Foam Cabinets

[khantroll]

Hi all,


I stumbled across this video, and I thought I'd see what everyone's thoughts are? He's basically laminated XPS foam and building light weight cabinets out of it:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJv0pEjvC34

[Rickf1985]

Love it!

[TerryH]

Some concerns I would have:
-Manufacture time - far in excess of a face frame wood cabinet.
-Weight differential - not enough to offset cost and or future problems.
-Doors, latches, hinges, hold opens - what do you fasten them to? 1/8" plywood?
-Mounting and fastening of cabinets to vehicle structure - fine if they rest on the floor, but what happens when you fasten an expected to be  utilitarian cabinet such as this to a wall or overhead. Would it last an hour on the road?
-Shelves (including required hardware to make them adjustable) and loading of shelves. We all know dishes, cookware, canned goods, etc., etc., are heavy. I would not trust one of theses foam units very far.

All in all, building a Class B for your own use, the system could have benefits in some areas.
Other than that, I would be very reluctant to use it.

As for the 'strength' test - you could make the identical unit out of heavy corrugated cardboard, use the same stainless top on it and stand/bounce on the top with no damage to either you or the cabinet. Turn them on the side and try and you will be dealing with having to build a new cabinet once your legs and ankles heal.

My opinion.

[tmsnyder]

He must be under the assumption that rv cabinets are built the same as house cabinets. 

[khantroll]

Aren't they built like cheap house cabinets? Like, 1 by or smaller frame with backing boards and drawers?

[tmsnyder]

Mostly 1/4" thick or less(?) plywood laminated on strips of pine.  Same idea, strong but light.  Basically like what he is building but without the foam.  The foam is not even needed. I guess if you're working outside on the ground and don't have a wood shop.


I can't even imagine the amount of foam rubbing up against stuff and squeaking that's going to happen as soon as he hits the road.




House cabinets are made of stuff like 3/4" particle board and 3/4" plywood. Heavy.  Coach manufacturers have been doing this a long time, they've got it pretty well figured out, since the 1950s. My 1959 canned ham has cabinets made out of 1/4" birch plywood.  The doors are 1" thick, laminated, hollow.  Actually the whole interior is 1/4" birch plywood.  Beautiful, light, and strong. 

[postman]

House cabinets are made of stuff like 3/4" particle board and 3/4" plywood. Heavy!!!!! 

Mine is 3/4 so heavy ever drawer guide rail was split and as well as the plastic guides. Good call on squeaky. I liked the foam idea, but realized the need to beef up rigidity. However I think I am going to replace drawers with big box unit.

[tmsnyder]

There's a cabinet in mine that the PO made from plywood and solid wood.  I noticed today while my wife was driving that the thing squeaks and rattles with every bump and bounce.  The RV companies must have figured their stuff out.