

11 ай бұрын

Interesting… so you would buy the trailer shell and build foam bones style inside. Only using the ramp for a big window, not for any gear loading needs?

Good info on not funking the foam and stuff. Were those laying shots a people or a drone? (or something else)

@falkornomad

Жыл бұрын

Lol… I just put my gorilla grip tripod over the projector screen near my ceiling… while I do have a drone, my videography technique is more duct tape and bailing wire, lol. The rotation of that shot was just done in editing software.

chip board isn't waterproof. great underlayment for the application, but needs to be treated carefully to make for a durable floor. paint it or varnish it, pay special attention to edges and seams. use sheet vinyl over the top of that. forget vinyl plank unless you have it lying around.

@falkornomad

8 ай бұрын

Agree... I should have treated the chip board... nobody's perfect!

I’m catching up on the foam bones and scanning through these videos, have you used the foam bones for the bed platform?

@falkornomad

3 ай бұрын

I did. Works great… see this video kzread.info/dash/bejne/c22rrMienqvJf9Y.htmlsi=s4FpNN78RP88tRGs at about 12 minutes to see how I added more strength directly below the bed platform to distribute the weight better. I do have larger open spaces at the foot of our bed (the largest is like 20x20” I think) see any video that shows the dog bed area which is under and behind me in the video above for all the “talking head” footage.

@treyblakeandrew

3 ай бұрын

@@falkornomad thanks for the quick response! I’m building out a minivan so the bed is going to be by far the heaviest structure. I’m super into the idea of shedding weight with this stuff

I found your channel while looking at different van builds for ideas. I never knew anything about building with foam. My curiosity led me to teardrop and truck campers built from smart (Poor Man’s Fiberglass), lightweight, and cost effective materials. Some of these guys go off-roading and across very challenging terrain for years with no issues. So, here’s my crazy but serious question. Could this method of building be used to build affordable structures to house the homeless even for short term transitional housing, if not long term? Has anyone tried it?

@falkornomad

Жыл бұрын

No one has tried that I know of… I have toyed around with the idea, even drawing up a “flat pack” shelter for 2 adults & 2 children that would have a plywood floor and 2” foam walls roof & bed platforms with 1” basic shelves. I think each shelter could pack down to be a standard double pallet (4ft x 8ft x 5-6ft tall). I think the shelter could be built by 1 person in less than an hour. It’s a good idea 👍🏽

@healingjourneys4241

Жыл бұрын

@@falkornomadif a subscriber like myself funded the materials would you be willing to build a prototype ? Maybe once all the kinks are worked out it could be donated to a family in need or keep as a model to show the possibilities.

@falkornomad

Жыл бұрын

I’m traveling full time right now, but will be in a new home with workshop soon. I have plans to do some other foam builds (cab over camper, teardrop trailer, etc) to refine the system and test more options. The temporary / emergency shelter idea is a good one on that list… tell me more about the use case you have in mind. Are you thinking just an insulated room for 2-4 people to sleep out of the elements while in a “camp” where an government or NGO was providing meals and bathrooms… or more like a fully functioning home for homeless or disaster victims like this: www.huduser.gov/portal/publications/design_details.pdf

@healingjourneys4241

Жыл бұрын

@@falkornomadideally a fully functional small home but at minimum shelter from the elements. There a guy who is full time van living who does single person shelters for homeless guys he meets on the road. He’s done bike campers, a small tiny on a wheeled frame, etc.. I think his channel is Beer Bus Runs or something like that. I’ve found your videos very helpful and it has my brain turning with ideas for inexpensive housing.

@falkornomad

Жыл бұрын

👍🏽

Has anyone made a non van building out of this foam?

Repeating an important question here that I put in comments section of ur first vid in this series bcuz I think ur answer is crucial and u may be more aware of this question if it is in this more recent vid. This, overall, is a huge amt of foam board and a HIGH degree of insulation from it in a VERY small space where people and their small pets are going to be living for long periods of time, driving for hours- aren't they being exposed to the toxic, long-lived off-gassing of foam board A LOT? Do u know? Can it be nullified or neutralized?

@falkornomad

10 ай бұрын

See my reply to your previous comment, not much off gassing happening here.

It looks like the foam will keep compressing over time and will make the floor sag.

@falkornomad

9 ай бұрын

We are a year in with the revised foam floor shown with the plywood on top and no compression is noticeable

Just commenting to satisfy YT.

@falkornomad

11 ай бұрын

Ahh thanks!

Did anyone notice the puppy dawwg??😊

@falkornomad

Жыл бұрын

She’s too big to miss… but you’re the first to mention it.

Could have named your channel FOAMad 😆😆

How you doing ? Any new video s /news to share your interesting journey s 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🤔

@falkornomad

8 ай бұрын

Posting one today... long story... lots of news!!

@jansweeney1333

8 ай бұрын

@@falkornomad grt stuff you put out, love your chat 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

@falkornomad

8 ай бұрын

@jansweeney1333 thanks!!!

Just tuned in to you first time and liking your hippy mad genius aspergers vibe 😊 is that a wig you're wearing? Loads of what you are saying makes sense and call me a convert but I'll be using foam gar more than I was thinking off, I just had it on the floor until now, thanks x

@falkornomad

9 ай бұрын

Not a wig, but I see why you’d think so! Glad you’re enjoying the ideas and content!

@lawrencetarget3059

9 ай бұрын

@@falkornomad 😊