Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Well it's been ~five months since the build. The inside has always had that chemical smell. I let it air out as much as possible.

There was a time during the build when the smell first happened. I do believe it was from a piece of 3/8 cheapy ply that I used as the doors jamb/frame/stop.

I was too involved with the build to think twice about it. I chalked it up to new plywood with a fresh cut. Also thought that the smell would soon go away.

Speed up to today. I removed the two pieces and took a big whiff. Yuk.
It was still damp. They are now setting in the sun hopefully drying out.
I say that they are damp due to the darker golden color. Dry plywood blondes up a bit. At least to me.

While the pieces are drying I have the cargotear closed up so I can have a whiff of the inside a bit later on. I should be able to tell immediately if my mission is a success. I did spend a bit of time smelling different parts of the wooden structure. I think I got a splinter on my nose. Ouch.

I'm kinda adamant about solving the dilemma. Our 8 yr old wants to turn it into a full fledged sleeper with a galley.

I may get some 1 x 3 for new door stop if the plywood doesn't dry out.

I used the sdtripper2 sticky's for info but didn't find exactly what I needed.

Anyone else have the stink eye from stinky plywood?

In this pic you can see the piece of wood that acts like the door jamb thingy.

Sort of like a picture frame that has the inside diameter about 5/8" all around smaller that the side wall door diameter. It's not much but it is stinky.

As with everything else, a lot of building materials come from China these days. God only knows what might be used in the making of plywood in China.

I was VERY careful to NOT get any wood from China for my build. I plan to die from eating a lot of good food, and drinking too much. I don't need exotic chemicals from Chinese products to do me in.

You may need to put multiple coats of a good primer on the inside surfaces of that plywood to keep smells (and carcinogens) at bay so you can safely, and comfortably sleep inside your tear.

Check the origins of your plywood.

CD

I did paint the inside with a good primer and a good finish coat. It's all white. The posted pic was during the build.

I hope this is the ticket otherwise it's gonna be a 5 x 9 Benroy.

So I removed the pieces of ply that acted as door stops. Left them outside in the sun to dry for a couple of days. Painted them with two quick coats of exterior latex. Didn't worry about primer. Let them dry and reinstalled the pieces.

Still stinky. Thought it was the paint curing. Removed them again. The next day it seemed that the smell was gone from the inside.

So todaze, I went to the lumber store for some 1 x 3 pine. Just finished the new door stops. It didn't dawn on me that the smell was gone until I was done. I was working inside the shell so I would have been able to tell if the smell was coming from something else. duh. Meaning that the plywood door stop is, are, was and will be the culprit.

Should've listened and/or read Mike's signature with more attention.
We'll get'em next time. Oh yes. There will be a next time.

Glad to hear it worked out. I wonder if an animal sprayed the plywood. If it ever happens again you can block lots of wood smells with Lacquer. I had to go over all the wood in mine because the wood odor was closing my nose.

Good thoughts. It wasn't animal spray. I would've burned it to the ground had that happened. oops. Did I say that?

Just a cheap 'ol gluey plywood smell. Almost moth ball like.

Nice tip about the lacquer.

All right. I'm doomed. The smell is back. It's not from animals. Must be something to do with the plywood and the paint going on too soon.

I do believe that for the next one, I'm going to let it air out for a while before painting or sheeting.
Maybe using a cabinet grade plywood is a better choice.

i could have sworn that it was due to that one sheet of ply. Maybe the smell of the new 1 x 3 pine masked the odor for a short while.

Gonna put the skill saw to it and start over. No worries.

Regis-

Sounds like formaldehyde!

http://www.epa.gov/iedweb00/formalde.html

Cheers,

Coop

Plywood from China has been noted to have various problems including formaldehyde, the main problem with the FEMA trailers. Google Chinese plywood problems. One of the better responses
"The next time you purchase plywood, think like the craftsman you are.
As a craftsman, you are already something of a loose cannon in this
culture. Your values are sand in the gears of an economy that has
turned uniformity, disposability, and obsolescence into virtues. You
dream of leaving something of unique beauty and utility behind to
inspire those who come after. Remember that good craftsmanship
starts with good materials, otherwise it won’t last however proficient
your skills may be. Finding a trustworthy retailer and paying ten
dollars more for a sheet of quality plywood is a bargain. Especially
when it makes the difference between worthwhile or not worth a
damn, between done right or not quite, between leaving a legacy or
simply leaving."

Read the rest of the article!

http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/SS_Arch ... lywood.pdf

So does this formaldehyde odor ever go away or are you doomed to get ill just by sleeping in your trailer? Sounds like we should not be buying lot's of products from certain countries.

Probably should avoid chi-ply if you can. I will be starting over with a new layer of lacquer on mine. I still smell new wood......Don't like new wood smell.

Has that chemical, mothball, ten buck a sheet smell. Doesn't go away.

I've bought lots of lumber over the years. I didn't think to think to let it dry out for a few days before cutting. Or let the shell dry out after it was built.
Dunno if it would've helped

I've also been researching 4 x 8 sheets for the house siding. Even they recommend stacking it with 1 x's in between the sheet for a bit of time.

Should have listened to Mike.

No worries. I'll use it for the intended cargo usage of the camping gear.
I recently installed a 1 1/4" receiver tube to the frame for the bikes. Previously they were inside. Ooo la la .

Shadow Catcher

One of the better responses...

"The next time you purchase plywood, think like the craftsman you are.

As a craftsman, you are already something of a loose cannon in this culture.
Your values are sand in the gears of an economy that has turned uniformity, disposability, and obsolescence into virtues."

http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/SS_Arch ... lywood.pdf

If you truly are smelling mothballs, that is Naptha,

From the MSDS
bear in mind this is for the liquid
Potential Chronic Health Effects:
Hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion, of inhalation.
Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (permeator).
The substance is toxic to skin, eyes, central nervous system (CNS).
The substance may be toxic to blood, kidneys, lungs, the nervous system, mucous membranes, peripheral

Trying to seal with latex will not work (it is permeable) you should probably consider giving up on the trim/door stop which from your description (doesn't smell when it is gone, does when it is present) is the culprit and make it using solid dry doesn't smell wood.

My participation in this forum has been a true education particularly with respect to what can go wrong. were I to be building I would be using composites or marine grade US or Canadian made plywood. Yes it is more expensive but how much is your time and effort worth. And let folks at Lowes et.el. know that what they are selling is unacceptable.