Magnets are your friend: How I use them in Vanessa

Magnets I bought

Magcraft Magnets

• Best $ - 30 count, 4lb pull @ $0.47 per
• Stronger - 10 count, 6lb pull @ $1.99 per
• HomeDepot offers free shipping >$45 or ship to store for free
• custom table of pricing

Essentra Specialty Tapes

• magnet tape 50 Feet worth
• steel tape 50 Feet worth ^{(magnet receptive)}
• $78.64 total cost incl shipping o.0
• I've yet to run out, but getting close...
• original adhesive is not amazing

A quick build philosophy

I am less-abled and cannot do physically demanding work. Thus, I have had a "bare minimum, non-permanent" approach. The less permanent my fixtures the more likely I can iterate over time when I find the people to help me with things. Additionally, I know that it will be only a short time that I wish I had things different. I don't plan to have a permanent build until I've been in my home for at least six months. Then again, likely a year depending on my situation. And if I stick with it that long.

I gutted the van. Nothing left. No plastic, no paneling. This means metal everywhere.

How I've used the magnets

in my '02 mid length high top Sprinter

• Insulation panels
• Window covers
• Bulkhead
• Shower curtain
• Accessories

Insulation Panels

After acquiring free insulation, through nextdoor mostly, I taped the disc magnets to the panels using hvac tape. This creates a small air gap as well, which, if I've learned something, also makes a difference. The edge of the ceiling insulation panels keep the side wall panels in place. The small hvac tape on the left of the picture wraps around to the other side, holding the magnets in place. Each insulation board has 4 magnets. Magnets are placed towards center of van to deal with roof curvature.

Windows

Iteration 1 - I took small pieces of the steel tape, and put them directly on the glass in strategic locations. I put the magnet tape on the black out fabric in the same location. Stick it on the window. I then added small pieces of magnet tape to the black out fabric to go around the edge of the window to seal the light by attaching directly to the door frame.

Iteration 2 - I took the steel tape and made an entire border around the window. This allowed me to remove the second layer of magnet tape from the fabric to seal the holes and allows for a cleaner look. I did this so when the window covers were taken off the window didn't look so weird. yes I lost 2 inches from the window.

Bulkhead

Iteration 1 - I took large sheets of white out fabric. I used a gob of the disc magnets to attach the fabric to the ceiling in two sheets. Then I placed the insulation panel. This created a decent barrier between the cockpit and the cabin. Magnets are also used to hold edges of fabric against side of van to seal light.

Iteration 2 - I finally got a curtain track, installed it with a wood spacer. Fabric now hangs from the track. The magnet and steel tape hold the two pieces together to seal them up. Magnets are still used to hold the valance in place.

Shower Curtain

I used some old plastic tubing and a right-angle pvc connector to create a shower curtain holder. I took the block magnets and sewed them into some non-stretch cloth. I then tied the fabric around the plastic. Curtain can hang from ceiling beams.

I wish I had more magnets to distribute the weight better. Sometimes if I rub against the curtain while showering, the curtain sticks to me and I pull it down. Doh!. And sometimes when I'm wiping the curtain off after usage I pull it down.

Accessories

I've also used magnets all over the place for small things.

Fan cover - I placed magnet tap around the edge of my fan directly on the insulation. Needed to use some sewing pins to hold in place because stock adhesive wasn't holding. Placed steel tape on white out fabric. Presto! Sealed light cover for fan. Bonus - place magnets on wall so I can hold fan cover on wall when not covering fan. (remember steel tape on cover)

Tool access - Tape a magnet to a couple screwdrivers and writing utensils for easy access! Also hold your flashlight!

Goal reaching - Magnet tape the backside of a small custom diary to track my eating (Be Fat!) I'm underweight :(

Wall storage - I acquired one of those over-the-door shoe racks. I cut off a couple rows and glued the magnet tape to the backside. This lets them sit wherever I want them! Cannot hold a lot of weight with the amount of magnet I put on, but more magnet will hold more weight

Final Thoughts

The ~$110 I spent on magnets have been the most helpful thing I did. Looking at it now, the magnets provide function for so many critical things. I understand they would be way less useful if I had covered up all the metal with paneling of some kind. If I ever get to that point, I'll have to come up with another solution for holding shit.

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