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Tony S · 08-12-2013, 12:44 PM

Hi Friends,

I thought I would share some pictures of my shower being stripped with Western Red Cedar. It was beaded and coved. The process is to staple it to the frame and then remove the staples. Each adjoining strip is glued to each other. In this case the strips were glued to the wall stringers. I than sanded it and then sanded some more. Next come filling small gaps with epoxy with "wood flour" and a coat of penetrating epoxy than I will fiberglass it and finally varnish.

Anyway the magic comes, as woodworkers know, when the finish touches the wood and (yes, I will use the expression) it pops alive. I will post pictures when I get to that.

Tony S
Rogue River, Oregon

cwf · 08-12-2013, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony S

Hi Friends,

I thought I would share some pictures of my shower being stripped with Western Red Cedar. It was beaded and coved. The process is to staple it to the frame and then remove the staples. Each adjoining strip is glued to each other. In this case the strips were glued to the wall stringers. I than sanded it and then sanded some more. Next come filling small gaps with epoxy with "wood flour" and a coat of penetrating epoxy than I will fiberglass it and finally varnish.

Anyway the magic comes, as woodworkers know, when the finish touches the wood and (yes, I will use the expression) it pops alive. I will post pictures when I get to that.

Tony S
Rogue River, Oregon

Nyce!

Tony S · 08-13-2013, 12:02 PM

Thanks.

I don't really know if it is magic but here is a picture of the wall panel saturated with epoxy and then the fiberglass hanging ready to be wetted out. It will provide strenght with all the flexing of the trailer. The cedar ends up being about 3/16 thick after sanding.

I don't think this will turn out to be another funky mod. I do have a design plan.

Tony

panheaddale · 08-13-2013, 01:27 PM

Looks great but why the epoxy and then fiberglass too?

Skatiero · 08-13-2013, 02:21 PM

Love the cedar!

Len n Jeanne · 08-13-2013, 02:59 PM

The cedar looks way cool, but when I saw your thread title only as "Stripping in the shower before..." I wondered what sort of photos you would have.

(Discrete, maybe?)

Tony S · 08-13-2013, 03:28 PM

Thanks it will only look better with another coat of epoxy to fill the weave of the fiberglass.

panheaddale The reason I use the fiberglass is strenght especially with all the twisting that I suspect will take place back there going down the road.

I admit the title was to get attention it is a crowded field.

I will post pics of fiberglass installed.

Tony

reinergirl · 08-13-2013, 04:11 PM

Looks like a wooden boat, nice!

Tony S · 08-13-2013, 06:10 PM

reinergirl. Good call on the wooden boat. I am redoing the interior to be a blend of a 60's wood interior and a little nautical. It is a blend that confuses me but we shall see if I can pull it off. The wood bulkheads and cabinetry will be ribbon mahogany. I have a file of pics of boat interiors that I look at very frequently looking for the break through in my thinking. I also have several files of 1960 Airstream interior photos.

Thanks

Tony

panheaddale · 08-13-2013, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony S

Thanks it will only look better with another coat of epoxy to fill the weave of the fiberglass.

panheaddale The reason I use the fiberglass is strenght especially with all the twisting that I suspect will take place back there going down the road.

I admit the title was to get attention it is a crowded field.

I will post pics of fiberglass installed.

Tony

If it is flexing that much won't it crack the fiberglass? Just inquiring because I love the idea and the look. Woodworker here too, and have been brainstorming about what to do inside my 64 overlander.

reinergirl · 08-13-2013, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony S

reinergirl. Good call on the wooden boat. I am redoing the interior to be a blend of a 60's wood interior and a little nautical. It is a blend that confuses me but we shall see if I can pull it off. The wood bulkheads and cabinetry will be ribbon mahogany. I have a file of pics of boat interiors that I look at very frequently looking for the break through in my thinking. I also have several files of 1960 Airstream interior photos.

Thanks

Tony

I went to a rally that had a nautical themed airstream. It was totally cool, they did a mahogany floor that had a altemating strips of mahogany and a thin strip of lighter wood. They had red and green lanterns (lights) that were antiques and a boat search light by the door. A porthole in the bathroom door.... I'll see if I can find the pictures. I did like it, though not what I am seeking in my restoration.

My dad built a mahogany stripped gaff rigged yawl when he retired. It was his pride and joy and a little like an Airstream in that we had trouble sailing in it because everyone would get close to us to see it better!

My Airstream is named after the boats in my family that were named Moonraker.

Good luck with your project! I LOVE ribbon stripped mahogany.

Tony S · 08-14-2013, 07:20 AM

I am no expert on fiber glassing but I don't believe it will crack with flexing, being an interwoven mat. The epoxy could be brittle but I have seen no evidence of it with the canoe I built or the kayak.

Reinergirl, that would be great if you find the pictures. Sounds like a great trailer. I am just going for a touch or sense of the nautical. Mainly, the shiny wood ( not my usual aesthetic) and white paint. I have been advised against the shiny by friends, but only mildly. I am sticking with my gut on this one. I could be wrong but I have taken both design and decorative chances before and was pleased I did. I guess the odd thing is the interior of wooden boats that I have seen have a sheen more than the gloss I am going with.

Thanks for your encouragement. Reinergirl, I went and poked around your blog. Nice. I saw your dad’s yawl Very nice. I am currently working on the Airstream instead of building a 20’ Tolman Skiff which I have some of the materials for. I figured I better take on the project at hand and not chase after another one.

Below are pics of the bulk heads waiting installation.

panheaddale · 08-14-2013, 08:05 AM

Those bulkheads look awesome. What are they made of and how have you finished them? Thanks.

ROBERT CROSS · 08-14-2013, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony S

I am no expert on fiber glassing but I don't believe it will crack with flexing, being an interwoven mat. The epoxy could be brittle but I have seen no evidence of it with the canoe I built or the kayak.

Reinergirl, that would be great if you find the pictures. Sounds like a great trailer. I am just going for a touch or sense of the nautical. Mainly, the shiny wood ( not my usual aesthetic) and white paint. I have been advised against the shiny by friends, but only mildly. I am sticking with my gut on this one. I could be wrong but I have taken both design and decorative chances before and was pleased I did. I guess the odd thing is the interior of wooden boats that I have seen have a sheen more than the gloss I am going with.

Thanks for your encouragement. Reinergirl, I went and poked around your blog. Nice. I saw your dad’s yawl Very nice. I am currently working on the Airstream instead of building a 20’ Tolman Skiff which I have some of the materials for. I figured I better take on the project at hand and not chase after another one.

Below are pics of the bulk heads waiting installation.

Great work...SOOPER workshop!!!!

The Adirondack Airstream.

Bob

Tony S · 08-14-2013, 01:59 PM

The bulk heads are ribbon Mahogany, perhaps, ribbon Sapela, an African Mahogany. As far as the finish, the panels had lacquer on them the best I could tell when I got them. I sanded them down and ended up using Captains Spar Varnish 1015 on them. I tried Captains interior varnish 975. It was dead flat, beautiful, elegant, but I choose to go the way I did. I would use the 975 on my furniture, gladly. It laid down sweet without much effort. I am no expert with varnish. With the 1015 I fight air bubbles even when I stir slowly and quietly. I sanded between coats. I am not trying to get a piano finish and could not even if I was. Anyway I will post a pic of what the varnish looks like on solid wood.

thanks

Tony

Tony S · 08-15-2013, 09:08 AM

Here is the shower ready for varnish. Still needs a little trim. Wanted you to see it before clean it up. It is a messy job. I taped off areas and then pulled it off as soon as I could so the epoxy wouldn't trap blue tape.

By the way the other wall area around shower is painted Okuome 1088 European imported plywood. The best I know off. It is epoxied too.

I still have to take a pic of the varnish on solid Sapale.

Tony

Alphonse · 08-15-2013, 10:58 AM

That is turning out very nice indeed. Thanks for sharing.

Tony S · 08-25-2013, 09:09 AM

Well here are the pictures of the varnished Sapale I said I would post. ( by the way I spell it differently all the time) 3 coats Captain's Spar Varnish. I am not getting a flawless finish but it isn't bad. How does a person know when to stop is a big question?

For the record, what I did was slice thick, about and 1/8" veneers, of exceptional straight ribbon stock and face glued it to only nice ribbon stock. I believe I can do all the cabinets with the same look with the amount of stock I have. It was a lot of work and almost a gallon of glue but I think it will be worth it.

I have to remember it is only a trailer, Airstream or not, and that my wife wants to enjoy it and not worry about dinging up things. And I agree. But then again my name goes on it so it is a real conflict. I think I will settle for make it nice and enjoy it. I couldn't build a piano if I tried.

Tony