Yes, those. But they are a lot cheaper if you buy them from a manufacturer... like 25 or 50 cents apiece.
http://trusspe.com/index.php?page=pallet-plates I'd think 36 of them would be enough, maybe 54. That's 2 or 3 per joint, one-sided. If two-sided, then you might need 100. But here's the good news: A carton of 3"x6" pallet plates, 280 of them, costs $50.75. 3x6 is the largest size they have standard, but they'll be happy to cut other sizes at no extra cost, just a week extra lead time. So a carton of about 90 6x9 plates would still cost $50.75. These are 20 gauge galvanized steel - I'm told they're pretty easy to bend, if you're wearing heavy gloves. They have 3/8" spikes, at 8 per square inch. I like the idea of twisted wire rather than bolts. Smaller holes in the foam, and the wire will go through the spike-holes left in the plates (saves stamping or drilling holes). Reasonably stiff wire might be used to punch the holes, especially if it's cut at an angle. So I'm thinking that a pretty strong design might use 36 6x9 plates, bent outward, on the inside of the hexayurt; plus 36 2x9 plates on the outside to anchor the wire. (I don't know how easy it would be to cut the plates with metal shears. For bigger projects, you'd want to order a carton of 2x9 plates.) Alas, you can only order one plate size in each carton, so you'd get enough plates for 2 or 3 hexayurts in the 6x9 carton. Which, with shipping, costs about as much as 2 rolls of tape. Note that I haven't tried this - it may not work - order at your own risk! The salesman I talked to is Don Dickey. The contact info for sales or ordering is on the URL above. Chris On Tue, Jan 26, 2010 at 2:42 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. > -- Chris Phoenix [email protected] 650-776-5195 Executive Coach Director of Research, Center for Responsible Nanotechnology, http://CRNano.org -- 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.
