Looking for help and "system" for interior skin removal

[Re-Pete]

Hey, Looking for suggestions on labeling interior skins before removal. Does anyone have a good system? Please also share all your helpful tips on interior skin removal.😀

[HowieE]

Consider painters tape as a label. It leaves no marks or adhesive.

[rugjenkins]

Painters tape can come off. Label the back as you take off with a sharpe.

[AlinCal]

Hi Pete
One tidbit to keep in mind, don't let your drill bit bottom out when drilling out rivets since the outer skin is only 1-3/4" away. I used a piece of wine cork over the bit when doing mine to limit the depth.

[Re-Pete]

Thanks very much everyone. Between here and the Airstream Restoration group page on Facebook I've picked up some great tips. We're not quite done with the interior demo of cabinets, etc. We're progressing at cautious pace, labeling and saving everything for now. Not so much for later use as possible templates, etc. We've been taking pictures and will start a thread before to long on the makeover, but I'll post some of my skin labeling pics here as well, once I get there.



Pete

[Tim A.]

Originally Posted by HowieE

Consider painters tape as a label. It leaves no marks or adhesive.

Originally Posted by rugjenkins

Painters tape can come off. Label the back as you take off with a sharpie.

I suggest first labeling all sections with a magic marker (sharpie) on blue masking (painters') tape before any disassembly and then photograph everything with the tape labels in place. On disassembly, label the backs with a magic marker (leave tape labels in place).

The photos will supplement your memory of your labeling system, particularly if you have a long delay between removing the panels and re-installing them.

Tim

[Re-Pete]

Originally Posted by Tim A.

I suggest first labeling all sections with a magic marker (sharpie) on blue masking (painters') tape before any disassembly and then photograph everything with the tape labels in place. On disassembly, label the backs with a magic marker (leave tape labels in place).

The photos will supplement your memory of your labeling system, particularly if you have a long delay between removing the panels and re-installing them.

Tim

Thanks Tim, very thorough.


Pete

[Dremel]

I did the blue tape thing and numbered them, with a paper drawing of where each number goes. Pics would also be a good thing as suggested.

[rmkrum]

And, as a further backup, write the inner skin label in an exposed area of the inside of the OUTER skin where it goes, then take MORE pictures...

[Re-Pete]

Yes, I've actually been sketching and writing down measurements along with copious pictures as I've been disassembling the interior woodwork, cabinets and beds so far. Based on my past construction and reconstruction experience, memory will definitely be the weak point as time moved forward. I've certainly gleaned done great advice so far. Using all of these tools I've been given should make this much easier. Forums and social media are such a tremendous resource enabling this kind of exchange and sharing.
Pete