Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hi folks,

I am installing lights. Best Half wants reading lights mounted on the underside of shelf (well, so does this 1/2) The shelf in question will extend across the front curved wall of the T, just above our head height when sitting.

I need help on figuring out how to mount a cleat on the wall so that it will be level. In other words, how do I compensate for the curve in the wall ?

If I had a table saw, I would cut a close angle and sand to fit. But I don't have a table saw. Advice appreciated....

Hope builds going well for you all!

Jim

Hi,

If you position a cleat across the front, leveled and temporarily secured, a pair of dividers used to mark the top and bottom will give you a line to cut to.

Set the dividers to slightly wider than the largest gap, and mark.
Connect the lines at each end, and you can determine the exact angle.

If you can't find someone with a table saw, a jigsaw and sander would work.

Rob

I think I would just measure up from the floor. There may be better answers out there. I didn't get plans, and this is the first time I have tried building one of these, and I don't have my shelf in yet.

Rob,

I'm ok with what you said except for 'dividers'? Not sure what you're naming here....? A tool? Protractor?

Sorry to be so dense,

Thanks,

Jim

Jim, is the shelf running the whole width of the TD?

If so, just get a decent shelf width and bracket-mount it on the ENDS, not on the curved wall at all.

And you can use a cheap piece of 1/4 round trim or other to "meld" it to that front wall.

Hi Jim,

Dividers;



Use them to scribe a line that exactly corresponds to the opposite surface.

On the assumption that you want to install say a 12" wide board that is 3/4" thick as your shelf, the curved front of the tear will not allow the 3/4" edge to fit flush, and level, as the edge of the board is cut at 90 degrees.

By using the dividers, you can transfer the exact angle of the tears front wall curve to the board, thus allowing you to replicate that angle on the edge of the shelf.
Hold or fasten the shelf in a level position.
Scribe the top, then the bottom.
Remove the board and connect the lines across the ends.
The board cut to that line, will now fit tight and flush against the curved wall, and be level.
Clear as mud huh?

Ira's solution (while cheating) is a good one.
Trim will cover a multitude of sins, and gaps

Okay, I just re-read your original question, and realized I didn't answer it, sorry.

To match the cleat (shelf support) to the curve of the wall, the dividers will do a nice job.

Temporarily mount the cleat, or have someone hold it exactly where it will go, and then use the dividers to transfer the curve to the cleat.
Remember to make the cleat a little larger than you need as you will need to trim it to the scribed line.

Rob

For a one off like this I wouldn't even mess with my table saw. Cut the shelf to length and then plane the angle to fit with a simple block plane.