Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Here is a lesson I learned on my build. I used the really nice Hydrotek Meranti marine plywood. The factory filler they used was a redish color and contrasts the darker veneer. You can actually see the scraper marks. I don't think it is possible to remove without sanding through the top veneer.


It is beatiful high quality plywood, but this may bother the perfectionist.

Dang...

You maybe able to use a varnish with a stain in it to get it to cover, or refinish it with a lighter color stain, so it would be less noticeable.

Sorry

Just the kind of problems you think you're avoiding by buying the good expensive stuff. That's a shame. I hope it's not ruining your feelings about your build. I am sure it is still beautiful.

Thanks for sharing!!

I used Meranti marine ply for my walls. There was variation in color between the two wall pieces but not what you are showing. I might have taken it back for an exchange - seems to me to be defective...

marine grade plywood is a structural material.. it is not laid up with the intention of the face veneers to be "show" quality like the face veneers on cabinet or architectural grade ply.. you can get it, they do make it but, it is a completely different category than standard marine ply..

grain filler and mineral stains are not considered "defects" in structural grade material.. some marine grade ply has beautiful face veneers but that is just luck of the draw and not by intent..

thinking that because you paid more for it so then it should be pretty is an assumption people come to by not doing their homework/research

*comment pending approval by the PCCAB

afreegreek,

Thanks for the info. Hopefully this will help someone else down the line. I made the assumption that the nice look plus epoxy = classic boat look. I also didn't really notice the filler until the epoxy darkened the wood and made the filler more noticeable.

In the end I'm very happy with the look and don't know if I would do anything different.

jabrobbins wrote:afreegreek,

Thanks for the info. Hopefully this will help someone else down the line. I made the assumption that the nice look plus epoxy = classic boat look. I also didn't really notice the filler until the epoxy darkened the wood and made the filler more noticeable.

In the end I'm very happy with the look and don't know if I would do anything different.

you can get away from these kind of surprises by wetting the wood with a damp sponge before you put any finish or stain on it.. it's common practise in cabinet shops.. the water will make the wood look as if it has finish on it.. it will show missed glue, filler, dents, scratches, and areas that weren't sanded just right.. it's done at various stages from selecting wood and through the building process.. it's also just before finishing though most finishers will use a solvent compatible with the finish they're using as water takes time to dry and raises the grain a bit..

once you apply stain or finish it's game over so you have to catch it and deal with it before hand..

you can get away from these kind of surprises by wetting the wood with a damp sponge before you put any finish or stain on it.. it's common practise in cabinet shops.. the water will make the wood look as if it has finish on it.. it will show missed glue, filler, dents, scratches, and areas that weren't sanded just right.. it's done at various stages from selecting wood and through the building process.. it's also just before finishing though most finishers will use a solvent compatible with the finish they're using as water takes time to dry and raises the grain a bit..

once you apply stain or finish it's game over so you have to catch it and deal with it before hand..

Very good advice, thank you.

I wish I had done that before applying finish on my trailer...I would have caught the mark left on the plywood by the manufacturer.

Rob