Building the "Heart of Gold" - Done 3/9/2014

[nevadatear]

So is will it look like a cantaloupe and you live in Fallon?

[High Desert]

Heart of Gold....since it will be traveling, will you be using an infinite improbability drive for propulsion?

[KCStudly]

You are a big Neil Young fan and have recently been given the gift of life by receiving a heart transplant?

[drewh1]

You are a big Neil Young fan and have recently been given the gift of life by receiving a heart transplant?

I do like Neil Young but am definitely not getting a heart transplant.

Heart of Gold....since it will be traveling, will you be using an infinite improbability drive for propulsion?

Definitely using Infinite Improbability Drive, I already use it all the time anyway.

So is will it look like a cantaloupe and you live in Fallon?

My new design will look something like this:

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[drewh1]

I have a template! It seems that budget will determine my build steps. Don't have enough $ to buy the trailer, so I think I will cut out the sides next.

My local lumber yard has nice 3/4 inch 5 x 9 foot sheets of plywood - perfect for my sides! so I am going with un-insulated solid ply sides. I will bond 1/8 " finished ply to the inside.

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[drewh1]

The local Airstream Dealer got a Camp-Inn 550 Classic on trade. I am going to go look at it and take a lot of pictures! I like the design of the galley - it simplifies building the hatch and makes a smaller lighter hatch as well. Gonna steal as many ideas as I can

[grantstew8]

In the uk there are loads of caravan storage sites where caravans/rv site for most of their lives. I went to one, picked up a rotten two berth for £100 which was reduced to £50 when I said I was building a teardrop with a total budget of £350. I've got lots if parts and idea from the caravan and then cut it apart in about 1/2 an hour with a circular saw. Kept the deck and trimmed it to 5'.
There is a caravan breakers near us that sell chassis for £150.

Not sure if any of this is applicable in your neck of the woods but thought I would share it with you.

[kk4czd]

My new design will look something like this:

Heart of Gold.jpg

Did you remember to pack your towel and Babelfish?

[drewh1]

Yes - I have my towel! I couldn't resist watching the newer version of the movie again, two heads are better than one!


Rough cut my sides today and purchased the wood for the base. Haven't ordered a trailer yet but will do that when I get back from vacation.

My lumber yard had 4 x 10 sheets of structural grade CDF plywood. So no splicing. Without the door cutouts, they weigh about 58#'s rough cut so maybe 40# with the doors cutout. My plan is to use 1/8" birch laminated to the inside. I will seal the outside with epoxy and float aluminum.

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[drewh1]

Got my Whiteside bits. I splurged and got a top and bottom bearing. Thought I wouldn't need both but I needed them right away because of the way i pieced my template together! I found it easier to route one side from the bottom and one from the top.

I am finding out how difficult it is to execute each step perfectly and already made a couple of mistakes doing the routing of the sides. My respect grows for those beautiful woodies out there.

Tomorrow, I'll work on the splicing the floor sections and maybe cutting out the blocking for the top. I also want to lay my plan out on the sides to see how it feels full size. Then I am stalled until I get back from Belize and order the trailer!

[KCStudly]

I am finding out how difficult it is to execute each step perfectly and already made a couple of mistakes...

Amazing how one "Ah SH*T cancels out a dozen "Atta boys".

The following is kind of my mantra. Mostly I'm reciting this as a reminder to myself (I tend to get caught up in the details). Feel free to take from it what you like:
Don't rush. Stick to the plan (mostly). Do the best that you can. Fix what you must, but don't be so obsessive with a perfect finish that you cripple yourself. A few little warts is better than one big wart. A few little warts everywhere is better than one little wart in a prominent location on an otherwise perfect build. You will get good at fixing and/or disguising your mistakes. Sometimes it is easier to celebrate a mistake by adding a camouflaging decorative feature, than it is to make it disappear altogether unseen. Learn from your mistakes and do better as you go.

[KCStudly]

One more thing. Sometimes, rather than patching up a small area, it is easier to cut out a larger area and graft in new material. It may seem drastic at first, but sometimes it is easier to get it right.

[drewh1]

I am finding out how difficult it is to execute each step perfectly and already made a couple of mistakes...

The following is kind of my mantra. Mostly I'm reciting this as a reminder to myself (I tend to get caught up in the details). Feel free to take from it what you like:
Don't rush. Stick to the plan (mostly). Do the best that you can. Fix what you must, but don't be so obsessive with a perfect finish that you cripple yourself. A few little warts is better than one big wart. A few little warts everywhere is better than one little wart in a prominent location on an otherwise perfect build. You will get good at fixing and/or disguising your mistakes. Sometimes it is easier to celebrate a mistake by adding a camouflaging decorative feature, than it is to make it disappear altogether unseen. Learn from your mistakes and do better as you go.

Good advice, thanks - I am learning a lot of new things and expect to make mistakes. I just keep telling myself "it doesn't have to be perfect, you won't care about the blemishes when you are out camping"

[drewh1]

Went and looked at the Porter Cable Router - The base plate accepts heavy duty brass bushings stock, you just need to buy a bushing kit. Wish I had bought this instead of going cheap on the Ryobi. Live and learn!

[iregan]

Hey there,
I think you'll be fine with the ryobi, just use router bits with bearings to follow the template. You can get bits with both top bearings and bottom bearings.
If its a case of worrying about what is under the material you are routing on, use some cheap insulation foam etc underneath as a spoil board so you can route right through without hurting anything important. I admit I have Porter Cable routers mostly, but I wouldn't hesitate to use a Ryobi, its way better than the crappy old Skil one I still use on some things
Regan