Galen's Build Journal

[Galen]

Well, it has started. One unusual little teardrop trailer in the works.

I have created a website to keep track of my build as I go, and to share everything I am learning with others.

http://www.homebuilt-teardrop-trailer.com

I will make sure and post updates and pictures here also.



Thanks everyone for your support up to this point, and for all the help I know I am going to need over the next year (or two?).

Galen

[48Rob]

Galen,

It is good to see a builder with their priorities in order!

First the shelter, then the axle.
Great start!

Rob

[Minicamper42]

That's what I need too...just moved into my new house with a whole acre and no garage or shop to work in...that awning looked reasonable in cost...I used one of those temp shelters until the wind took it down the street and twisted it up good ...it was a 15X20...you gave me an ideal though...thanks I can do a garage later.

PS...I guess when it's time for the varnish you can rent a storage garage for a month...gets pretty windy here in NM at times.

Mini 4-2

[Miriam C.]

Good start! Love the shelter too. I really could use one like it. You can always put plastic on the ends to varnish/paint.

[Galen]

Yep, when it is time to do epoxy and paint I was thinking I would enclose the shed in plastic, even the floor, to keep dust and bugs off.

Galen

[vrodjason]

Cool shelter! Want to travel to Ohio to build me one? If you dont mind me asking what was the cost of your shelter?
Great job!

[Miriam C.]

Yep, when it is time to do epoxy and paint I was thinking I would enclose the shed in plastic, even the floor, to keep dust and bugs off.

Galen

Don't get it too air tight. Ya gotta keep some brain cells for camping.

[Galen]

If you dont mind me asking what was the cost of your shelter?
Great job!

I spent about $800 on the materials including renting the post hole digger. Wood was really cheap when I built it. And the shade cloth was on super sale. I figure in the future if I want to make it into more of a real shop I could enclose it with hard sides and even lay a cement foundation. But I am pretty happy with how simple it is. I like having the breeze come through when I work. I just won't be working on it during the summer much here in Tucson, except early in the morning.

I looked into buying all kinds of pre-made carports and sheds, but this way was cheaper and fit my space perfeclty. Plus it is bigger.

[vrodjason]

Galen
Thanks for the info. I can pick up a tin carport here for around $700 but like you said I'm looking for something to fit my space but also looking for something that every other house in the neighborhood doesn't have.
Thanks again
Jason

[starleen2]

That axel sure looks lonely

[Galen]

That axel sure looks lonely

What axel? All I see is a completed teardrop sitting there, just back from a great trip to the Grand Canyon, covered in red desert dust.

But actually right now I am teaching myself to weld so that I can get a frame on top of that axle. I just started to watch the instructional DVD I bought from Northern Tools. Tomorrow I start making my first "puddles". Reports on progress to follow.

[vrodjason]

Are you learning mig or stick? Both are fairly easy to learn. I like to mig weld better for my light duty applications but I also like to do a little stick welding on the heavy stuff. Just remember to take your time and clean your metal good. You'll do fine!

[Galen]

Are you learning mig or stick?

I am learning Stick. I bought a Lincoln Buzz Box AC machine on Craigslist for $125. Today I picked up a chipper, some rod, welding gloves, and some grinding wheels to clean my steel with.

My father is a professional welder, but I never bothered to learn for some reason.

I went with stick because I am going to be welding outside and also because I have heard from folks who have lots of experience that while MIG is easier to learn and use, it is actually much more difficult to create a strong structural weld. For example my father, an experienced welder at the time trained in MIG but repeatedly failed his MIG certification because when the welds were x-rayed there were flaws. But I have no experience to say why that might be true. Maybe the MIG machines have impoved since his experience?

[Galen]

I just posted an update to my learning to weld progress on my site:

http://www.homebuilt-teardrop-trailer.com/teaching-myself-to-weld.html

I posted some pictures of my first welds and some more insights about what I have learned so far.

I have realized that the arc welder I purchased is not ideal for welding thin steel, and I probably should have gone with a gas MIG welder. But I am sticking with this one for now. I am confident that with practice on the actual materials I will be using on the trailer I will be able to do a good job of it.

Plus this gives me an excuse to own both types of welders in the future.

I got bored practicing beads so I gave myself a project to build. I designed a new mailbox post and it turned out great. It is made out of recycled bed frame steel. Using this steel was fine, but it is hardened, and I had to take some of the hardening out of it with heat to drill it.

[Galen]

I am finally, finally, finally starting to work on my build again, after taking a multi-year break. I can't believe it has been five years since I started thinking about this. Time flies. A new business got in the way, but now I have some time.

To save time I have decided to simplify my build considerably. Here is the new design concept:



Actually I am finishing up welding on the frame. I will post updates here and to the website.

Thanks for all future help and support!

Galen