I would love to see something cheaper and less flammable than the bi filament tape. As it is, the rolls are about $30/each and you need about 1.5 - 2 rolls to do a 12' hexayurt. Also, when building these on the playa, the wind poses challenges beyond moving boards. I found that dust between the tape and boards can reduce the holding power of the tape.
Also, the tape combined with R-Max is REALLY flammable. You HAVE to cover it with metal foil tape if you want to have your yurt even remotely safe from fire hazards. My tests of the boards with various tapes show that bi-filament tape uncovered dramatically accelerated the combustion over the board alone. When the bi-filament tape was covered with foil tape, I found it almost impossible to ignite the tape and what did burn didn't spread very easily. So I think with the fire safety issues the hexayurt has, that perhaps we should borrow what we can while we explore more radical options. Has anyone seen any aluminum channel with a 60deg bend that can accept 1" boards? I would love to be able to just snap the boards in as if I was using T channel or similar. Spiral On Tue, Jan 26, 2010 at 4:42 PM, Richard Ginn <[email protected]> wrote: > On Tue, Jan 26, 2010 at 4:54 PM, Chris Phoenix <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Tape adds a lot to the cost and skill of hexayurt building. I'm >> wondering whether there might be more mechanical joints that could >> work. >> >> For example, truss joint connectors - those little metal plates with >> spikes stamped out of them - might be pre-bent to the correct angles >> and used to attach the panels together. Although putting them into >> wood requires a hydraulic press, they should go pretty easily into >> foam. A bolt through them to a large washer or plate on the other side >> should hold them in place. >> >> The resulting joints would not be water-tight, but just a little tape >> should be able to fix that. >> >> I think I remember reading that an important part of hexayurt strength >> is the tension in the tape that's wrapped around between the walls and >> roof. If so, it might be necessary to add a cable or strap, either >> wrapped around the outside, or run through the bolts (eyebolts?) >> attaching the truss connectors. >> >> Has anyone tried anything like this? Can anyone see a major problem? >> >> Chris >> >> > These, yes? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truss_connector_plate > > [image: > http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Wood_truss_plates.jpg] > If enough of them are used then there might not not be much of a weak spot > in the wall joint when it's pressed by strong winds. With too few plates > the wall might bend and snap. > > Instead of a bolt, maybe punch a few holes through the board with a large > nail and use metal wire stitched through a few times and twisted tight. > > The perimeter cable could be secured to the uppermost plates with wire > also. How strong does that cable have to be? Could it be rope? > > With the plates the tape is then no longer load-bearing and only has to be > waterproof and sun-resistant. > > Looks like they cost nearly $2 each in packages of 100. How many are > needed per hexayurt? > > This is a step towards using full-length connector joints which would be > fast to assemble and strong. Those may not exist yet, but one size/angle > might fit all (roof and wall and roof/wall joint). > > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "hexayurt" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]<hexayurt%[email protected]> > . > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/hexayurt?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "hexayurt" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/hexayurt?hl=en.
