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Phenolic Plywood - Trailer Floor
Howlor - 7/4/08 at 06:07 PM

Need to update my car trailer as the 2 lumps of 12x3 is getting rather green and slippery in the wet!

Currently it has two runners with nothing in the middle. I fancy totally boarding it just in case I buy a Robin! I am told that I need some Phenolic plywood, the non slip stuff but I do not seem to be able to locate anyone who sells the stuff. One or two on google just seem to list it as a special order item.

Anybody have any ideas? Or another suitable material?

Thanks,
Steve

blakep82 - 7/4/08 at 06:11 PM

chequer plate aluminium maybe? or what about stapeling on chicken wire to the ply you've already got? it'll help give some kind of grip at least. may not last very long though

Confused but excited. - 7/4/08 at 06:12 PM

IIRC phenolic plywood was used for flooring in high voltage switch rooms. It was pressed in a mould to have the same surface texture as chequer plate. The cost............you might find gold plated 6mm ali chequer plate cheaper.

blue2cv - 7/4/08 at 06:23 PM

Why not use grit in your paint to make a grippy surface, worked on my trailer for ages, once the ply rotted i went berserk and bought ali 5 bar tread plate at £100 plus a sheet trade

Wadders - 7/4/08 at 06:27 PM

Commercial body builders use it to board artic trailer floors etc, a common trade name is Wisa Wire. I get it from Service Metals in Morley
An 8' x 4' x 3/4" sheet is about £35 +vat, i might have some offcuts that would do you if you can get to Leeds.

Al.

Confused but excited. - 7/4/08 at 06:35 PM

That looks like good stuff. Certainly well cheaper than what I was rabbiting on about.

matt_gsxr - 7/4/08 at 06:37 PM

Is it waterproof around the edges for long-term use.

Ifor williams use it so I guess they know something

http://www.iwt.co.uk/spares/trailerbodywork.pdf

Matt

procomp - 7/4/08 at 06:59 PM

Hi funnily enough i was looking to get some a few months ago. As said its not that dear and the above price is about the going rate. Also it is used in horse boxes and for flooring in some trucks depending on application. But as also mentioned when cut it needs re-sealing around the cut edges.

I decided on Ali chequer plate in the end as it worked out cheaper and quicker/easier. espesialy with the risk of every time a cars rips the surface of the boarding it needs re-sealing ect. The ali plate seemed to be a fit and forget quicker option.

HTH cheers Matt

Moorron - 7/4/08 at 07:01 PM

Howler!

What size do you need, we only stock 15mm wivaweave phonel that we use on all our dropsides and vans.

We have lots of mistakes,,,,,,i mean offcuts that i might be able to get bookshe, but it all depends on size and if the boss is happy.

Its not cheap stuff mind, actually its the most expensive part on or bodies.

In other words, pray my boss is happy

Tip, you need to seal the cut edges of it too or it delaminates so get some rubber paint for it.

get back to me.

Moorron - 7/4/08 at 07:03 PM

great i cant even spell it right lol

Howlor - 7/4/08 at 08:44 PM

Thanks guys for the help I knew you wouldn't let me down!

Wadders I can easily get across to Leeds, what size bits do you have as I will have the lot in exchange for some beer tokens.

Moorron same applies, I can pick up from you and I don't mind paying. What sizes can you get?

Thanks,
Steve

balidey - 7/4/08 at 08:50 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Wadders
Commercial body builders use it to board artic trailer floors etc, a common trade name is Wisa Wire. I get it from Service Metals in Morley
An 8' x 4' x 3/4" sheet is about £35 +vat, i might have some offcuts that would do you if you can get to Leeds.

Al.

Yes, yes we do. I work for a commercial body builder. We get some stuff from Service Metals, sometimes we go direct to Vincent Timber and sometimes to Schauman.

As for the names, there are so many brand names, its all basically the same stuff, plywood sheets in whatever thickness you want with a thin smooth phenolic underneath and a patterned, thicker top phenolic coating. The brand names just refer to how thick the top is and what pattern its got.

Wisa branded boards are more expensive as they have a much thicker top, they are Wisadeck, Wisamesh, Wisatruck etc etc.

The cheaper branded boards are such as Rhinomesh, Hexadeck, Vindeck.

All much the same thing.

Best thing you can do is ring up Service Metals (your most local one) and ask for their prices of the boards you want. We use Wisa boards in our 44 tonne trucks, but the cheaper Rhinomesh performs almost as well. I regularly conduct wear tests on sample boards, so believe me, if our trucks can get away with the cheaper boards, so can you.

MKMike - 7/4/08 at 08:54 PM

You should look at this stuff:

http://www.graepel.co.uk/graepelnew/Main/Flooring.htm

The Safedeck Stabil comes in 3m lengths and is available in a few different widths (as far as I can remember), its galvanized so no more painting.

I used it to make an suspended access platform a couple of years ago, looks good and definitely not slippy when wet.

I cannot remember the price.

dhutch - 8/4/08 at 07:59 AM

Other trade names are 'hexagrip' (hex pattern) and 'rhino board'

Although its basicaly plywood, its very high resin content throughout, and phenolic resin isnt cheap. Hence the price!


Daniel

Syd Bridge - 8/4/08 at 09:37 AM

I bought some 3/8 wbp hardwood type ply, and put a layer of 450csm either side and over the edges. Helps strengthen the joins as well.

Been there 12 years, cow crap and mud and stones, rips and scrapes, and still no signs of delamination.

Cheers,
Syd.