After spending my entire week-end working on the Argosy, I just had to come in and speak up for all the women out there who are working on their AS or Argosys. Not having the upper body strength that you men have can certainly be frustrating. I wonder if you men realize how much work the women on this forum are actually doing when restoring their trailers. I spent the better part of the morning just trying to unscrew that little shelf behind the rear sofa. Someone, a PO possibly, had reattached it with very large flathead screws and then put some heavy duty caulk over them so they would not come out. Well, let me tell you, IT WORKED! I had to lay upside down and take my DeWalt drill and hold it in both hands and still couldn't push hard enough to get anything moving. Then I tried to get the caulk off with a flathead screwdriver but it wouldn't budge. I know when my husband gets home he will smile and go out there and just take it out for me. So I went on to something I could do. I pulled up the carpet to look for water leaks. That took some work too. Pulling carpet is hard for women...and I'm a working nurse so I'm not soft by any means. I take my hat off to all the women out there who are gutting these trailers and working two or three times harder just to get it done. I'm sore, stiff and pooped out. AND I haven't even talked about trying to sand and prime the tongue and gas bottles. Have you ever tried to get gas bottles off when the lock didn't come with a key. You have to get under the tongue and try to get those nuts off and pull it up through that way. You don't want to know how long that took. Bob will be home from Wisc. next week...goody.
After spending my entire week-end working on the Argosy, I just had to come in and speak up for all the women out there who are working on their AS or Argosys. Not having the upper body strength that you men have can certainly be frustrating. I wonder if you men realize how much work the women on this forum are actually doing when restoring their trailers.
My gosh, I had power tools but I just couldn't push hard enough to get a good grip on that screw head. I'd have to sell the Argosy if it wasn't for power tools. I just get a little frustrated when I can't make something work. Of course with these old trailers sometimes not being able to "strong arm" something means you don't destroy it. I'm having lots of fun though. Judy
My gosh, I had power tools but I just couldn't push hard enough to get a good grip on that screw head. I'd have to sell the Argosy if it wasn't for power tools. I just get a little frustrated when I can't make something work. Of course with these old trailers sometimes not being able to "strong arm" something means you don't destroy it. I'm having lots of fun though. Judy
I have had some amount of luck with loosening stuck screws by soaking them with a little oil.... I have even used cooking oil, in a pinch, but like 3-in-1 the best. (sewing machine oil).
But your situation involved dried putty, too. GROSS.
We may not truely know but I can certainly respect and appreciate your desire to aquire the skills needed to rehab your campers. Many women on this forum have been a huge help with my projects and it's not your brawn that I'm talking about. Eljay especially has been a great supporter by following my blog and offering advice and encouragment. I hope that we men can repay the favors by giving advice that helps your tasks move along painlessly.
Best wishes,
Steve
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Have you never questioned those who travel?
Have you paid no regard to their accounts- Job 21:29
My gosh, I had power tools but I just couldn't push hard enough to get a good grip on that screw head. Judy
Judy,
One way to make stubborn screws yield is to use a very long screwdriver, so you can use your hands closer to your body, and lean into it, which helps tremendously to get stubborn screws out.
Also, alwasy use sharp screwdrivers, phillips or flat. If the screwdriver tip is worn, it is much more likely to slip over the screw head and cause even the timid ones amongst us to come up with fascinating swear words.
Throw away bad tools - they'll eventually bite you.
True enough, the right tools are everything. And a willingness to get rough if necessary. That means bigger hammers, longer screwdrivers, long handled ratchets so you can get a little leverage. Power tools are wonderful. Hats off to you for giving it your all. It's rough work.
I have reached a point in the Caravel where I need an extra hand to do things like fit the fridge and furnace, and it's just tiring and frustrating. I agree 100% with the upper body strength. All you can hope for is that you can outwit (use tools to your advantage whenever possible) and persevere - and it's all worth it in the end!
Hey, I can't decorate worth beans, I guess I didn't get that gene Oh well.
Well I got the decorating gene; however, I didn't get that electronic gene. I've only gotten one picture to post on this site and I don't know how I did that. Tomorrow, or when I get the time to run to a bigger town, I'm going to get some bigger tools. My husband is a Construction Superintendent, but I can find NOTHING in his work room. I know there's 7 table saws and five tool boxes out there, but he's not organized. (neither am I) I'm still waiting for him to come home from Wisc. so I can look truely pitiful and he'll go out and fix things for me. Of course he'll only be home about a week, then I'm on my own again. I'm making a list............
My great aunt was a 'rosie the riveter' at an airplane plant in Witchita during the war. She's definitly one of the ones who taught me I could do anything, and not to let anyone else tell me otherwise. After she passed away I got all her pictures, with her and her girlfriends wearing PANTS and going out fishing and exploring without any men around. It was quite an exciting time for them!
Hey Juel, you got a lot more done than I did today! The weather was sunny and 60 for a second day and I started spring cleaning in the trailer. Took a look at the peeling vinyl and couldn't resist giving it a tug. Pretty soon I had all of it peeled off the wall by the sink, and all the old sticky stuff (wallpaper paste?) scrubbed off. I wanted to start bringing up the old carpet, but I had to keep eyes and ears alert for the kids playing in the driveway while I was working. Woman's work is never done!
Steph. I bet that plant is still there. I used to go to Witchita several times a year when I was showing dogs and they are very much into building planes. Mostly private aircraft now but the plants are still there. By the way, Happy Birthday. Oh yes, neither of my grandmothers were allowed to work, mow the yard, use tools or do any heavy lifting. That was "man's" work. When I was growing up I was only allowed to use the lady type garden hoses and tools. My grandfather had two kind of yard tools, one for ladies and one for the men to use. My own father was very shocked when he actually saw me out mowing my own yard one day. He rushed home to tell my mother what he had seen. They got over it EVENTUALLY.
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