Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hello everyone!!

I am going to the lumber yard today to purchase the 1/8" Birch 4x8 sheets for the exterior top skin. I already have one layer of 1/8" Luna installed with 1 million staples and of course glue.

My plans for installing are:

1. Glue, glue, and more glue.
2. Screws on side edges and at seam/joint. (I will be covering with trim)
3. Rope or straps to help hold it all down until dry.

For the prep of the first layer already installed I plan to use wood filler to level out a few spots.

Should I pull out the staples??

Is there any advice y'all can offer before I get started?

Thanks in advance.

Mary K.

Mary,

I would forgo the staples on the top skin use straping from the front to back (or vice versa). put one on each edge and a couple or three more in between. I don't think that you will need to pull any staples unless they are sticking up and you can not get them down.

Ditto to what Kerry said. I would have lots of boards to put under the straps to make it stay. Lots of wedges handy also. There will be places in the middle where it might not be too tight. I only used 4 straps across the 6 feet so I put boards across the spars.

Gives you even pressure too.

toypusher wrote:Mary,

I would forgo the staples on the top skin use straping from the front to back (or vice versa). put one on each edge and a couple or three more in between. I don't think that you will need to pull any staples unless they are sticking up and you can not get them down.

Kerry, Do you mean forgo the screws on the top layer?

I guess the trim, when installed, will secure the skin...
Is that what you are thinking?

Mk

Mary,

Yes, actually the glue should hold everything for you. Don't use extra fasteners that you don't need. Especially, if you a putting trim on the edge anyway. The trim will hold your top skin in place. Most aluminum skins are glued minimally or not at all and held in place by the trim along the edge of the sidewall and roof line.

toypusher wrote:Mary,

Yes, actually the glue should hold everything for you. Don't use extra fasteners that you don't need. Especially, if you a putting trim on the edge anyway. The trim will hold your top skin in place. Most aluminum skins are glued minimally or not at all and held in place by the trim along the edge of the sidewall and roof line.

Gottcha!!! Thanks Kerry.

Mk

I,ll be buttoning up the Voyager this Easter Weekend... with the 1st layer of Marine Ply also.....Finally weather permitting...

Wife has the camera with her for Easter sooooooo.. No Pics till next week..

By the way....4got... After installing the 1st layer... is there a need for any Marine Clear there? Another Layer will be applied .. And its high quality Marine Finnish Ply...?

Classic Finn

Classic Finn wrote:I,ll be buttoning up the Voyager this Easter Weekend... with the 1st layer of Marine Ply also.....Finally weather permitting...

Wife has the camera with her for Easter sooooooo.. No Pics till next week..

By the way....4got... After installing the 1st layer... is there a need for any Marine Clear there? Another Layer will be applied .. And its high quality Marine Finnish Ply...?

Classic Finn

Hello Heikki, Are you installing 1 layer of wood then aluminum?

Mk

Mary K wrote:

Classic Finn wrote:I,ll be buttoning up the Voyager this Easter Weekend... with the 1st layer of Marine Ply also.....Finally weather permitting...

Wife has the camera with her for Easter sooooooo.. No Pics till next week..

By the way....4got... After installing the 1st layer... is there a need for any Marine Clear there? Another Layer will be applied .. And its high quality Marine Finnish Ply...?

Classic Finn

Hello Heikki, Are you installing 1 layer of wood then aluminum?

Mk

Hi Mary... Yupper 1st layer it be... of Marine and then 2nd Layer of Marine..Then the Aluminum or Stainless.. I now have both, nicely bendable... After a long search, and negotiating with a place that normally dont sell to private individuals..ssoooooooooo I feel lucky.

Heikki

MK,

A girl can never have enough straps for this step!



One of the biggest things I've learned is even if you think you have enough............you don't. Have an extra strap or two and wood on had so you don't need to scramble like I did once I started.

Barb

Classic Finn wrote:Hi Mary... Yupper 1st layer it be... of Marine and then 2nd Layer of Marine..Then the Aluminum or Stainless.. I now have both, nicely bendable... After a long search, and negotiating with a place that normally dont sell to private individuals..ssoooooooooo I feel lucky.

Heikki

Heikki, I would think that you would not want to varnish (marine clear) on the first layer. The glue for the second layer would not stick to it.

I Don't know about on the second layer. Depends if you are floating the aluminum or gluing.

Mk

b.bodemer wrote:MK,

A girl can never have enough straps for this step!



One of the biggest things I've learned is even if you think you have enough............you don't. Have an extra strap or two and wood on had so you don't need to scramble like I did once I started.

Barb

Yea, I don't even have one strap. Guess I should buy some. And buy some more 1x2's.

Thanks!!

Mk

Mary K wrote:

Classic Finn wrote:Hi Mary... Yupper 1st layer it be... of Marine and then 2nd Layer of Marine..Then the Aluminum or Stainless.. I now have both, nicely bendable... After a long search, and negotiating with a place that normally dont sell to private individuals..ssoooooooooo I feel lucky.

Heikki

Heikki, I would think that you would not want to varnish (marine clear) on the first layer. The glue for the second layer would not stick to it.

I Don't know about on the second layer. Depends if you are floating the aluminum or gluing.

Mk

Mk I,ll be floating the Aluminum or Stainless ...With edge moulding of some sort ...

I reckon I better get some more straps and 2 x 4, s and ... for that part then as I only have 2 so far (straps) ..

Your very correct I wont Marine Clear the 1st layer... since that be the case of glue not sticking...good thing I asked...

Classic Finn

MK,

HF did have some straps recently on sale. Check their website and if they are still at a sale price then print it and bring it to the store. I think I got some extra straps, they were yellow, for 99 cents each. I'm actually using them to repair the way my backband in my boat tightens up.

Barb

I wouldn't use glue either, I'd use PL urethane adhesive, because when it dries, it adds rigidity to the wood. it's what I used building the hatch with two pieces of 1/8th inch luan.