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

[KCStudly]

Nice work.

That's coming out great and suits your profile very well.
Never hurts to spend some quality time on a signature detail.

[drewh1]

Nice work.

Never hurts to spend some quality time on a signature detail.

man I hear you on that one - I was going to buy a box but really wanted something to augment the lines!

[drewh1]

aluminum is here! was going to rent a truck but would have cost $200, so I made frame out of 2x4's and tied it on. Drove it for 2 hours at 65 without a problem!

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[RandyG]

That works! Seams like something I would do while my wife shakes her head.

[KCStudly]

Dubious, but the results speak. Looks like you tied it off well at the front, which would have been the key to frontal wind.

[drewh1]

cut my aluminum today - so easy with that Whiteside edging bit. I just clamped the sheets to the side sandwiched between the template and the trailer. Ran the router around the edge and voila, it looks great! Even managed to get one of the doors mounted just to see what it will look like. This has gotta be the easiest way to finish a teardrop.

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[Gunguy05]

Looking good.. Make me anxious to get going myself. I especially like the hatch prop, the campinn style doors/latches, and off course the Aluminum. It is going to look first rate when you are finished with it.

What (wood) did you use to skin it? I am having a trouble figuring out what to use/where to get it for mine.

[dano]

Wow Drew, You don't mess around !!!
Its lookin great !
Dano

[drewh1]

Looking good.. Make me anxious to get going myself. I especially like the hatch prop, the campinn style doors/latches, and off course the Aluminum. It is going to look first rate when you are finished with it.

What (wood) did you use to skin it? I am having a trouble figuring out what to use/where to get it for mine.

thanks for the complement! I used 1/8" birch in 4x8 sheets and some 1/8" Mahogany plywood. The birch seems stronger but the mahogany bends very easily. I got it at the local lumber yard.

drew.

[drewh1]

almost done - Aluninum work has been easy. I will finish the hatch this week. Ordered my wheels and tires. Really happy with the hatch seal material I bought from McMaster-Carr. I also got all my screws and pop rivets from them. Great place!

When I attached the solar panel, the porch light came on, no battery or anything and a very cloudy day - that was a surprise.

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[dano]

Wow Drew that looks great. You got to be happy with that build. Dan. Can't wait to see the tires and wheels .

[drewh1]

Thanks Dan! I am really happy. A couple more weeks and it will be done. The tongue box is going to look cool too.

i do have a question for you - how do you clean your aluminum? I have a bunch of finger marks from working with the butyl, should I wipe it down with a solvent like turpentine?

thanks for the feedback,

drew.

[dano]

Drew, that is a 100 dollar question. The AL is hard to keep clean. I spray glass cleaner and then wipe with a towel. Don't know if that's good or bad. I used to use Pledge wipes but now they changed the wrapping and it don't work very good. Maybe they changed what inside the wipes.

Maybe someone else can chime in with the answer so we all can learn what's best.

By the way what kind of wheels and tires are you going to put on it?

Dano

[RandyG]

Mother's aluminum polish works good to start with. I've only done small pieces with it, you may want a buffer for a whole trailer. I've also used some brass polish, didn't seem to matter if you were using it on aluminum. I think it was Brasso? Not sure how to spell it.
It's looking good, just try not to spread the word that aluminum work is easy. I still have to make a career out of metal work.

[drewh1]

Hey Randy - Well, I have been a welder and (not very good) machinist so in some ways, I am more familiar with metal than wood.

Thanks for tips on the aluminum cleaning. I am thinking i'll wipe it down with a light solvent first, then try soap and water to start. It seems to have some residue from the plastic wrap that was on it. If that doesn't work, onto aluminum polish.

Dano - I bought some of the old style 14" wheels and baby moons from Vintage Campers. http://vintagecampers.com/viewpart.php?partID=928 Sumitomo 175/70R14 Radials - Hope all the offsets and thicknesses work out, I don't want to have to buy wheel spacers too. next I have to figure out fenders, really want to buy these but don't have the budget right now.http://www.teardroptrailers.net/Fenders_original_style_as_shown_in_pictures_p/feno.htm I may use the ones that came with the trailer for the time being.

drew.