Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I have made some progress on my own "wood strip" teardrop.
I decided to go with a cub/modernaire/modernistic profile.

So far I have the frame stripped down, and painted, the floor done, and laid out one wall with a nice strip pattern.
I also scored a set of old trailer fenders, and have been trying electrolsis to remove the rust.

Anyone interested, I have pics at my Yahoo album.
If you go pic to pic, or view the slideshow you can read my short comments with each pic.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/sixpacktear/album?.dir=/d04c&.src=ph

I'd really like comments on how I laid out the exterior wall strips, I like the pattern, but want some opinions.

M

Looks good, nice pattern. Now you need to stain each strip progresively lighter from front to back, that would look really cool

Marck wrote:I have made some progress on my own "wood strip" teardrop.
I decided to go with a cub/modernaire/modernistic profile.

So far I have the frame stripped down, and painted, the floor done, and laid out one wall with a nice strip pattern.
I also scored a set of old trailer fenders, and have been trying electrolsis to remove the rust.

Anyone interested, I have pics at my Yahoo album.
If you go pic to pic, or view the slideshow you can read my short comments with each pic.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/sixpacktear/album?.dir=/d04c&.src=ph

I'd really like comments on how I laid out the exterior wall strips, I like the pattern, but want some opinions.

M

Marck,
I like it, if I keep seeing new trailers like your's being built I might have to build a second one. That's a beautiful pattern you have built into the walls. Great job.

...Marck, really really like that split pattern....really unique, kooks kinda like feather fletching on an arrow, you should consider staining to enhance that look/effect
madjack

you should consider staining to enhance that look/effect

Staining to enhance the look/effect..... Hmmmm


How would you do it MJ... or anyone... I crave ideas/suggestions.

Marck,

What kind of wood are you using for your strips? If it has any kind of "figure", try using dye instead of stain. If it is a wood devoid of figure, I agree with Madjack.............stain it. Great looking effect. Anxious to see the finished product.

What kind of wood are you using for your strips?

Just plain old 2x10 ripped down to 1/4" strips...spurce I believe

...don't know much about dyes but, maybe stain the horizontal spacer with a stain that has a lot of yellow in it(fruitwood maybe) then stain the diagonals with a stain with a lotta red or brown starting darker at the center fadeing out towards the outer ends or vice versa starting light off of the center strip and going darker out to the ends. Another way may be to stain all, a lighter color and then using a fairly small brush, put darker stain down, along your joint lines...just a couple of quick thoughts...What about you Chris and maybe you too Doug, y'all are the anilyn dye masters what are y'alls thoughts on this
madjack

Marck wrote:

What kind of wood are you using for your strips?

Just plain old 2x10 ripped down to 1/4" strips...spurce I believe

You might want to use a 'sanding sealer' on the wood before trying to use stain or dye on it. Without sealing up the fibers some before staining spruce, you probably will have a real difficult time getting an even look, it might even be imposible. Make sure to do some test pieces first, this is very important to ensure the look that you want.

IMHO

Kerry

Hey Marck,

I like that herringbone pattern that you used. That's going to look sharp once you've got that stained. But I'll second what Kerry said... to keep it from becomming splotchy, I would use a prestain conditioner, like this one:
http://www.minwax.com/products/woodprep/prestain.cfm

Mike...

Very nice work Marck. You're going to have a very unique and beautiful trailer.

I like that herringbone pattern that you used

Herringbone....THAT'S the word I couldn't remember...thanks Mike...
AND thanks for the tip on the pre-stain... will be heading out to get some this morning.



As for a staining pattern... I originally wanted to use a piece of dark wood for the horizontal strip down the middle....but all I had was a nasty old piece of Oak....and it wouldn't cut right.... too many knots.

Next tear.... there's always the next tear.


Anyway, I have never done different colors of stain on the same work piece... always used the same shade.... anyone want to clue me in on how to fade from one stain to the another as MJ mentioned?????

You might want to try using a piece of rebar or a scrap piece of your frame steel as the annode for your de rusting rig, I usuallly change the water everyday too when I'm doing a small piece like that. Trailer is looking great.

You might want to try using a piece of rebar or a scrap piece of your frame steel as the annode for your de rusting rig,

after those pics, I switched to 4- 1" thick steel bars I had, one in each corner.... things seemed to pick up after that... I will try changing the water daily also... thanks for the tip.

Marck, since you are using spruce, I'd stick with a stain. Spruce doesn't have much character (not a put-down, just a description of the wood) so it would benefit from stain.