FINALLY...Progress on the Squidget with PICS to prove it!!!

[cracker39]

Dale,

Your framing lines look good. It's going to be big, but oh, is it ever going to be comfortable!
Mike...

I tried to alternate the breakes in the vertical and horizontal pieces where they "cross" so as to get stability in both directions.

But, with a cabin that spans 12' long by 5' wide and 6' 2" tall (inside height), is it still a TINY travel trailer? It looks big from the outside, but I suspect when we are inside, it won't seem so big.

[mikeschn]

Is it tiny... I guess it's all relative.

My tab is 12' long by 6' wide. Some folks call it a teardrop... And folks with RV's call it a tiny trailer...

I think that a 12' trailer is still a small tiny travel trailer... I also think that 12' is the line to cross over if you don't want a tiny trailer!

Mike...

[cracker39]

Is it tiny... I guess it's all relative.

My tab is 12' long by 6' wide. Some folks call it a teardrop... And folks with RV's call it a tiny trailer...
I think that a 12' trailer is still a small tiny travel trailer... I also think that 12' is the line to cross over if you don't want a tiny trailer!
Mike...

I guess folks with big RVs think of anything smaller than theirs as tiny. With the tail lights on the back, my cabin will actually be about 12' 2"...but, we won't count the tail lights will we? .

[cracker39]

You think you're having a rough day? For a while, I was ready to agree with Ira's statement..."Never again!". BTW, where is he? He hasn't commented on the song I wrote for him.

OK, where was I? Oh yeah...how many times have I heard and repeated the phrase "measure twice, cut once"? And, do I follow that advice? APPARENTLY NOT!!!

I was ready to cut my sides from the template. IBut, first, I decided to update my diagrams for my plans with the measurements from the templates so that they matched exactly. That's when I noticed that something didn't look right, so I checked the measurements against the template again and I found that I had cut my window openings in my template 4" too low. Thank goodness, it was just the template that was cut out and not my sides!!!


So, it was nothing I couldn't correct when cutting out the sides. I just cut all but the window opening, slid the template up 4" and cut out the window in the proper location. I marked the templates so that if I ever use them again, I'll know to move them up for the window cutout. And, then, my best router just stopped routing in mid cut and I had to move the template base to my other one. Of course, it wouldn't line up exactly on the other router so the bit wouldn't bind in the template, even both are about 15 year old Craftsman models. So, I had to measure and drill, measure and drill, ad nauseum, until the bit turned freely. Then, it was back to cutting.

So, the side skins are cut out and MARKED CAREFULLY as to where they go (left, right, etc.) and the edges beveled for filling. Now, it's time to start the framing. Before I can complete that, I need to go buy my AC to make measrurements for the spars and openings in the back. I still haven't decided whether to just stick it in and caulk around it, or make a box for it. I think the latter, as I can remove the AC without tearing up the skin and framing if something happens to it. It's also time to call and talk to Scott about the fan I need. The windows are on order now.

[angib]

I also think that 12' is the line to cross over if you don't want a tiny trailer!

Ooooh, goody - we got one o' them line-in-the-sand, this-far-and-no-further, I'm-a-tolerant-man-but-you-can-push-me-too-far type of things going on. Will we see blood? Are any holds barred? Will any animals be hurt in the making of this flame war?

I've never been sure where 'tiny' ended and, having been one of the devil's handmaidens that asked about non-traditional teardrop shapes in The Other (Teardrop) Place, I can't afford to get ex-communicated twice. Though come to think of it, Ira and I could then set up our own board for pinko commie-lovers ....

Andrew

[Ira]

Though come to think of it, Ira and I could then set up our own board for pinko commie-lovers ....

COOL!

Let's start thinking of clever URLs:

commiesRus.com???

[Chip]

this could be a long and interesting thread, but how bout this idea,,,

the trailers we either have or are gonna have are small but to put a code to them, how bout TTTT ( tiny tiny tiny trailer )

this is the designation for a standard 4x4x8 box not counting the tongue box,,, if any dimention goes above the 4x4x8 then you loose one of your "T's",,ie a 5 wide, 8 long x 4' high would be a TTTand a 5x10x4 would be a TT and a 5x10x6 footer would just be a trailer,,,,

the length would be measured from front of box to rear of box proper,,, lights etc would not count,, height would be from bottom of wall to top of box,,, vent would not count and if on top of frame the frame would not count,,, and width is what it is,,, not to further complicate the dang issue ya got to have an inch plus or minus for mouldings etc,,,,

so I got a TTTT this time,, last time I had a TT,,, this should be an unofficial designation and not be put in print for any commie terrorist to use against us ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

chipper

[cracker39]

Hmmmmmm....did I open a can of worms? Sorry about that.

Well, my day didn't get much better, and again it did. Later on, my router worked when I plugged it in. It must have had a thermal overload until it cooled down.

But, did I learn from my previous bonehead mistake? Nope. I did it again. This time, I cut out a 6" wide strip of door opening on both side sheets...DUMB AND DUMBER. But, I'm just patching the piece back in, since I have to fill where the sheets meet, I just have another 5' 8" to fill in. I'm not wasting another sheet...not yet anyway.

Progress was slow again. Lots of work preparing,...ripping framing strips and spars to have them ready for use, and measuring and lots of trial and error getting the angles right for my front spars. Not to mention dragging my miter saw and band saw out to the carport. I still had to make umpteen trips back around the house to use the table saw. I'll be glad when I get the axle on and can move the TTT (or is it TT, or just plain T?) around to the back near the workshop. Tomorrow, I should finish up one side, or nearly finish it anyway. I still have to go shopping for the AC.

[Chip]

Dale ,,look on the bright side,, you wernt using a devil from down below "ROTO-ZIP" tool,,, ya door would be 6" out of square and there wouldnt be a straight line anywhere to put a hinge,,, and another thing the damn bits for a roto-zipper break if ya look at them sideways,,, great little tool to have but just dont ever use it,,,

looking good thar Dale,, measure thrice and cut twice,,,

good luck with the rest of the build on the T,, TT,,,TTT,, whatever


chipper

[cracker39]

Thanks, Chip. I did buy a small trim router from HF, but haven't used it yet. Don't know if I ever will, but it was cute and on sale and I can't resist a sale whether I need it or not.


I did all my skin cutting with my 1 1/2" HP Craftsman router until it quit, then switched to my 1 HP Craftsman. I cut all 3 pairs of sheets witn one old 1/4", single flute straight bit I had laying around and it made clean cuts. That template bushing guide works great. I made the template because I hope I get the chance to build one for money some day, but even if I wern't going to use it again, I'd recommend the templar route (no pun intended). If you make a mistake on the template, it can be fixed and then you can cut a perfect side. That is, if you don't forget to separate them before cutting your door or you'll be putting in two doors.

[cracker39]

Daily report...

Left side is amost finished. All I need to do is get it off the floor so that I can put some screws into some of the framing from the outside for insurance. I think I will only put screws in where the sheets join, a couple of horizontal stringers, and around the edges. Then, when I'm fairly sure it won't fall apart, I'll try to get it outside for a picture.

The other side will be much easier to do since I have all of the edge pieces cut and ready to attach to the skins. I still have one spar with angled cuts to make, and most of the 1" x 1 1/2" spars to rip too. I think I'll have it ready for the axle within a week, but probably won't get it welded until the weekend after this one.

I'm having a problem finding my AC. I can't order the Haier 5K BTU online for our Lowes store, and the people I talked to there didn't seem to know how to special order it as it wasn't in their book. HD had only one Goldstar (2nd choice), as a display and none in boxes. Maybe I can talk them into selling it at a discount.

[cracker39]

Why thge &^$$*&() didn't someone tell me this would be so much work? I found out that the filling and sanding takes a lot of time. I put about 3/4" screws in the side I am working on, so I created a lot more work with the filling. I'll say this much. The Bondo works better than wood filler. I had no problem with the hardner mix, my small batches go on before it gets too hardened to work. And, I am getting the hang of the technique. At first, I was putting on too much just to find that I had to go over it again with a 2nd application. I quickly learned to just fill in the hole or seam and scrape it nearly flat the first time, then sand and refil with the bondo covering with a little above the surface to sand flat after it hardens. I am close to finishing the left side. Just have to sand again and check for imperfections. I should be building the other side rather than filling joints at this time, but I want to see one side all done just to see how it looks. Pics to follow later today I hope.

As big is it looks, I can slide my plywood carrier under the center and pick up the side easliy to move it around. Even with the framing, it weighs less than a sheet of 3/4" plywood. With the window in, it might be too heavy for me to handle. Grant sent me an email to tell me that the windows were shipped yesterday. The vent fan should be here soon also.

[cracker39]

The previous message was supposed to say I put about 70 -75 34" screws in the side. That doesn't count the ones that will hold the spars, windows, door, etc. ... well, my healthy choice lunch is over, (two corn dogs with ketchup, mustard, and relish...well, it may not have been healthy, but it was my choice) and it's back to sanding.

[Chris C]

You must be sucking those Bondo fumes, Dale. I've never seen a 34" screw!

[cracker39]

My bondo isn't the only thing not working today...the fingers won't follow what the brain tells them to type. It's one of those days.