Hi Joseph We built two hexacomb hexayurts on the playa last year. I tracked down a west coast distributor of hexacomb cardboard out of Algona, WA called Tharco and had 38 4'x8' sheets shipped to southern California. I posted the contact info in the "cardboard" thread here in the google group last year, but I can post it again if you want it. I also posted our playa experience story on a different thread in here somewhere.
I believe this stuff is sold in various sizes and thicknesses. I found distributors in LA with smaller sizes or not enough quantity to get me what I needed at a decent price, hence the shipment from Washington. We followed the plans on appropedia for the playa build and made 2 10' hexayurts with 6' walls (instead of 4' or 8'). They held up amazingly well in the wind with only 5 anchors on each one (due to a shortage of rebar). They didn't even move during the dust storms, and were practically dust proof except for what we brought in on our bodies. Once this stuff is all taped together it is strong as hell. As for insulation...we had a giant shade structure over both yurts. If we didn't have it, I imagine they would have been just about as miserable as a tent is when the sun hits it. Ok, maybe a little better but not much. We brought along a giant roll of radiant barrier for the sides of the yurt that did get a little sun, but we never found a good way to attach it to the cardboard. We tried spray adhesive but that gave way when it got warm. The 6" tape held it in place, but was not a cost effective way to cover the whole thing. Does anyone have any ideas for attaching that stuff to hexacomb? Any other ideas for insulating this stuff? I'd love to hear from you. As for nighttime, we found that a piece of carpet under our air mattress helped stop heat loss. The yurt itself blocked all wind so it was warmer at night in that respect too. pics and a really rudimentary slide show that explains a little about what we did at: http://picasaweb.google.com/heyitsanne/Movies?feat=directlink On Feb 10, 12:25 pm, Joseph <[email protected]> wrote: > Hey Beacon > > I'm definitely interested in seeing some pics on what you did. I also > can't visualize what you're talking about with the 2x12s, if you could > get pics of what you did last year/what you're thinking of this year, > I think it would add to the discussion. Especially concerning the > frame, as I'm obviously not a fan of "kindling" tape. > > I haven't heard much from hexacomb users, and I'd like more info as > that's what I'm hoping to use this year. Lets say you didn't have a > shade structure (which I do plan on having), how would it compare to a > tent without a shade structure as far as insulation is concerned? At > night, was it freezing? > > as for ordering the hexacomb, did they offer it in various sizes, or > was it 4x8? did you make it with a gable or a flat roof? How did it > hold up in the winds? I'm asking both about the material itself, and > your design/frame for all these questions. > > On Feb 9, 3:32 pm, Ian Bates <[email protected]> wrote: > > > This isn't technically a Hexayurt, but I'm trying to use many of the same > > concepts and meet many of the same goals for application both on and off > > playa. > > I used hexacomb on the playa last year and was pretty pleased. We ordered > > it from somewhere in WA (Plague took the order), and had it shipped to > > Oakland. I didn't make a hexayurt, but explored ideas that may apply to the > > hexayurt. I made a cube 8'x'8'x 6.5' tall. I constructed a simple frame > > with 1"x2" wood. I then attached the Hexacomb using 3" deck screws with a > > double-washer system so that the force of each screw was spread out over a > > circular area about 2" in diameter on the hexacomb. That worked > > surprisingly well, especially on the roof panels that had a coating of white > > paint for more reflection. Attaching panels was a breeze with a cordless > > screw gun. The heat performance was decent (slept till 10 most mornings)... > > but this was definitely aided by our main shade structure being directly to > > the east of my cardboard box. This upcoming year I am thinking of ditching > > the internal frame and instead using some wooden blocks cut from 2x12's in > > the shape of a right triangle with holes pre-drilled at 90deg angles. I > > think two bolting blocks on each vertex should do the trick. I plan to use > > bolts with high surface area washers on the hexacomb side. Probably eye > > bolts on the interior for hook space, and some eye bolts facing out for > > anchors. > > I'll try to get some sketches up if i can, or pictures of my attempts. > > Cheers! > > Beacon > > > On Tue, Feb 9, 2010 at 12:16 PM, Spiral Syzygy > > <[email protected]>wrote: > > > > So I realized that I dropped the ball on updating the wiki and I never > > > posted the vids. I'm not sure I have them anymore, 2 years and several > > > bad harddisks later... > > > > So it looks like the verdict is out. RMAX and bi-filament tape = > > > possibilities of death, pain, more death.. more pain.. FIRE BAD! > > > > BEWARE! > > > > Just as a note: I'm insane and I still will be staying this BM in my > > > RMAX and bi-filament tape yurt. I just can't let go of being able to > > > sleep until noon if I choose. See you on the playa.. no smoking in or > > > around my yurt, yo. > > > > hehe > > > Spiral > > > > On Tue, Feb 9, 2010 at 1:11 PM, Spiral Syzygy <[email protected]> > > > wrote: > > > > Chris. I performed some fire tests in the summer of 2008. There are > > > > some pics on the hexayurt wiki. > > > >http://groups.google.com/group/hexayurt/browse_thread/thread/99fbdd6c... > > > > > Also, further resources on hexayurt safety > > > >http://www.appropedia.org/Hexayurt_Safety_Information > > > > > Spiral > > > > > On Tue, Feb 9, 2010 at 12:54 PM, Chris Phoenix <[email protected]> > > > wrote: > > > >> Why are space blankets a no-no? > > > > >> Could someone plan flammability studies at this year's Burning Man? (I > > > >> don't know yet if I'm going.) A half-scale hexayurt, half-taped > > > >> together, could tell us a lot. Take video of a pile of trash burning > > > >> in the open, vs. one inside a foam-panel hexayurt (with and without > > > >> flammable tape), vs. one inside a similar construction of cardboard. > > > > >> I'm willing to bet that a fire in a hexayurt-sized mirrored enclosure > > > >> will flash over in less than a minute - with or without the tape. > > > >> (Glass-fronted mirrors will probably absorb more heat than mirrored > > > >> plastic or aluminum foil. > > > > >> In discussions of hexacomb panels, I saw mention of putting a > > > >> dessicant inside the sealed walls. I doubt very much that this will > > > >> work long-term. The walls *will* get holes in them, and then water can > > > >> run inside and overwhelm the dessicant. What about waxed or > > > >> plasticized cardboard instead? (Also, if metal truss brackets are > > > >> used, they will create holes in whatever covering is used.) > > > > >> Chris > > > > >> On Tue, Feb 9, 2010 at 10:15 AM, Joseph <[email protected]> wrote: > > > >>> Ok, so I've been lurking for awhile now, especially after the > > > >>> earthquake. > > > > >>> I'm definitely interested in doing this at BM this year, but I think > > > >>> that it's time that the questions which keep popping up should be > > > >>> answered in a single thread, so if you wouldn't mind, bear with me > > > >>> through this and add your input. > > > > >>> 1. Its safe to assume that there are supply difficulties getting the > > > >>> insulation panels, correct? Enough difficulties to suggest making a > > > >>> full adoption of other materials. > > > > >>> 2. Regarding the cardboard hexacomb, exactly how much is it per 4x8 > > > >>> sheet, and does anyone know of any western US places where an order > > > >>> can actually be placed? > > > > >>> 3. Additionally, who has experience with the hexacomb? Is it too hot > > > >>> in the desert? Does it turn into a sweat lodge at 7:30 am? > > > > >>> 4. As for covering the hexacomb with an insulating material, what > > > >>> works? How much is it? Space blankets are a big no-no from what I > > > >>> understand, so what are the available options and what's your opinion > > > >>> on how well it would work? > > > > >>> 5. I personally feel the tape is a bit ludicrous, both in cost, time, > > > >>> and flammability (not that I have any experience with it). It seems > > > >>> like using metal brackets is a much more elegant, cheap, and safe > > > >>> solution. > > > > >>> 6. Speaking of the metal brackets, in your opinion would they work > > > >>> with the hexacomb or other materials? Do you see any reason they > > > >>> shouldn't be the #1 recommendation for building hexayurts? Not just on > > > >>> the playa, it's got to be much easier to get metal brackets to > > > >>> disaster zones than 6 inch wide flammable special order bi-filament > > > >>> tape > > > > >>> 7. What about pentayurts? Seems more stable, no? > > > > >>> basically I suggest we take all the recent discussions on materials, > > > >>> supplies, designs, windows, air conditioners, guywires, etc, and work > > > >>> on an updated faq. > > > > >>> -- > > > >>> 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] > > > om> > > > . > > > >>> 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]<hexayurt%[email protected] > > > om> > > > . > > > >> 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]<hexayurt%[email protected] > > > om> > > > . > > > 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. 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