Get rid of those holes-skin replacement

[markdoane]

I got really tired of looking at the streetside of my 59 Tradewind with the big holes where the old furnace and water heater were.

Today I cut a new sheet of aluminum to replace the entire thing. It's held on right now with Clecoes until my son-in-law can find time to help me buck in the rivets.

Though I would post pictures.

[Ken J]

Wow - looks great - how did you cut the sheet - did you hang it yourself?

Ken

[markdoane]

Ken,

I cut it with my handy pneumatic hand shears. As far as hanging it-yeah, all by myself, except I was having a hard time just as my dear wife drove into the driveway, and she helped tuck in the corners.

Hey, I'm sorry about jumping on the title of your prior thread 'Skin replacement', I've asked our fine moderator to rename this one.

[Ken J]

Don

One more question - did you vulkum the panel, or will you take it off again before you rivet - this is my very next project which will start in the next couple of weeks.

No problem on the new thread........

Ken

[markdoane]

Ken,

I think it best to get all the holes made and get the sheet nicely laid before putting on the Sikaflex 221.

I drill all the holes 1/8", then once it is nice and flat I open them up to 5/32".

[uwe]

Originally Posted by markdoane

Ken,

I think it best to get all the holes made and get the sheet nicely laid before putting on the Sikaflex 221.

I drill all the holes 1/8", then once it is nice and flat I open them up to 5/32".

I was using Sikaflex 221 on a friends Airstream skin repair, and found it too fast drying for my taste and ability. The nuisance becomes a problem when it tacks up and becomes a roll of rubber, instead of squeezing in between the sheets of aluminum. I believe Greg had the same issue with it.
I took all of my Sikaflex back to Inland and traded for Vulkem. It dries much slower, making skin alignment etc easier.

[markdoane]

Originally Posted by uwe

I was using Sikaflex 221 on a friends Airstream skin repair, and found it too fast drying for my taste and ability. . .

I agree, but I can't return it. I've used it elsewhere and found (in cool Minnesota) it has an open time of about an hour. If I have all the holes lined up I think I can work with it. Only takes about ten minutes to mount and cleco the sheet once if all the holes are drilled.

We're supposed to have nighttime freezing temperatures later this week.