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BB 55 Bubble · 03-02-2006, 10:46 AM

OK it is officially time to dive in and make the big buy. I will be making the purchase with in the month. My offer to the community is when I am done with the shaver will anyone like to buy it from me at an appropriate discount. I'm not sure what I should charge for it but I would want to make it fair.
Any thoughts?

Safari Tim · 03-02-2006, 10:54 AM

Why not make it availible for rent?

I have thought about this in the past. You could setup a Paypal account and have people prepay with a deposit.

When the shaver is returned in proper condition, you paypal the deposit back to them.

You could charge $10 a week or something to make it worth your effort.

surferstyler · 03-02-2006, 11:38 AM

As a new restorer, I think that would be a great idea. It will pay for itself rather quickly, and can be used around this community. Sign me up!
Ron
'72 Overlander
Newport Beach, CA

BB 55 Bubble · 03-02-2006, 11:44 AM

That was my original thought also. I just contacted Steve Hingtgen at Vintage Trailer Supply to see if they would rent the shaver, and he stated that:
"We have considered this idea, but there are too many variables.
The bit can be nicked or dulled if not used properly. And the
majority of the value is in the bit. I guess we could rent it
for the price of the bit, but that seems like it wouldn't be very
attractive to people."

Yea well the bit costs like $129.00 (ouch!). But he did say that:

"The tricks are:

1) ONLY aluminum Olympic bulbtite shave able rivets.
2) Snip mandrel flush with top of rivet.
3) Get shaver to full rpm before plunging on the rivet head.

If you do all that, you won't have any trouble."

So how do I protect my investment, and not charge the good
people of Airstream Forums an am and a leg to rent the tool?
Ideas?
Questions?
Comments?
Concerns?
Keep them coming!
BB 55 BUBBLE

markdoane · 03-02-2006, 12:04 PM

Are you a member of the WBBCi?

It would be great if each chapter of the club could buy one, and offer it for loan as a membership benefit.

The president of each club could wear it on a chain around his/her neck as an emblem of office.

BB 55 Bubble · 03-02-2006, 12:28 PM

What is that? Sorry I am a new trailer owner and fairly new to the forums.

wkerfoot · 03-02-2006, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BB 55 Bubble

What is that? Sorry I am a new trailer owner and fairly new to the forums.

Wally Byam Caravan Club International, the Airstream Owners Association.

Bill

MarkR · 03-02-2006, 01:00 PM

and if you choose not to go with the "rent it out" scenario . . . I'd be another person interested in buying it from you.

Paul Mayeux · 03-02-2006, 01:31 PM

Like BB 55 Bubble said the cutter in those shavers are the expensive part. Mine came apart, I called Byler Rivet and ordered a new one, and figured it wouldn't hurt to have a couple of extras. Stupid me didn't bother to ask how much they were, I almost had a stroke when I unfolded the invoice that was packed with the cutter tips - $380.00. Needless to say I'm much more careful when I shaving rivets.

BB 55 Bubble · 03-02-2006, 06:15 PM

I think there is a potential to rent out one of those Cyclo polishers. I plan on getting one of those also. Any takers on that?

Safari64 · 03-02-2006, 06:29 PM

I'd be interested in renting both...one at a time
Thanks

Creampuff · 03-02-2006, 09:08 PM

[quote=65GT

I don't think renting is a good idea. You're probably in for more grief than it's worth...

__[/quote]

I agree. It's better to get all your shaving done and then sell it to someone else. I just bought one in partnership with a forum member because we always seem to need one. The quality of the welding on the cutter head is sometimes not great and occasionally (according to Steve) the cutter head isn't even straight. They do a nice job when handled right though.

uwe · 03-02-2006, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 65GT

There's a real nice guy on the VAL that owns one and rents it to other VAC members. I'm not sure in hindsight he's glad that he's done it. I got it and it made a real mess of the rivets right off the bat. I wrote him and told him I was returning it, that it really did a bad job and he wrote back that it was obviously damaged. I think this has happened to him at least twice now.__

He's close to me, and loaned me the tool a while back. When I got it, one of the blades of the cutter tip was busted off, resulting in lots of vibration and poor shaving results. He received it back from the previous guy like that.
The shaving tool is fragile, not a fool proof device.....

BIGED52 · 03-02-2006, 11:58 PM

What about a rotozip or dremel tool. Won't these work on the aluminum rivets? Seems to me with the guide mounted on the tool and being steady and careful you could shave down the rivets with success if you did a little practice first. Is this an option? Has anyone tried this? Ed

C Johnson · 03-03-2006, 12:27 AM

I like the idea of renting the shaver and polisher around but the aforementioned risks are something to think about.

I used a Dremel tool to shave my rivets. It turned out pretty good after I got the hang of being artistic about it. The first few I did looked awful so I drilled em out and redid them. After I polish this summer it will be pretty hard to tell the difference unless you are really up close to them.

Never tried the roto zip. Now that you mention it, it might work. You would have to be pretty careful about it.

Chris

BB 55 Bubble · 03-03-2006, 03:42 PM

I have considered this option. With a plunging router attachment set to an approperiate depth and a guide on the base, this just might work. Has any one done this?

Creampuff · 03-03-2006, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BB 55 Bubble

I have considered this option. With a plunging router attachment set to an approperiate depth and a guide on the base, this just might work. Has any one done this?

I for one would not risk it!
Usually at the shaving point you got a major investment in new Alclad ,time and rivets at 25 cents each. One slip of the 'Zip and it's cryin' time baby!

BIGED52 · 03-03-2006, 09:24 PM

Murray, I would never advocate doing this type work without first practicing the technique. You could install several rivets into a scrap piece of metal or aluminum and test the tool and method of how to use it before doing something "live" on the coach. I still believe it can be done and later this spring I plan on doing this myself. So I will report on my results as I get to the replacement of the missing rivets on my trailer. Ed

Creampuff · 03-03-2006, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIGED52

Murray, I would never advocate doing this type work without first practicing the technique. You could install several rivets into a scrap piece of metal or aluminum and test the tool and method of how to use it before doing something "live" on the coach. I still believe it can be done and later this spring I plan on doing this myself. So I will report on my results as I get to the replacement of the missing rivets on my trailer. Ed

Ed:
I have 'shaved' some Olympics with my Dremel an a cutting wheel disc but they don't come out looking like a bucked rivet. It's alright for a the odd one though. Uwe and I did a full 12' sheet replacement on the streetside of my Safari and after about 150- 200 rivets we were sure glad we had a shaver. We had the whole job done in about 8 hours.
On another topic, I'm curious about the 'Landshark Int. trim package on your Safari. Got any pictures? I've owned 2 '67 Safari's and not seen such an animal (or fish?)

BIGED52 · 03-05-2006, 12:53 AM

Murray, My 67' Safari twin does have the International trim package on it. The optional rear light pack W/trim and rubrail trim on both sides. It has an International plate on the rear above the license plate lamp assembly. It also has the International plate and Red, White, and Blue flag emblem on both sides of the coach. I do have pictures but don't have a scanner or digital camera yet. So I can only show pictures in person for the time being. I will be at the Midwest Forums Rally in June but the "Landshark" won't be ready by then, so we'll just stop by on Saturday the 10th to visit and see all the trailers on the open house there. We do plan on having Potluck dinner with those folks who attend on Saturday night. I will look at your photo gallery to see what your trailer looks like when I'm done here. I'll let you know what the differences are that I see between my coach and yours. The main thing I might think of right now would be yours is probably a Santa Fe Springs coach and mine is from Jackson Center. Mine does say Landyacht on the ID tag where my serial number plate is....thus the Evolved name "Landshark" Ed