Holes in skin

[bwaysteve]

Have about 5 or 6 holes (screw size) in random areas of skin.Rivet and call it a day?,or is there something better.
There is a spot where PO attempted Alumaloy repair and I have a 2in.sq. lump.Can this be repaired.Sorry no pic available at this time.

[Melody Ranch]

Steve....use rivets to fill those holes....don't forget the vulkem.

Other than a flush patch...a la aircraft repair method....smooth out the bump or cut it out and put a good looking patch on the spot.

Are you leak checking today? 3 inches rain here at the ranch.....ice tonight.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by bwaysteve

Have about 5 or 6 holes (screw size) in random areas of skin.Rivet and call it a day?,or is there something better.
There is a spot where PO attempted Alumaloy repair and I have a 2in.sq. lump.Can this be repaired.Sorry no pic available at this time.

Depending on the size and location of a "blemish" some times, a phony small louver can be used, or a reflector, as well as some other small items.

Small holes can be filled with Olympic rivets, and a little Vulkem.

Andy

Andy

[VIKING]

If you want to try your hand at bucking rivets you could get yourself some flush rivets to fill those holes. They have a head shaped like a phillips flathead screw, and they fit flush after you countersink the edges of the holes. I think they are standard on most aircraft now, to cut wind resistance down to the minimum. They can be pretty invisible when done well.

Good luck!
Rich the Viking

[r carl]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

Depending on the size and location of a "blemish" some times, a phony small louver can be used, or a reflector, as well as some other small items.

Small holes can be filled with Olympic rivets, and a little Vulkem.

Andy

Andy

Good info here!

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by bwaysteve

Have about 5 or 6 holes (screw size) in random areas of skin.Rivet and call it a day?,or is there something better.
There is a spot where PO attempted Alumaloy repair and I have a 2in.sq. lump.Can this be repaired.Sorry no pic available at this time.

Olympic rivets for the screw holes, and I've seen many people put an emblem of some sort over the odd hole, depending on size and location. I've seen dealer placards placed over them, for example.

[Kevin245]

I would consider rivets a suitable replacement if the holes are small. I've also seen some clever patches on larger holes. I remember Levon made a heart shaped patch with his Daughter's name engraved on it to cover a hole on her Bambi.

Of course if you're Cowboy & Western fan you could consider sticking some arrows through the holes and tell everyone you encountered some trouble on the Chisholm Trail.

Best of luck,

Kevin

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by Kevin245

Of course if you're Cowboy & Western fan you could consider sticking some arrows through the holes and tell everyone you encountered some trouble on the Chisholm Trail.

...Or they were meteor impacts from the time the deflector shields failed...

[bwaysteve]

I think Kevin's idea was the best! After all one of the last Indian battles in Texas was fought just up the road from me.

Because the holes are small and so random, rivets would probably visually disappear when done.The PO Amaloy patch 2x2 looks horrible so I wil have to figure a redo on that.
I am checking for leaks today.I have the lower panels loose,so I can get a general location until the remainder of the panels come off so I can pinpoint.

As of now it looks like leak is from two of the holes above front window,1 air vent leak,and one on ss window.I am sure there are more.
I will remove all panels to rewire and seal inside seams.

On the 65 my roof panel has a 2 in. cover strip running the length of the coach down the center.
Does this roof panel come out in one or two long pieces?How do I get it outside?Door?

Thanks to everyone for all the help! Since Nov. I have studied all the posts and have a wealth of info to guide me through process.

Thanks to all! Steve

[tkasten]

Just didn't make the jump to warp speed quick enough. Olympic rivets for holes and rivet aluminum patches over larger area. I did this in two places on mine and was a bit apprehensive while doing it. After polishing they did turn out much better than I had guessed....Tim

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by bwaysteve

I think Kevin's idea was the best! After all one of the last Indian battles in Texas was fought just up the road from me.

Because the holes are small and so random, rivets would probably visually disappear when done.The PO Amaloy patch 2x2 looks horrible so I wil have to figure a redo on that.
I am checking for leaks today.I have the lower panels loose,so I can get a general location until the remainder of the panels come off so I can pinpoint.

As of now it looks like leak is from two of the holes above front window,1 air vent leak,and one on ss window.I am sure there are more.
I will remove all panels to rewire and seal inside seams.

On the 65 my roof panel has a 2 in. cover strip running the length of the coach down the center.
Does this roof panel come out in one or two long pieces?How do I get it outside?Door?

Thanks to everyone for all the help! Since Nov. I have studied all the posts and have a wealth of info to guide me through process.

Thanks to all! Steve

Steve.

All the exterior long sheet metal panels on your 28 foot Airstream, are 18 feet x 4 feet.

There are 5 panels like that from one side to the other side.

Anything short of that means someone spliced a section.

Andy

[bwaysteve]

Thanks Andy for the great info.
So each panel can be removed through the door?

[Ambie '64]

Steve, all the interior panels can fit through the door. We just held them vertically and snaked them through. We then rolled them up and used baling wire to keep them somewhat compact. Use gloves!

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by bwaysteve

Thanks Andy for the great info.
So each panel can be removed through the door?

Sorry Steve, I misunderstood.

I was talking about the exterior panels.

But, yes, all the interior metal, as with anything else in the interior, can be removed thru the door, the reverse of how the trailer was built.

Andy

[Olielulu]

I pulled all my panels and rolled them up inside the trailer, and duct taped them. the rolls were small enough for one person to move them in and out of the door. no snaking through the door and possibly causing more damage.

[bwaysteve]

Thanks So much Sounds much safer and easier to store.

[bwaysteve]

Here are some hole pics and that nasty Alumaloy repair.

[thecatsandi]

Originally Posted by VIKING

If you want to try your hand at bucking rivets you could get yourself some flush rivets to fill those holes. They have a head shaped like a phillips flathead screw, and they fit flush after you countersink the edges of the holes. I think they are standard on most aircraft now, to cut wind resistance down to the minimum. They can be pretty invisible when done well.

Good luck!
Rich the Viking

You will need 0.032 or 0.040 aluminum at least to countersink Rivets or Screws.