6' x 12' CTC = Texas Sized Tackle Box

[Staryder61]

One of my sons and I were talking this morning, him being at work. running a CNC router in a cabinet shop.. we were talking about some old times.
He enjoys telling me what he's doing, because it compares what he does to what I did in the past working different jobs.

One of my jobs was running a 12 hour shift with 22 people, in a production cabinet shop as a supervisor. We had and ran 5 KOMO CNC, 5' x 12' float vacuum table routers, (not the in your garage table router), among other equipment.. anyway he thinks it's very cool, that he now does what his ole man did. Being able to do the code and run different CNC's is a big accomplishment for him.. I am so proud of what he has accomplished..

Recently, a trip to a local lumber yard didn't have me finding what I wanted for this camper as for trim.

As I've mentioned before I have saved a lot of old wood to be repurposed one place or another. This, just one throwed together pile we have in an old pole barn.



So anyway, yesterday I decided to set up an old CNC (Rigid table saw) and make my own trim. <-- My son will enjoy that sentence.


Amazing what ya can do with the right tools and frame of mind.. no matter how expensive or not the tool is..



Sanded, this will work just right where I need it.. and hey I enjoyed taking the time to make it myself and saved me some money too..

So what do we need next for the camper ??

[aggie79]

Nice work on the trim David! I’ve never tried that type of cove cut on the table saw.

As an FYI - almost 50 years ago I worked in production - not quality by any means - cabinet shop for about a year. I ran a large panel saw cutting sides and bases for cabinet cases. Back then, I could tilt up 3 sheets of 3/4” (nominal) hardwood ply onto the panel saw to make cuts. Now I have to breakdown one sheet of plywood so I can carry a part of it. Those were the days.

Now back to your build!


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[Staryder61]

Nice work on the trim David! I’ve never tried that type of cove cut on the table saw.

As an FYI - almost 50 years ago I worked in production - not quality by any means - cabinet shop for about a year. I ran a large panel saw cutting sides and bases for cabinet cases. Back then, I could tilt up 3 sheets of 3/4” (nominal) hardwood ply onto the panel saw to make cuts. Now I have to breakdown one sheet of plywood so I can carry a part of it. Those were the days.

Now back to your build!


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Thanks Tom,, making the trim was fun.. the table saw cove cut works great for trim or raised panel doors, if you don't have the use of a router/shaper with the right cutter..
There, maybe a lot of making trim on this conversion.. working on a back radiused top area of the trailer right now. It will include speakers for the stereo, hopefully will turn out nice..
Some material, any where close to us is mineable or not available. Major box stores are hit and miss.. And I'm sitting on a lot of pine, cedar and old oak that can be repurposed.. it's warped, checked, split, crowned, so work around all that, just time consuming.. but free...

Wow, now we're telling on ourselves. 50 years ago, oh yes. I remember doing the same thing.
Shop I worked in then, we did all our cabinet boxes out of 5/8" x 5' x 10' particle board.. I believe they were 90 lbs a sheet maybe..
for sure those were the days.. I can still carry the full sheet of 3/4 plywood, but flipping it up on the saw, ain't happening.. 1/4" sheet can wear me out..

So how's retirement treating you?

[Staryder61]

Tackle Box Air Conditioner,,
was waiting on being able to visit my son again.. so I could see first hand what type of portable air conditioner he was running..
This is the brand: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Toshiba-8-0 ... /311290367
This air conditioner is a kick a$$ unit, yes, it only has one vent hose going out the window..
He runs it in the bedroom and it was like walking into a beer vault.. Running on low, very little noise at all,, med, a little more.. noise level was so low, I believe most people will sleep right through it..
Only have to cut one 8" hole through the floor of the tackle box.. and one hole for the drain of the de-humidifier. Of course you have to have plenty of room for it to sit on the floor.. but no holes through the side of the trailer..

[flboy]

Caution on using the one hose unit for the trailer. They work good as intended in a house because they are pulling air from the rest of the house which by comparison is 1) large and 2) air condtioned most likely.

In the trailer, the cold air coming out is drawn from the room, but so is the air used to blow across the condenser (exhaust hose). That air must be replaced in the CTC so it will pull hot air from outside and create a slight negative pressure in the CTC if you have it sealed up well.

Bottom line, it will never cool the space adequately during the day and will most likely run constantly. At night, it may keep up due to cooler ambient Temps.

Not trying to rain on your parade, but I learned this the hard way in my first CTC years ago.

Lots of discussion on these threads about this. A two hose system would be much better.

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[Staryder61]

Caution on using the one hose unit for the trailer. They work good as intended in a house because they are pulling air from the rest of the house which by comparison is 1) large and 2) air condtioned most likely.

In the trailer, the cold air coming out is drawn from the room, but so is the air used to blow across the condenser (exhaust hose). That air must be replaced in the CTC so it will pull hot air from outside and create a slight negative pressure in the CTC if you have it sealed up well.

Bottom line, it will never cool the space during the day and will run constantly. At night, it may keep up due to cooler ambient Temps.

Not trying to rain on your parade, but I learned this the hard way in my first CTC years ago.

Lots of discussion on these threads about this. A two hose system would be much better.

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up Don.. no rain on my parade.. knowledge is power.. you did it. I appreciate the feedback..
So what if I make a small modification to the back of the unit? Where the other vent is, make a shroud to cover that vent and elbow it through the floor also.. do you think that would work? Then it would be pulling in from the outside right?
Both hose lengths would only be about 20 inches to get it through the floor.. shouldn't need fan assist to push or pull the flow of air for the vents.

[flboy]

So what if I make a small modification to the back of the unit? Where the other vent is, make a shroud to cover that vent and elbow it through the floor also.. do you think that would work? Then it would be pulling in from the outside right?
Both hose lengths would only be about 20 inches to get it through the floor.. shouldn't need fan assist to push or pull the flow of air for the vents.

See this link.. good explanation.

https://youtu.be/WMIKrW5131s


If you could make a shroud and pull condenser air from outside, it would help considerably. That is what I did with my portable in my first CTC when I realized what was happening. It was better, but not super efficient.


I'll try to find some old pics and show you how I made the shroud. Basically used a vent hose flange cut in a cookie pan and used weather stripping to make a seal and bungee cord to hold it tight.



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[Staryder61]

See this link.. good explanation.

https://youtu.be/WMIKrW5131s


If you could make a shroud and pull condenser air from outside, it would help considerably. That is what I did with my portable in my first CTC when I realized what was happening. It was better, but not super efficient.


I'll try to find some old pics and show you how I made the shroud. Basically used a vent hose flange cut in a cookie pan and used weather stripping to make a seal and bungee cord to hold it tight.



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Postby aggie79 » Mon Aug 27, 2012 7:17 am

Great conversion on the one duct to two duct portable air conditioner. Can't wait to see how it worked. I suspect it will be a significant improvement.

Don, I went back through your build in 2012 and found where Tom (aggie79) mentioned your conversion of the portable, no pictures there work anymore.
Thank you for your time, trying to help with this...

May just have to follow suit, with the way you or karebru installed the window units..

[flboy]

Yes, I could not retrieve the pics either and cannot find them on my PC. Those were on Photobucket and they started charging $ where it was free at one time.

In any case, lots of options if you decide to build in a window unit. I really like the way Karebu did his. Very nice for sure. There are many ways to do it. All will involve cutting a few holes in the side or roof depending on how you proceed.

Good luck.

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[Staryder61]

In any case, lots of options if you decide to build in a window unit. I really like the way Karebu did his. Very nice for sure. There are many ways to do it. All will involve cutting a few holes in the side or roof depending on how you proceed.

Good luck.

Don, It's the "Involve cutting a few holes" part that was driving me over the edge. I'm old and stress over the little things..
You did it one way. karebru, did it his way.. and Iconfabul8 did the frame and unit through the back ramp..

This was easy for me, once I stopped stressing about cutting the side of the trailer.
The 5000 btu window unit is small enough to go right between the trailer wall metal framing.
So, I'm going to go through the side of the trailer with the AC, using 18" full extension drawer slides making a slide out on top of a short cabinet inside the trailer. No need for extra bracing on the outside of the trailer. Drawer rails have a 50lb weight capacity.. will only be deployed when parked. Aluminum angle with weather stripping will be attached to the AC unit that will seal around the AC when it is slid out. A water proof marine hatch on the outside of the trailer will seal it up when the unit is slid back inside.. working this the same way our slide outs work on the RV travel trailer we live in.. now on to the next problem..

[bdosborn]

The 5000 btu window unit is small enough to go right between the trailer wall metal framing.
So, I'm going to go through the side of the trailer with the AC, using 18" full extension drawer slides making a slide out on top of a short cabinet inside the trailer.

That's what I did on the trailer:




Bruce

[Staryder61]

The 5000 btu window unit is small enough to go right between the trailer wall metal framing.
So, I'm going to go through the side of the trailer with the AC, using 18" full extension drawer slides making a slide out on top of a short cabinet inside the trailer.

That's what I did on the trailer:




Bruce

Thank you Bruce, I knew I seen it some where after I typed that post and have been going back through old posts to try and find it..
We seem to forget how many posts we have been through over the years, then try to remember which one it was, and who it was....
So, it will work great for me right?

[Staryder61]

So here's another day.. still moving along with the trailer conversion..
working this and that..
In my mind, the air conditioner thing driving me nuts..
Do it this way, no, do it that way.. settle on one way, then question that way..

Then Don (flboy) comments with very good opinion.. Thanks Don.. so we scrap the portable conditioner idea...

So talk to my better half, give her an idea on what I think we should really do.. because I know I've seen someone had done it. from her.
Explain it all on here, and the (( building design manager )) steps in and says "That's what I did on the trailer".. Thank you Bruce...
I knew it had been done..

So here's the new plan::



Cabinet will be added for the air conditioner.. it will have slides on the top of it, mounted to the conditioner.. which will allow the unit to slide out through the wall of the trailer.. between the metal studs of the trailer,, (no cutting the studs) through a marine hatch when it is open.. hatch is water tight when closed.. Problem solved....

[flboy]

Looks like a great plan! Can't wait to see the finished product.

[Staryder61]

Looks like a great plan! Can't wait to see the finished product.

Thanks Don,, looks like the easiest plan for me.. just can't get away from cutting a big a$$ hole in the side of the trailer..
It is what it is...
it'll be fine.. butyl tape the marine hatch in place on the outside,, PL premium any wood to metal contact.. urethane any exposed wood..

So when you leaving for the bike run this month..?