Our First Tear Build Journal - Updated 4/19/10

[SIXTOTWO]

Yesterday's and Today's progress...



Galley started!!!

Just remember to leave enough clearance at the cooler for the hatch structure.

Looks great.

Yuppers!! It's all figured in! Thanks Sparksalot(What is your real name anyway?) for posting your build journal. It has helped us abundantly!! This whole forum also is a fabulous help!!!! We would be soooo lost without it!!!

[Frog]

sixtotwo:

A very nice job so far.

I couldn't tell from the pictures with the sides up but from the pics of the frame it looks like the axle placement is pretty close to center.

From reading other posts, as I'm sure you know, the axle is frequently relocated more towards the back to ensure adequate tongue weight for good towing and also to allow the doors to swing out and clear the tires and fenders. Keeping in mind the heavy galley in the rear, weight in front may be needed from a battery and or propane tank or storage box if it is forward.

Like I said, I couldn't tell from the pics, and I'm sure that with as good a job as you're doing that you have already considered these issue.

Good luck on the project.

[Rigsby]

Looking good mate, What coating are you going to give the sides? I think they will look good stained
steve

[SIXTOTWO]

sixtotwo:

A very nice job so far.

I couldn't tell from the pictures with the sides up but from the pics of the frame it looks like the axle placement is pretty close to center.

From reading other posts, as I'm sure you know, the axle is frequently relocated more towards the back to ensure adequate tongue weight for good towing and also to allow the doors to swing out and clear the tires and fenders. Keeping in mind the heavy galley in the rear, weight in front may be needed from a battery and or propane tank or storage box if it is forward.

Like I said, I couldn't tell from the pics, and I'm sure that with as good a job as you're doing that you have already considered these issue.

Good luck on the project.

Thanks Frog, yup already considered. Pictures are kinda distorted too. Thanks for your input, it's all appreciated!!

[SIXTOTWO]

We were at a standstill for a little bit so I decided to do what I could and I cut and put in the floor mat. We got these on sale at Sears. $9.99 for 6 - 2' squares. Bought two packs and have three squares left over. We've also used these a lot to protect wood pieces from being scratched by tools and such while we work. They look great and will give us some insulation under the mattress.




The countertop is cut out and placed in. We bought it long(better than short ) and with the cutoff from the width we will put a shelf above the counter and it just so happens that we have enough to replace a part of our countertop in our house that we've been wanting to get to. We lucked out and have exactly one inch to spare. BONUS!!!





I was sitting in the cabin waiting for Terry to came back and saw the graph paper calling my name. I'm no drafter but here are the plans for the inside cabinets. We were kinda at a standstill as to what to do there but now the face is all glued up and drying and will probably all be in by the end of today.


Progress IS being made!! Spring camping here we come!!

[SIXTOTWO]

Looking good mate, What coating are you going to give the sides? I think they will look good stained
steve

Hi Steve,

Thanks!
We're trying to find a good way to finish the sides. There's so many opinions out there! We're kinda confused.

We definately won't cover up the wood. (At $160. per 5x10 sheet that would be just dumb!! It's too purdy!) The veneer is so thin though.

Still gathering information on the best process so if anyone has any suggestions we are soo very eager to listen!!

[S. Heisley]

Hi, SixtoTwo:

Your teardrop is really shaping up fast! It looks like its going to be pretty. I like your idea of putting floor mats down. Clever!

[Rigsby]

How about just clearcoating? If you give it several coats of yacht varnish thinned down with white spirit , this will soak into the wood and give it a good hard finish, then several coats of neat varnish. I sprayed the varnish with an auto spray gun after heating the vernish up a bit. Its worked for me

[48Rob]

Nice clean look to everything you've done so far!

Rob

[goldcoop]

Hey Guys!

Looks GREAT so far!

Spring is right around the corner....

Keep it up & see you soon?

Cheers,

Coop

[SIXTOTWO]

I wanted to see what it would look like.
The Galley with the shelf propped up.



Upper shelf for cabinet and one lower cabinet framed out.



Upper cabinet with face frame.

[Barry and Darby H.]

Top notch job on the build so far. Nice to see a family project in the works. Are you going to draw straws to see who gets to sleep in the teardrop or are the kids just banished to the out of doors right from the get-go ?

[SIXTOTWO]

Thanks so much!
Oh they're banished allright!! After 21 years of camping with them in tents it's our turn!!!

We have a big van so the little ones will sleep on a mattress in the back but the big guys have to tent it. We're telling them if they want they can build their own...they all have the skills and know how. We'll see.

[SIXTOTWO]

We've been at a standstill for a little bit but now have some time to load some pictures of our progress from the past few weeks...

Framed up the drawers for the galley



Best $40. ever spent!!



Drawer cabinet in galley



Drawer face.....will have three drawers.



Heavy duty drawer for the cast iron!!!



We're going to order the CPES this week and start finishing up this thing!!!

[SIXTOTWO]

Little Stinkers!



Putting together the cabinet face.


We weren't watching when we were gluing. Bummer!! I sanded it and it came up pretty good, we'll see when we finish it how it turns out. This is under the right cabinet in the cabin so kinda outta sight.



Putting face on.



Top cabinet face on.



The center will have a shelf for the computer to watch DVDs