THE Teardrop Explorer

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Re: THE Teardrop Explorer

Postby PubUltraStar » Wed Nov 12, 2014 9:47 am

Gunguy05 wrote:Just curious, where did you find the porch light.? I have been looking for some like this.


http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Lights/Optronics/RVPL9CC.html

Just be aware that the trim looks like a brushed chrome on the webpage, but the actual product is a glossy chrome. It's slightly bigger than I expected, and has more depth than I thought, but it will work out. I bought 2, one for each side.
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http://www.diy-teardrop.com/
http://www.m2-photo.com
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Re: THE Teardrop Explorer

Postby Gunguy05 » Wed Nov 12, 2014 10:49 am

PubUltraStar wrote:
Gunguy05 wrote:Just curious, where did you find the porch light.? I have been looking for some like this.


http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Lights/Optronics/RVPL9CC.html

Just be aware that the trim looks like a brushed chrome on the webpage, but the actual product is a glossy chrome. It's slightly bigger than I expected, and has more depth than I thought, but it will work out. I bought 2, one for each side.



Awesome. That is actually a good thing for me. I think i saw those before, but I didn't like them because I thought they were bushed, so the shiny chrome is good.

I have 2 doors as well so 2 for me too. TD is big too, so I think that will work out great.

Good luck and keep us posted, things are looking good.
Brian


Checkout my buildThe Regal Eagle Bow front for 4
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Also my teardrop updates from blog on Dad Rambles
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Re: THE Teardrop Explorer

Postby PubUltraStar » Fri Nov 14, 2014 4:47 pm

Ordered stainless door hinges and some other hardware today from McMaster-Carr. Also sent an inquiry to finalize tires and rims. The trailer deck has been up on trailer jacks for 1.5 years. It will be nice once it's on wheels so that I can actually work on it outside the garage if necessary.

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http://www.diy-teardrop.com/
http://www.m2-photo.com
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Re: THE Teardrop Explorer

Postby PubUltraStar » Mon Nov 17, 2014 7:45 pm

Got the new steam bending molds ready for action. The long one will help create a rain gutter to mount above the doorway. The smaller ones are to help create the tongue box lid. 13 degrees outside today, so way too cold to plane any wood. Suppose to get a bit warmer by the weekend. Winter came too soon this year.
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The hinges arrived today as well. Here is one of the beefy door hinges on the CNC'd door trim. I'm going to make my own trim pieces instead of using aluminum T-Molding. The outside trim is only .25 inch, whereas the inside door trip will be .5 inches.
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http://www.diy-teardrop.com/
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Small projects for the winter months.

Postby PubUltraStar » Sun Dec 07, 2014 10:53 pm

Moved the steam bending operation to the basement for the winter. Unfortunately, the weather has not cooperated this fall and it has been way too cold recently to work on the teardrop outside. I still have a ton of wood bending to do for the tongue box lid, and the door rain gutter. I've got enough wood planed and cut, ready for steaming to last a few months of work in the basement. Pity that my motivation to work on this comes at a time when I can't do much on it.

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The original mold for the tongue box lid was CNC cut to the exact contour of the lid, that there was bounce-back in the wood when you took it off the mold. I decided to over-exaggerate the bend on this new mold. If anything, it will bounce back to more of the originally intended shape. Instead of buying a rain gutter for over the door, I'm going to try and fabricate one. Maybe a bit overkill to make a mold like this for only a couple of pieces of wood, but hopefully it will work out. It's nice and dry in the basement, so I'll probably leave the wood on the steam-bending molds for at least 3 weeks.
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http://www.diy-teardrop.com/
http://www.m2-photo.com
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Re: THE Teardrop Explorer

Postby PubUltraStar » Sat Jan 17, 2015 8:19 pm

The fenders arrived today. Better than hurricane hinge last Thursday. Continuing to stockpile necessary parts. Steam bending for the trailer tongue box continues in the basement, and have been getting about 2 pieces a week on the mold and I'll post pics when I'm a bit farther along.. Got up to 40 degrees today in Wisconsin, but I know that is only temporary. Days are getting longer, and it won't be long until I can get out in the garage and really push the build forward.

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http://www.diy-teardrop.com/
http://www.m2-photo.com
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Re: THE Teardrop Explorer

Postby PubUltraStar » Wed Jan 21, 2015 8:16 pm

I've been working on the tongue box lid in the basement, and started to apply the wood strips that came off the molds. There is some spring back to the wood. In addition to glue, I've used screws to attach the strips to the lid. These will be covered by trim strips.
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The curve in the wood is pretty good, but depending on the piece, it matches up with the shape of the lid pretty nice. However, in order to get it flush, I need to clamp each piece from the bottom.
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Considering that I need to steam each piece and keep it on the mold for a week, it takes a while to make any progress. One day to glue to the top, and another day to clamp and glue the front.
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You can see about how much spring back the wood has when it's off the mold. I used expandable glue for the front to ensure that it seeped into all the crevasses. There is excess glue that will be removed, and the gaps between the strips will have brown caulk.
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You can see from this pic the the strip has been pulled flush to the lid bottom.
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I'll be able to start the edge pieces by this weekend. Perfect winter project in the basement. The lid is heavy, but one idea that I have is to hollow out the lid after its been fiberglassed and expoxied.
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There is always risk in being awesome!
http://www.diy-teardrop.com/
http://www.m2-photo.com
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Re: THE Teardrop Explorer

Postby capnTelescope » Wed Jan 21, 2015 9:42 pm

PubUltraStar wrote:Image

I'm curious how you made the corner pieces for your tongue box lid. I looked back through your build and couldn't find anything.
I'll burn that bridge when I come to it.

Brad
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Re: THE Teardrop Explorer

Postby PubUltraStar » Wed Jan 21, 2015 10:09 pm

capnTelescope wrote:I'm curious how you made the corner pieces for your tongue box lid. I looked back through your build and couldn't find anything.


I'm assuming that you're referring to the curved edges on the front of the lid. I'll be steam bending triangular strips, creating the bend, and then attaching with Epoxy. There will be some additional sanding to get the curve. It's all theoretical at this point, but I sort of make it up as I go. I'll post pictures once I get that far.
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There is always risk in being awesome!
http://www.diy-teardrop.com/
http://www.m2-photo.com
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Re: THE Teardrop Explorer

Postby capnTelescope » Wed Jan 21, 2015 10:43 pm

I just didn't go back far enough! This post and a few that followed had my answer.

Keep 'er going! :beer:
I'll burn that bridge when I come to it.

Brad
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Re: THE Teardrop Explorer

Postby BassinVt » Wed Feb 18, 2015 8:03 am

I just read through this build, and I am amazed at the detail and time. Wow. :thumbsup: Inspired is not a big enough word to use on this build for me. Thank you
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Re: THE Teardrop Explorer

Postby PubUltraStar » Wed Feb 18, 2015 7:23 pm

Thanks. I really hope to jump on this build when the weather warms up. Zero degrees outside right now. Bbbrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
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http://www.diy-teardrop.com/
http://www.m2-photo.com
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Re: 2013 Grillenium Falcon

Postby tony.latham » Fri Feb 20, 2015 12:48 am

KCStudly wrote:You're nuts! But this is going to be epic. :thumbsup: :applause:


Geeeeese, KC! All this time, I thought you were the nutt cake! :FNP (That's a compliment)

This is definetly a build to watch.

T
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Re: THE Teardrop Explorer

Postby KCStudly » Fri Feb 20, 2015 7:54 am

I am, he is, and so are you. If the label fits, wear it proudly! :D :lol:
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Re: THE Teardrop Explorer

Postby PubUltraStar » Sat Mar 14, 2015 8:26 pm

Last weekend there was still snow on the ground, and this weekend temps in the 60's. So, spent some time in the driveway working on the tongue box lid. Sanding, routing, and even started attaching the corner pieces. There will be trim pieces installed over all of the screw holes when all if said and done.

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http://www.diy-teardrop.com/
http://www.m2-photo.com
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