GENERAL:
What is Paper Honeycomb?
What sizes are the panels?
What are the normal sheet thickness?
How do you measure cell sizes?
What are your tolerances?
What happens when it gets wet?
What is he difference between expanded open faced & double faced?
What is a "board foot"?
How do you attach "things" to a panel?

MANUFACTURING:
What type of glue do I use to make panels?
How much do I use?
Can Honeycomb be cold pressed?
Can Honeycomb be hot pressed?
Can I cut Honeycomb to size?
Won't the cells fill with resin?
What types of material can I laminate to honeycomb?
Can I use honeycomb in hand lay-up procedure?
What cell size should I use?
How much pressure do I use?
Why is honeycomb just as strong as plywood or particleboard?
How do I make curved panels?
Can I use honeycomb in RTM process?
Is this core fire retardant?

DISTRIBUTION:
Do you have distributors?
How do you ship?
How much can you get in a truckload?
What do you have in stock?
What is your lead time?

ANSWERS:

What is Paper Honeycomb?
An open geometric pattern with cell walls manufactured from kraft paper which, when required, is treated with phenolic resins.  Our pattern is a sine wave.
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What sizes are the panels?
We can manufacture panels up to 5' x 10'.  However, the most common sizes are 4' x 8' and 4' x 10 and are usually determined by the size of facing sheets available. Sizes are limited somewhat by methods of shipping.
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What are the normal sheet thickness?
Thickness' range from .400" to .500" in increments of .005".
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How do you measure cell sizes?
Cell size is measured by the amplitude of the sine wave.
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What are your tolerances?
Thickness: +/- .010" - Length and width: +/- ½" which is determined by our largest cell size.
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What happens when it gets wet?
Impregnated (phenolic treated) can be soaking wet and retain 40% of its strength.   When dried it returns to 100%.  Impregnated is recommended for any installation that is subject to moisture.
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What is the difference between Expanded Open Faced & Expanded Double Faced?
Expanded Open Faced (EOF) has a visible cell structure.  EDF means the substrates (facings) are adhered to the cell structure.
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What is a "board foot"?
12" x 12" x 1" = 1 Board Foot
12" x 12" x ½" = ½ Board Foot
12" x 12" x 2" = 2 Board Foot
and so on.
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How do you attach "things" to a panel?
See examples.
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What type of glue do I use to make panels?
Depends on what type of substrates (facings).  For wood, any good quality adhesive, such as PVA, Urea, epoxy, or polyurethane.  For aluminum or steel, epoxy or polyurethane.
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How much do I use?
It depends on the cell size and type of press - hot or cold.  Please consult our engineering staff for more specifics.
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Can Honeycomb be cold pressed?
Yes.
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Can Honeycomb be hot pressed?
Only impregnated grades.
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Can I cut Honeycomb to size?
Yes.  Any good sharp knife will usually work. Hold the  blade at a 30° angle to the honeycomb and draw it towards you.  You can also use any type of fine toothed power saw.
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Won't the cells fill with resin?
Sure, if you pour it into them directly, but NOT under normal FRP procedures.  For spray up, follow regular procedures, and for hand lay-up, wet out the glass first, then move it to the core.
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What types of material can I laminate to honeycomb?
Any substrate (facing) that is capable of carrying a load.
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Can I use honeycomb in hand lay-up procedure?
Yes.  First wet out the glass and lay the honeycomb into the resin and let it cure.   If a smooth finish is required on second skin, turn over, turn over honeycomb and first skin and repeat.  If smoothness is not necessary, wet out glass, then move the honeycomb.
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What cell size should I use?
It depends on the application.  Usually we can recommend the specification for your application by our experience.
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How much pressure do I use?
Enough for intimate contact with the honeycomb and substrates.  To much pressure can cause a collapse.
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Why is honeycomb just as strong as plywood or particleboard?
It's not, but a honeycomb panel will deflect less than plywood or particleboard because it weighs less.
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How do I make curved panels?
See the illustrated explanation under "Marine Applications".
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Can I use honeycomb in RTM process?
No.
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Is this core fire retardant?
No, but we're working on it!
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Do you have distributors?
Only in Southern Florida; Seattle, Washington; and New Zealand.  Everything else is sold directly by our own sales staff.
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How do you ship?
LTL - common carrier, truckloads contract carrier, and customer pick-up form our facility in Gurnee, IL.
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How much can you get in a truckload?
Depends on the size of the trailer and the honeycomb piece size but it usually varies from 24 MBF to 35 MBF (MBF=1000 Board Feet).
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What do you have in stock?
Paper and adhesive...all shipments are manufactured to order except for panel stock such as Tripanel, Trideck, Tripanel Marine, Tripanel Exterior, and Tripanel Custom, which are usually inventoried.
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What is your lead time?
Usually three weeks, but this had been known to extend to five weeks on occasion.   For regular customers, we block time and for other we will "work with them".
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