Upper Siding for an Eagle

[Ericbsc]

I raised the roof on an 05 Eagle and reskinned it. Two pieces length of bus. One seam below the windows. I heated and streached it as I went. It looked like glass no matter what the temp outside. Then I got the bright idea to have it foamed inside. The gug gave me a good coat, problem is that the spray operator didn't know what I ment by skim first. My siding now looks like a wave pool!!! I cannot look at it!!! I am either going over it or remove it and reskin. I have drilled the rivets and think it will come off and leave the foam in place. I noticed on the new Eagle site their model 25 looks to be one piece. I called and it is. Problem is that they said it was about $ 3.00 a sq ft with a 78" x 50' std sht. Need ideas!!! I want it done outside and this is the last thing. Help

[Chaz]

Sorry to hear about your sides. If I'm not mistaken, I know what your taliking about, Bad thing is, I don't think you will have any luck removing the skin and leaving the foam. It's worse than super glue. Sorry.

[belfert]

If you replace the skins, a lot of the foam will stick to the metal based on my experiences removing the foam.  You may still have some high spots that will need to be removed.  If you put new skins over the old foam you will have pockets with no foam and likely lose insulating value.

Brian Elfert

[Len Silva]

You may be able to separate the skin from the foam by heating it with a propane weed burner as you peel it off.  If that doesn't work, then perhaps trying a floor scraper as you peel it back.

No matter what you do, it's going to be a difficult and expensive project - I feel your pain

Len

[belfert]

You may be able to separate the skin from the foam by heating it with a propane weed burner as you peel it off.  If that doesn't work, then perhaps trying a floor scraper as you peel it back.

If it is anything like the spray foam in my Dina, the foam will burn if exposed to much heat.  You would need to be very careful not to apply much heat.  The smoke if it does burn is really nasty.

I did a test and tried to burn some foam from something I removed.  The foam will start on fire with enough heat, but it doesn't tend to stay burning if the heat source is removed.

Brian Elfert

[gumpy]

Make up a big bow with a twisted wire or very fine cable between the ends and slip it over one end. "Saw" your way from front to back, separating the steel from the foam. You'll need help holding the panel as you cut it away. The bow must be very tight to put a lot of tension on the wire or the wire will try to ride up into the foam.

[Jeremy]

I once put some 2-part expanding foam into the buoyancy tanks of a fibreglass boat, and the expansion of the foam was so strong that it made the fibreglass panels bow outwards, including completely closing up the daggerboard slot (that won't mean anything if you don't know what a daggerboard is, but trust me, it was a disaster).

I ended up hacking the foam out with a saw blade - very unsatisfactory. You might want to experiment with petrol, cellulose thinners etc to see if anything will dissolve the foam before burning it.

Jeremy

[Len Silva]

Make up a big bow with a twisted wire or very fine cable between the ends and slip it over one end. "Saw" your way from front to back, separating the steel from the foam. You'll need help holding the panel as you cut it away. The bow must be very tight to put a lot of tension on the wire or the wire will try to ride up into the foam.

GENIUS!