So I got tired of working on the bath and wanted to get some stereo goin’ in the ol’ ‘Stream. I had bought a Sony car stereo and some el chepo speakers from Wal-Mart about a year ago and just never got around to installing them (hey, I had to install something from Wal-Mart, they have, after all, helped me put two kids thru college via part time jobs). Total cost was about $200.
Now, we lived in Texas a long time courtesy of the US Army, so I can’t let a good story go untold. A good story is retold many times in Texas and grows with each retelling.
The wood that the radio mount is made from came from my grandparents place near Warm Springs, Ga. This is cedar that was cut from the farm back around World War Two. Granddad had it rough sawn, then planned down and stained, then used it as paneling for the living room, hallway and two of the bedrooms. Granddad and Grandma passed away a few years back and an aunt and uncle inherited the part of the farm that included the old “home place”. The home burned down a couple of years because of a lightening strike (since rebuilt). Dad grabbed several pieces of the old cedar that was still in good shape after the fire and gave me a few pieces of it (after much begging on my part; “hey, it’s going in the Airstream, Dad”). Thanks for the memories, Granddad.
At any rate, I took a piece of it over to my buddy Eric’s wood shop, planned it down to about 3/8” and we tacked it together. The fit is kind of odd because of the way the metal parts of the original shelf fit in there, but I’m pretty happy with it. All I did to was plane it, then three coats of semi-gloss urethane. We made a dock area there for the XM portable radio. We also had the presence of mind when the walls were out to pull the 12v socket over to that area. The black cable plugged into the front of the radio runs back over to the television and is plugged into the output side of the TV. I gotta tell ya folks, it looks very simple, but the sound is fabulous.
Here’s a couple of pics. (More to follow).
Jim
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If you can't fix it with a hammer or a rivet, you have an electrical problem.
Remember that hamper from a few posts back? Somehow it grew left to right about 3/4". Gotta work on that one. Obviously, something didn't get installed correctly. Once the cabinet that fits over the water heater (to the right of the hamper) is rebuilt, then I can figure out where the error was made. Weird.
__________________
If you can't fix it with a hammer or a rivet, you have an electrical problem.
Here’s a couple of pics of the new birch with stain and a couple of coats of urethane on it. This is the wall between the bed and bath. The back side (bath side) is simply painted with the same paint as the bath. The front side (bedroom side) is stained. The stain is a little darker that I wanted, but I’ve found some “pecan” stain just a shade lighter for the rest of the room. Note to everyone: If you buy the all-in-one stain (stain and polyurethane in the same can) expect problems. You have to keep a “wet edge” when applying this stuff. I found that nearly impossible to do. Not sure if the problem was too much humidity (or too little), too much heat (air temp). Bottom line is that wouldn’t lay down correctly, so I switched to plain stain followed by a polyurethane overcoat. Once again, Eric and his wood shop was a big help.
Eric has entered the 21st century by adding a website, if anybody is interested. Check out WWW.fromthehartwoodcrafts.com.
Jim
__________________
If you can't fix it with a hammer or a rivet, you have an electrical problem.
I plan on bringing you the clear tail light lens this weekend. I was just talking to my wife about doing what you did with your stereo. That looks really sharp. Is that an FM transmitter so you do not have to use wires for your TV or is it a CB? I plan on buying an FM Transmitter this weekend. and doing away with my auxiliary wire.
Marcus, I FINALLY figured out that if the tunes are there, I spend more time actually inside the Airstream working on stuff.
Brian, the XM radio can actually transmit on an FM frequency or plug into the front of the Sony via the "Aux in" jack. Right now, it's transmitting on an FM freq. The cable you see plugged into that "Aux in" jack actually runs thru the skins back over to the TV and is plugged into the out jack on the TV. I'll show you when you come by if I'm not explaining very well.
By the way, I restored the antenna that came with the Airstream back in 1973. It works VERY well with both digital TV and the FM radio. It is currently lowered and in the stowed position. The FM radio can pick up stations in South Carolina and Tennessee. Try that on your car stereo.
Brian, I'll give you a call in a few.
Jim
__________________
If you can't fix it with a hammer or a rivet, you have an electrical problem.
Jim & Susan, The world is always better with tunes. I'll be looking at you thread again as I've finally really started working on the 55 Flying Cloud. 55 FC The Whole ball of wax
I'd like any input you would feel like making or have the time for. The smell of Valcum, aluminum splinters, sawdust, dirt, does it get any better?
Don
I was so impressed with your radio cabinet. I made a copy of yours for my airstream. My workmanship does not look as good as yours, but I am happy with it. I used wood laying around from past home projects. I used stain from past home projects. I call it the Jim and Susan design.
J&S and Lothlorian, your radio enclosures look great and remind me of the one the PO made in my Argy. This is the best photo I have of it. The portable CD player plugs into the front of the "Dash Radio" and the space below the radio is filled with a CB. Can't see it really due to the shadow. I should really take a better photo of that.
Very nice stereo solutions, guys. I am planning to include one in the front storage compartment, the one that is built into the fiberglass dome. I was thinking about a metal enclosure, but I'm loving the look of the wood in your installations. I'm also planning on including stereo speakers in that bay, or perhaps just to the sides of it, mounted directly into the dome.
Utee: my speakers are mounted where you mention around the curve a bit though. You can just make out one in this photo. The stereo doesn't sound half bad.
this photo you can see both
sorry for the hijack J&S. Back to your regularly scheduled programming .....
I really didn't like the speakers blasting me in one ear and anyone else on the couch in the other ear...so I put them up in the dome. I like it a lot better and the sound is better everywhere. Speaker Location
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