The LT... Thomas' Luxury Tent

[2bits]

Thanks guys! I am starting to get obsessed again Mark, you are much farther than I am, but I will be campable by then!

Today I put two coats of poly on the trim that was ready and sanded and I actually pulled out the doors and stained them! I decided that I didn't like the 3/4" thickness of the rear cabinets either and since they were pretty wide pieces, I went over to a buddy's and we made some serious sawdust using a planer cutting them down to 1/2" thick, my shoes were completely covered! I like them much more now. I was also wondering what I was going to do for an art deco design I had and he gave me some really dark 50 year old hardwood that I can cut into strips for deco door handles I am really glad I chose a lighter stain for all the cabinet doors (today!) because that will make the dark handles really pop.

[aggie79]

Thomas - Looking great! Glad to see you moving forward again.

Hopefully your motivation will get me moving.

[planovet]

Yes Tom you need to get going (but don't listen to me, I've been building for a year!). October will be here before you know it. You are an Aggie so I know you can do it!

[aggie79]

Just to make things interesting in life, I voluntarily will be leaving my job to start a new job beginning in May. Hope to use that one week between jobs to accelerate my build.

[2bits]

Wow a voluntary job change?? Unheard of in these times! kudos to you!!! Let me know when ya need me!

An Aggie?? I went to the school of hard knocks and rock n roll!~ I do like the hill country tho!

I decided to leave work an hour early today and I finished up the rear cabinet faces! My carpenter buddy gave me some 50 year old hardwood for some accents since the only thing I could think of was to route the same design which I was not happy with so these work much better. I got the speaker and power holes cut out, all the sanding done and stained them too! Tomorrow night will be the poly and maybe some installing of the other stuff, you never know, but by the end of the week I will be working on drawers!



Here's a pic of the whole assembly minus the lower runner before staining:



A pic with the whole thing together and stained! Obviously there is a bigger space in the middle for the TV, but other wise it is laid out right


Here is a close up of the end section with a speaker and outlet cover in place just for fun. (it will be an electrical outlet and probably not woodgrain)

[planovet]

Great use of the hardwood, I like it!

[aggie79]

Hey Thomas, I see you're continuing your tradition of good design and workmanship. I like your speaker door setup.
Tom

[2bits]

Thanks guys! Nothing too special tonight, so I'll save ya the pics.

I poly'ed everything with another coat, the final coat for every thing except the new pieces which will get another coat or two. I also glued the dark strips to the magazine doors. After stressing about how to to get them in the right place, I used a highly technical process of measuring first, then eye balling it when I laid it down, (I was never more than 1/8" off) then sliding it over in to the correct location using the measuring tape, then pressing it for 10 seconds, then tweaking it to the exact location then holding again for 30 sec until the glue really got a grip, then wiping up the excess and clamping. I did the center strip first then came back an hour later and did the two outer strips. Worked out perfectly. I just did not want to mark on them, or use any fasteners. When I cover the doors in Poly those strips won't be goin anywhere!

Thanks for the comments! Installation Friday hopefully. I plan on predrilling a small hole then using glue and tapping in some trim nails the old fashioned way with a hammer and nail set. I am dying to see these in place!

[cdfnchico]

Thomas..love your workmanship...beautiful wood..beautiful finish! I can't wait to see it in either!

[2bits]

I get the Tom/Thomas separation now, good job with that! I get so used to people calling me Tom.

So, tonight I installed the Galley face frames! I am going to put a fake drawer in front of the AC box, and build one drawer on the left and two drawers to the right of the AC section.





I put the first coat of poly on the deco doors at 7pm, the second coat at 11pm once I finish this post. Installation for the front and rear face frames tomorrow! :twistedevil: I just thought this was a cool pic:

[2bits]

Front cabinet face frames installed. I learned that I still can't hammer with my right hand, and my knees aren't what they used to be.

Still have the staple strips on the one thin veneer strip, dang staples split the veneer too it's doesn't look too bad tho. I am also going to add trim to cover the headliner joint and screws that you can still see, but that will be when I get to the trim stage, I am after the main stuff right now so it looks decent while I get to campin. Here's some pics



Here's one just for fun of the rear cabinet faces just set in place, this job will be coming during this week:


Also got the exterior poly done on the doors, now for the other side:


I got my tax refund also! So I got some of the square, black 15x18 crank out windows that are similar to Grants.


I picked some up from an auction from Big Woody Camping because I got a real good deal on them. I really wanted to oval slider windows because they would match the moonroof and just plain look cool, but the price, and the fact that the crank out windows were functionally superior, I thought with my head and kept telling my self I will be very thankful that first rainy night!

Next, hinges, handles, and aluminum trim. I know I need to get my stuff now otherwise the $$$ will disappear.

[2bits]

GO McMaster...

WOW I placed the order for my stainless hinges and Harsh Environment hinge, and I was scared because nowhere would it tell you the shipping. It just said you will be billed shipping so I just went for it well I got it a DAY later and shipping was $5.75! I am amazed. I debated the hurricane and classic piano hinge for a YEAR vs. these but I knew I would just wait until the time comes, and finally I settled on these products for both on their own merit. $80 shipped for four stainless and one plastic hinge was just a sweetener. Anyway, the hinges look cool and I am glad to have them.


FYI the site says the plastic hinge charges by the foot but is available in 4, 8 and 12 foot lengths. I stressed about this for a long time, but when it came down to it, I ordered 6 foot and the site only charged me for 6' so it worked out great, plus it is black which adds the cool factor against the black roof.

I got my cabinets completely finished too, so things are rolling along. I got out the goo be gone on my retro interior side lights and they look good, I'll post a pic once they are installed.



Also bought some really cool artt deco outlet covers:

[Anthony J Grant]

AWESOME work Thomas!

[kennyrayandersen]

you go boy -- that gap between the speakers going to be the subwoofer?

[2bits]

Thanks guys

I've never owned a subwoofer! Man that would not make my camping neighbors happy eh haha Taking a two day break to help a friend build some art stuff, an tomorrow is a show, then Sat it is back to work again! I am taking Monday off so I am hoping I get some more goodies in, but there is plenty to do otherwise.