What’s behind the mouse fur.

[Bellah]

I’m replacing interior lights with LED fixtures. New hole positions don’t match old hole positions. Can I just put new screws in different place? Don’t know what’s behind the mouse fur and if it will hold securely. Any info appreciated.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Assuming we're talking about the coating on the interior walls of some trailers, it's just "stuff" glued over aluminum. Once you have the old fixture out it *should* be very obvious just what is what. Indeed these trailers are packed with this and that. There is *always* a chance of hitting something when drilling random holes. You very much need to check before putting new holes in.

Bob

[Bellah]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

Assuming we're talking about the coating on the interior walls of some trailers, it's just "stuff" glued over aluminum. Once you have the old fixture out it *should* be very obvious just what is what. Indeed these trailers are packed with this and that. There is *always* a chance of hitting something when drilling random holes. You very much need to check before putting new holes in.

Bob

So there is an interior aluminum skin as well as the outside?
The covering (mouse fur) is glued to the interior skin?
The existing fixtures are mounted on the covering so when removed, can’t see what’s behind.
The fixtures are attached with sheet metal screws. If backed with aluminum, I presume safe to put in new screws?

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by BlueBelle

So there is an interior aluminum skin as well as the outside?
The covering (mouse fur) is glued to the interior skin?
The existing fixtures are mounted on the covering so when removed, can’t see what’s behind.
The fixtures are attached with sheet metal screws. If backed with aluminum, I presume safe to put in new screws?

Hi

You will need to get wires to the fixtures. Without power you will not have any light. The hole the wires come through will give you a view of what's behind the fixture ( = is it clear or is there a big fat high power wire right there ....).

Airstreams (unless you have a very unusual one) have aluminum skins on both the inside and outside.

A more traditional approach is to simply leave the fixtures and replace the bulbs with LED equivalents.

Bob

[Bellah]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

You will need to get wires to the fixtures. Without power you will not have any light. The hole the wires come through will give you a view of what's behind the fixture ( = is it clear or is there a big fat high power wire right there ....).

Airstreams (unless you have a very unusual one) have aluminum skins on both the inside and outside.

A more traditional approach is to simply leave the fixtures and replace the bulbs with LED equivalents.

Bob

I would consider using orig fixtures but all the plastic covers have shrunk and continually fall off (or won’t go back on)

[Tim A.]

Yes, there is aluminum behind the "mouse fur." Sheet metal screws are appropriate and the length should be adequate for the screw to go through the fixture and have the full diameter (not just the tapered point) in the aluminum. Drilling through the mouse fur requires care because the fibers can wrap around the drill bit. I prefer to use a sharp scratch awl and a hammer to punch modest holes in the proper location.

Tim

[Ahroc]

A naked mouse!

I couldn't resist.

[rmkrum]

Logitech sold a “naked mouse” for computers in the 70’s. My kids objected to the visible innards of the mouse, and gifted me a cover for it.

You guessed it. Gray fur, a black nose, googly eyes, and glasses just like mine at the time. It’s still around here somewhere even though it uses an RS-232 serial interface. Too cute to toss...

[drbrick]

mouse skin with very shiny characteristics once you shave it off

[cwf]

How about a picture or three...of the area of the trailer where you are having trouble...

There is an outer sheet (skin), buck riveted to the ribs (frame) which gives the shape... and buck rivets are solid and therefore stronger than most 'pop' rivets (unless you use aircraft spec). The wiring is installed, then there is 'insulation' if you want to call it that.. installed, then the inner sheeting (skin) is 'pop' riveted on the inside.

In our 1999 the 'mouse fur' was then applied to the inside (so rivets are now hidden).

On our ceiling we have a vinyl similar to car vinyl tops which were once popular (for our vintage in life... not just the Airstream).. Gives a nice home feel to us.. really don't care for the 'modern' Thermos bottle interior of the recent style. So, we are not old, we are classic.. =}

[SeeMore]

This thread should help you comprehend what is behind the "mouse fur" (fuzzy carpeting glued to shell).

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f345...os-135680.html