Wood and canvas restoration

[Alfie]

The jar of refinishing oil I created to even out age and exposure on the wood exterior.

[Alfie]

The side before, showing bleaching and water damage

and after

[Alfie]

The door before
and after

[Alfie]

Repairing delamination due to water damage. Some wood was curling and needed to be softened. I injected the glue the applied pressure with my high tech system. Some spots needed tacking to assure the repair was solid.

[Alfie]

Here are the ingredients for the next step, sealing the canvas top and sealing the wood. I cooked it outside because it was very flammable. The cooled mixture becomes a paste

[Alfie]

This was applied to the canvas and the wood. After applying you heat with a hair dryer to liquefy and penetrate.

[Alfie]

The canvas required a patch where water had dripped for years. It was double layered so the inside and outside both have a mirror patch. It was a bear to sew. We broke many needles.

[Alfie]

Turned out pretty nice I think

[KCStudly]

It was a bear to sew. We broke many needles.

You, sir, need to get yourself one of these:
Speedi Stitcher

They work very well for thick canvas or even leather.

Turned out pretty nice I think

Agreed! That thing has character oozing out everywhere!

[Alfie]

Oh I like that tool! It is going on my Christmas list.
And just for reference, I am a she. There is no manner of reference without a profile image of myself. Maybe I should fix that.

[KCStudly]

My apologies ma'am.

I took Alfie to be short for Alfred, but I see now that it is just as likely to be for Alfreda, or given as Alfie.

Mea culpa.

[S. Heisley]

Welcome to the forum, Alfie. I am assuming that your forum name was chosen based on the previous owner's name?
I do hope you will come to some of the Tearjerker gatherings so we can meet you and see your trailer...?

Your trailer repairs appear to be well done. The trailer is very impressive and unique!
How did you learn to do all the repairs and wood aging? Was that from research or prior knowledge or just plain grits and determination?
The entrance doors are up higher than normal. Do you have any trouble entering and exiting them?

[Alfie]

Yes my name is based on the builders name. He was Alfred Araldi. He built this tear in 1939. The door is high because the bottom is a utility box trailer, the top is a stake side that can be lifted off. It is depression era ingenuity. It can be awkward to climb in and out, but I don't mind. I had to build my own mattress to fit the size and depth of the box. I used canvas and stuffed it with straw and cedar.

The galley has a draw bridge style opening instead of the typical hatchback.

I researched the restoration ideas on-line over time. I learned some by meeting folks as a day visitor at rallies. The wood oil recipe I got from a guy name Schultz. The wax recipe has roots as far back as the civil war as a formula for waterproofing stuff.

[Shadow Catcher]

Beautiful job of restoration and I love that you used "period" methods, but now I want to see the galley. If you want to move to a more modern mattress the http://www.thefoamfactory.com/ can custom make what you need. The conventional foam is shipped shrink wrapped/compressed and from first hand experience you want to 'release' it inside the tear.

[Juneaudave]

Great job! And thanks for the tips!