It's been quiet on the Airstream blogging front, but lots has been happening. It looks like Christmas came for the next few decades in both the shop and the house. You wouldn't believe the amount of small stuff you need to get if you're rebuilding a trailer from the bottom up. Last week we drove to Sumas WA to pick up the axles (and a whole bunch of other stuff from Pic-It-Up). Today, we picked up plywood for the floor, Rockwool insulation from the wall and belly pan, new copper pipe and valves from the gas lines, PEX for the water lines, etc. Looks like I'll be installing gas lines next after which I can flip the trailer over, fill the belly pan with insulation, reassemble the fresh water tank and gray tank, assemble the floor, reattach the trim that will connect the frame to the body, and a couple of hundred rivets later, the trailer should be two halves of the same whole.
Oops. Forgot. Have to assemble and attach the axels first. As the new Dexter axles have a larger circumference axle, I'll have to cut the frame to make room. No sweat, I say. You say, are you nuts? Cut the frame? Apparently so. Last I heard, it's tough to shove a metal axle into a slot designed for a smaller one.
This past weekend, Smart-Neighbor-Pat came by and helped me build a 'garage' for the Airstream. We tend to get a lot of snow in this part of the world, so a garage is necessary to (a) keep the snow, rain and evergreen needles off the roof and (b) allow me to work on it somewhat sheltered from the elements (once said snow arrives).
Smart-Neighbor-Pat (forever now referred to as SNP) instructed me to get materials ready and on Saturday the fun would begin. And what fun was had. This is what we built. We had numerous rain delays, which necessitated whisky and Cokes and lots of good conversation. It looks a tad like a StoneAge Parthenon, minus the roof. The roof will be put on my when my sons come for a visit in a few weeks (SURPRISE ETHAN AND NOEL!!). This was surprisingly economical to build and relatively simple to do (if you have a SMP handy). SMP is a wizard with a chain saw, so that was helpful. I pounded LOTS of Re-Bar to keep it together, as well as 10 inch log screws. Marlene and I figure this could also be a great party room (should the sun ever decide to shine in the Cariboo once more).
A few photos of other goings on with all things Airstream.
One tends to collect A LOT of different sized screws, bolts and rivets. Organization is key. So I built these two items to aid this brain-addled renovator keep organized.
The goal is to have the Airstream buttoned up and in one piece before the snow flies. I guess we'll all see if that goal is reached.
Oops. Forgot. Have to assemble and attach the axels first. As the new Dexter axles have a larger circumference axle, I'll have to cut the frame to make room. No sweat, I say. You say, are you nuts? Cut the frame? Apparently so. Last I heard, it's tough to shove a metal axle into a slot designed for a smaller one.
This past weekend, Smart-Neighbor-Pat came by and helped me build a 'garage' for the Airstream. We tend to get a lot of snow in this part of the world, so a garage is necessary to (a) keep the snow, rain and evergreen needles off the roof and (b) allow me to work on it somewhat sheltered from the elements (once said snow arrives).
Smart-Neighbor-Pat (forever now referred to as SNP) instructed me to get materials ready and on Saturday the fun would begin. And what fun was had. This is what we built. We had numerous rain delays, which necessitated whisky and Cokes and lots of good conversation. It looks a tad like a StoneAge Parthenon, minus the roof. The roof will be put on my when my sons come for a visit in a few weeks (SURPRISE ETHAN AND NOEL!!). This was surprisingly economical to build and relatively simple to do (if you have a SMP handy). SMP is a wizard with a chain saw, so that was helpful. I pounded LOTS of Re-Bar to keep it together, as well as 10 inch log screws. Marlene and I figure this could also be a great party room (should the sun ever decide to shine in the Cariboo once more).
A few photos of other goings on with all things Airstream.
One tends to collect A LOT of different sized screws, bolts and rivets. Organization is key. So I built these two items to aid this brain-addled renovator keep organized.
The goal is to have the Airstream buttoned up and in one piece before the snow flies. I guess we'll all see if that goal is reached.
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| Inspired by the card catalogue at UBC. Remember card catalogues? Did my first degree with card catalogues. |
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| No inspiration here. Just had to get rivets organized. |
If you can organize choir rehearsals, you can organize an Airstream renovation! Well done Tony!
ReplyDeleteThanks, whoever you may be
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