Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

The metz walls are only plywood with a small sheet of paper as insulation



My questions is ... when I put in the wood to start again do you think there is enough "meat" on the edge for the screw? ... Other then replacing I'm not sure what else to do other then try. Anyone else ever come across having to nail into something like this ? TY very much in advance

chad

Oh dear, this is bad. The plywood looks like it has lots of dry rot in it and the walls also look the same. It can be reclaimed but it's a huge amount of work and can be very expensive. The method used to reclaim the wood is to drill 1/4" or 5/16" holes all over the surface on a 2" grid and cover each hole on the bottom with a good quality tape. Lay the wood down on a table or on the floor and then fill every hole with an epoxy resin that will readily flow/seep through the veneers of the ply. The edges will need extra work and care. As the epoxy soaks into the wood, you have to keep filling the holes with more resin. What you finish up with is an old sheet of plywood soaked with expensive epoxy resin. There is no way I would attempt to reclaim the plywood when it is as bad as the photo shows. I would toss it all away and start again with fresh stable plywood and timber. If you start again with new plywood, the way to go is to paint two coats of epoxy on all the surfaces first and seal all the edges fully to keep the water and fungi spore out of the wood. Sorry if this deflates your enthusiasm and ego but this definitely how I would do it. ie, new wood all round and sealed with epoxy. I am one of the ones who believe that you can't make a silk purse from a sows ear.

Kody

Kody wrote:........................... I am one of the ones who believe that you can't make a silk purse from a sows ear.

Kody

But one can always waste a lot of time and money trying. Sometimes it's just time to bite the bullet and do it over with new materials.

Gus

Kody wrote:........................... I am one of the ones who believe that you can't make a silk purse from a sows ear.
Kody

Would you like to make a small wager on that?

Nice purse Gage

<Chas>

Beautiful "silk purse" you have there Gage. Me? I wouldn't have spent the money or the time.
Well done cobber!

Kody

Kody wrote:Oh dear, this is bad. The plywood looks like it has lots of dry rot in it and the walls also look the same. It can be reclaimed but it's a huge amount of work and can be very expensive. The method used to reclaim the wood is to drill 1/4" or 5/16" holes all over the surface on a 2" grid and cover each hole on the bottom with a good quality tape. Lay the wood down on a table or on the floor and then fill every hole with an epoxy resin that will readily flow/seep through the veneers of the ply. The edges will need extra work and care. As the epoxy soaks into the wood, you have to keep filling the holes with more resin. What you finish up with is an old sheet of plywood soaked with expensive epoxy resin. There is no way I would attempt to reclaim the plywood when it is as bad as the photo shows. I would toss it all away and start again with fresh stable plywood and timber. If you start again with new plywood, the way to go is to paint two coats of epoxy on all the surfaces first and seal all the edges fully to keep the water and fungi spore out of the wood. Sorry if this deflates your enthusiasm and ego but this definitely how I would do it. ie, new wood all round and sealed with epoxy. I am one of the ones who believe that you can't make a silk purse from a sows ear.

Kody

well, the thing is .... the wood is strong as a horse ..... some water may have gotten in here and there but for the most part 98% of the wood is solid. I took a ice pick and went around the entire inside So the edge is really all I'm talking about. I was thinking maybe some type of "band" .... wood or light metal. Just thinking aloud now ty!

Go HERE to see how I did the Field and Stream. Maybe it'll help.

Ty,

Only you can tell from being there in person if the ply is solid enough...

Pre drill every hole, use good glue, both on the surfaces and in the screw holes, use at least an inch and a quarter of screw thread into the old plywood.
At each roof rib you can add gussets.

Another option is to drill through the old ply, glue in a good size dowel, and then screw the new wood into the dowel, again, predrilled.
You mentioned nails, I wouldn't.

Rob

48Rob wrote:Ty,

Only you can tell from being there in person if the ply is solid enough...

Pre drill every hole, use good glue, both on the surfaces and in the screw holes, use at least an inch and a quarter of screw thread into the old plywood.
At each roof rib you can add gussets.

Another option is to drill through the old ply, glue in a good size dowel, and then screw the new wood into the dowel, again, predrilled.
You mentioned nails, I wouldn't.

Rob

Rob are you saying that your would usethe SS screw instead of going back to the twisty nails? Reason I thought it a great idea would be years down the line when your ready to replace that tape under all the rails.

Gage wrote:Go HERE to see how I did the Field and Stream. Maybe it'll help.

That is AWESEOME ... love that little trailer, great job. Might I please ask where you got the metal skin leaning against the wall???? I can't find anything like that to save my life, that is just what I need for the Norris should I wish to keep her or finish just to sell. I've seen where you can buy the roll alluminum stock, cut it to length, create or rent a break and do it that way. I would much rather buy this like buying plywood in a 4x8 sheet or smaller. Also, on the picture that reads about the inner rear panel ... I went to Lowes and Home Depot and found some thin panel that looked like it would work but I'm not sure if you can bend the 1/4 or you would want something like the 1/8th stuff.

TY in advance for any advice

chad

Chad,

Sorry, don't know where I got Ty from...

Yes.
I am suggesting screws instead of twisty nails.

Rob

48Rob wrote:Chad,

Sorry, don't know where I got Ty from...

Yes.
I am suggesting screws instead of twisty nails.

Rob

TY Rob for the reply, I'm lost when you used the word Ty? Is that the aluminum skin I was refering to? I've never heard it called that if so and maybe it's a term I should have used when I talked to some of the vendors down this way. TY again
for the help.

Chad

Maybe TY = Thank you.

Maybe TY = Thank you.

Yes, this is where I got it.

Just thinking aloud now ty!

I haven't learned all the new abreviations the younger folk are using now, being in a hurry, I figured it was your name.

Rob