Weerider's Teardrop Project.

[depatty]

Good looking tear! Very nice profile!

[halfdome, Danny]

I am also interested in thickness used. I am curious as to whether most folks are using .032 or .040.

I think I am going to use contact cement just because I have lots of experience with it. Hopefully it will stick well enough to prevent oil canning.

Is aluminum sheet soft enough to trim with a laminate trimmer?

Howard

I'm sorry to disagree with the general fear that contact cement will rip your plywood apart. Contact cement is a weak glue and I'm so confident it won't rip up my plywood I used it on my sides and galley hatch with .040 aluminum without any problems since May 2006. I didn't use a weak plywood but used Baltic Birch everywhere. I used the carpet adhesive on the roof and by tapping on it I can tell it has let loose in one area. Ed Ester has made 42 tears in Seattle and used water based contact cement without any problems. I used the solvent based contact cement by Wilsonart. I used a variable speed router with a 1/2" bit since it's half as slow as a 1/4" bit. Danny

[Weerider]

I finally got the Almuinum skin on.



Here is my Lancaster Shrinker.


This is a piece of trim for the edge of the hatch. Started with a 2" square extrusion use to frame aluminum screen enclosures from which I cut two pieces of angle 1.25"X.75". Bent one with the shrinker and sanded out the machine marks. Sanding out the marks was the most dificult and time consuming Part. I screwed up the other piece of angle getting used to using the shrinker.

Howard

[Weerider]

Got the door and fender on one side and hope to get the other side tomorrow. Still lots of work to do but it's my intention to camp in this teardrop on Jan 2,3 & 4.

[prohandyman]

Howard
Looking awfully good! I too am burning the late candle trying to get my tear ready for a January camp-out. Lots of trim and varnish(since mine is s a woody) to go, but I think I can make it. Might not have the galley finished but I was told the maiden voyage isn't supposed to be with a 100% done camper anyway.

[Weerider]

Howard
Looking awfully good! I too am burning the late candle trying to get my tear ready for a January camp-out. Lots of trim and varnish(since mine is s a woody) to go, but I think I can make it. Might not have the galley finished but I was told the maiden voyage isn't supposed to be with a 100% done camper anyway.

Dan, yours is lookin' very good also. I sure am glad to hear that the maiden voyage isn't supposed to be with a 100% done camper because mine most definitely won't be 100%. I probably won't have cabinet doors and a few pieces of interior trim but I will be happy if I can get the running lights working and everything water tight. Good luck with yours.

Howard

[peggyearlchris]

You guys are doing a great job. They are beautiful. Peg

[Weerider]

Thanks Peg, The latest pic. in your album is from 9/9/07... where are you in your project? Howard

[Classic Finn]

Thats a fancy and perdy tear you have built..

Now how have you fastened the so called Diamond Plate onto the tear?
With adhesive screws and or ? Here is mine.



How did you get the diamond plate to curve as you did? I have a quite steep curve on the front and back..

And just out of curiosity where do you get a bending machine such as yours?

Ok enough curiosity questions.. Just couldnt help myself.

Sure is Finntastic looking though.

Classic Finn

[Weerider]

Hello Heikki,

I got the Lancaster shrinker stretcher here it's a little expensive but I didn't want to anneal all that aluminum and when I am done I may just sell it on ebay.

I attached the diamond plate with polyurethane construction adhesive and #8X1" SS screws. Bending was a rather primitive affair... I placed the plate over a section of 5" PVC pipe laying on the ground. My wife and I stood on opposite edges of the plate and held on to each other while rolling back and forth and bouncing up and down... it was a site to see! but it worked!

Your tear looks great... I would imagine that it's quite cold in your neck of the woods right now. It's hotter'n the hinges of hell 'round here most of the year but the winter is quite nice and I am enjoying finishing my tear in the nice weather.

Howard

[depatty]

I realize it's not the same quality as the Lancaster but Harbor Freight has their shrinker/stretcher on sale right now at http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=96465 Regular price $169.99 now on sale for $99.99.

Anyone got or used one of the HF units? Wondering about quality/ease of use.

Dave

[Weerider]

I realize it's not the same quality as the Lancaster but Harbor Freight has their shrinker/stretcher on sale right now at http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=96465 Regular price $169.99 now on sale for $99.99.

Anyone got or used one of the HF units? Wondering about quality/ease of use.

Dave

Dave,

I saw the shrinker at Harbor Freight the other day and it looks very much like the Lancaster but I haven't used it. When I asked a few weeks ago at HF they didn't stock it in the store and said I would have to get it on-line. If I had seen the unit and it was on sale for $99 I probably would have bought it.

Howard

[Jim540]

I really like this teardrop, the shape, the size and the overall looks. Excellent job, hope some day to be able to see it in person.

[eamarquardt]

I bought the HF shrinker and stretchers and for HF stuff they're really nice. They might not last real well on steel but they should last a lifetime on al.

See my album for a picture of 1X1 al that I bent.

I was happy with them till I read that they now cost $99. I paid almost twice that. Maybe I'll find my reciept and go back and complain. Can't hurt.

Cheers,

Gus

[Weerider]

We have our Teardrop finished except for cabinet doors and a couple of pieces of interior trim. It's been simulated rain tested so Jan. 2 we're off to FDR State Park near Warm Springs, GA. The first night out it's supposed to be down below 20 degrees so I guess we'll test it's cold weather comfort right off the bat!

This has been a six month project and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks to all who advised and encouraged. This is a great site with a wealth of information that really makes a project like this possible.



Howard