Lil Diner stuff

[Steve Frederick]

Steve how did you apply the epoxy? I can see an even texture in the photo. Do you use a foam roller?

'Zactly!!! I just roll it on! After the 'glass is on, I'll do a couple of fill-coats in the same manner. I'll scrape the coats in between with a cabinet scraper to remove any bumps.(sanding "green" epoxy is a strict no-no!!)These coats fill the weave in the cloth, and give a build up of material for finish sanding, after the epoxy is fully cured.

[Guest]

Steve,
I see you are doing a sealer coat.
Are you going to let that cure first, before laying down your cloth?
Are you using West, or was it MAS?

[Steve Frederick]

Steve,
I see you are doing a sealer coat.
Are you going to let that cure first, before laying down your cloth?
Are you using West, or was it MAS?

I let it cure to Green stage, overnight..I just layed the 'glass tonight..
I use Raka epoxies..Very nice product, good price, excellent service!! They make a very slow, thin laminating product, no-blush, crystal-clear.
What you see here is about 4 hours work, behind a respirator...


If anyone is planning to 'glass the top of a Tear, Make sure that the width is no more that 60". Mike's is 62-1/2"..That extra 2-1/2" is a killer. Have to add pieces to make up the area around the edges. The whole reason for the 'glass is to marry the roof to the wall, so, it has to be done!!...At least in my shop!!

[Steve Frederick]

I finished up the last of the small details before finishing! I have enough epoxy to sand to a nice finish for spar varnish. I got the door fitted, and hinged, galley done interior doors ready..I'll sand and start varnishing this week. I'm looking to let Mike take it home in a couple of weeks. He and Michelle will apply finish to the interior and galley. Michelle will finish up the wiring.
The A/C vent in the roof...
Hatch wired...

Ready for sanding/varnish!!

[mikeschn]

Looking good Steve...

How does the weekend of April 22nd sound? We've got a 3 day weekend scheduled for the pickup.

It's looking great... I'm getting excited.

Oh, what's that black thing on the roof? I thought it was going to be the vent for the a/c... but in the photo it appears to be an optical illusion... it looks like black paint!

I see you trimmed out the doors in black paint. That looks neat!

I'll bet you've got people lined up by now, waiting for you to build them a woodie! Let me get that Lil Diner out of your way!!!

Mike...

P.S. Jerry from Romeo, MI came over today to see the Baja Benroy. He's so looking forward to seeing the Lil Diner too!!!

[Steve Frederick]

Looking good Steve...

How does the weekend of April 22nd sound? We've got a 3 day weekend scheduled for the pickup.

It's looking great... I'm getting excited.

You bet!

Oh, what's that black thing on the roof? I thought it was going to be the vent for the a/c... but in the photo it appears to be an optical illusion... it looks like black paint!

I see you trimmed out the doors in black paint. That looks neat!

That's epoxy, colored with black graphite powder. I used it to blend away the joints and fillers used to construct the door recess and to conceal the A/C housing from view. When you look in the vent, you see black!!

I'll bet you've got people lined up by now, waiting for you to build them a woodie! Let me get that Lil Diner out of your way!!!

I have mine to finish. It's just about to the stage where we were for the first...Hint!!...build-up weekend.
I have to get the frame done and build the bulkheads..
I have a trailer set up to start after mine is done. The Stripper will be for sale. Got to have the room, the funds will be used for a pole barn for the girl's cars, and teardrops..

[Steve Frederick]

Getting to the home stretch!! The 'Diner has two coats of spar varnish. I'll do some more this week, along with varnishing the inside. Otherwise, I have a short list of details left!!


I got back to mine in between things. I'm hoping to get things together for camping in June..if not sooner!!

[Beowulf]

Hi Steve,

Wonderful work on this project. Just curious what are the overall dimensions on this project and what is the total hieght on the trailer?

[mikeschn]

That's looking great Steve. HVLP eh? I'm going to have to get one of those...

Beowulf... It's 54" high by 11' long... Here's the page...
http://www.mikenchell.com/lildinerpage.html

Mike...

[Steve Frederick]

That's looking great Steve. HVLP eh? I'm going to have to get one of those...

Beowulf... It's 54" high by 11' long... Here's the page...
http://www.mikenchell.com/lildinerpage.html

Mike...

Nope, roller, tipped off with a foam brush. Too much stuff to move/cover to spray. Also need more room, you know, I don't have much!!

[mikeschn]

Did you use the oil based spar urethane on that, or is the the water based polyurethane?

I use foam brushes on water based poly, and was wondering how hvlp would work on that...

We are still on for the weekend of April 23rd. BTW, did you ever try putting some water based poly on a piece of birch plywood? Does it turn out the same way as the birch on the outside with fiberglass and spar?

Just wondered!!!

Mike...

[Steve Frederick]

Did you use the oil based spar urethane on that, or is the the water based polyurethane?

Spar is oil-based only, as far as I know.

I use foam brushes on water based poly, and was wondering how hvlp would work on that...

I'm itchin to use the sprayer. I'm sure it will work and save a bunch of time. Problem is, I don't have enough room in the shop to work arround the trailer with enough room for a good spray. I have no experience, so, I'll experiment on mine!!

We are still on for the weekend of April 23rd. BTW, did you ever try putting some water based poly on a piece of birch plywood? Does it turn out the same way as the birch on the outside with fiberglass and spar?

Spar has a very slight amber tint to it, at least in the can. I can't really see a color change on the 'glass covered surfaces. On naked wood, it does add a tint of amber. The waterbased stuff says it's clear. I'll do a test tommorrow.

[Steve Frederick]

I did a test! The Minwax poly-crylic, waterbased finish.It's almost crystal clear. Tne minwax spar varnish does have a slight amber tint to it, when viewed ext to the water-based product.
I was going to use the water-based stuff on the inside...OK Mike???

[mikeschn]

I did a test! The Minwax poly-crylic, waterbased finish.It's almost crystal clear. Tne minwax spar varnish does have a slight amber tint to it, when viewed ext to the water-based product.
I was going to use the water-based stuff on the inside...OK Mike???

Sounds good to me! Thanks Steve!

Mike...

[Steve Frederick]

It's Done!! Except for fenders, and running lights!! I'll do that tomorrow!!