Sharp Edged Cabinet Doors

[BigSxyWhtGuy]

Ah, yes. I understand the design now. I’d totally trim that overhang and maybe get crazy and place nice hardware on the door if that’s the only purpose for the overhang like that.

[Mikebrady62]

Originally Posted by TravisH

Well if I surgically placed my noggin directly on one spot those would work!

I think a router to put a good radius the best solution but may may an unattractive edge...

May beat the unattractive bald spot on my gourd though!

I called mom instead of a lawyer..she charges a little less to hear me gripe.

Trav

Too funny! Not the hitting your head over and over part though.
I'm glad your mom gave you a discount

[skyguyscott]

I’m with you about the negligent design.

The older I get the more impatient I become with poor design. Anyone who designs or build something with only the aesthetics in mind should lose their creative license. Man is the measure of all things, And the things that man measures and makes should be made for man.

Sometimes I have dreams about poetic justice, like having the engineers who designed television remotes and cell phones to present their designs To the residents of nursing homes and face the wrath of those there. Let’s take the designers of these overhead cabinets for a tour of your airstream and just accidentally drop one of the doors on their head. Oops. Hey Mr. mechanical engineer, let’s see you remove this oil filter without skinning your knuckles, or spilling oil into your face. And then if they would start to swear I would say hey just think of how much money you saved by doing the design this way

[Hermes]

Originally Posted by TravisH

Hi, I just bashed my head AGAIN on the knife sharp Airstream over head compartment doors. They are so sharp edged!

Sharp edges is why we didn't buy a Flying Cloud (new at the dealer) but waited to find a slightly used International model (today Globetrotter), which we succeeded in getting not long after. It's a question of design (and injury) and the Airstream aesthetic; the Flying Cloud just didn't do it for us whereas we are delighted with our International. It just feels and looks like an Airstream, outside and inside.

[WadeF]

We have a flying cloud and while my wife loves our trailer I have some issues with it in regards to the fit and finish for such an expensive trailer.

For one yes the cabinet door edges should have been eased, any legitimate cabinet maker eases all edges during the building process.

What really throws me for a loop though is they don’t edge band the plywood doors, that’s a finishing issue that really makes me question Airstreams build quality and attention to detail. The cabinet quality, at least in our flying cloud is total S***.

[Overstreet]

There are a lot of things to catch you when you RV. Maybe you need to close the cabinet doors. Maybe you need to remove your trailer hitch reciever so you don't hit your shins. Maybe you need to put pool noodles on your windows so you don't hit your head when they are open. Maybe you need to put traffic cones out at the awning braces so you don't hit your head there. Maybe you need to put a pool noodle at your door header so you don't hit your head there. Maybe you need a traffic cone at the trailer hitch. Maybe you need to slow down and be more in control of where you are.

There are a lot of things to get you injured. But you don't have to blunder into them.

[72sahara]

My 72 safari has rolling slider doors that dont protrude into noggin space. why quit that and go to ordinary swing out cab. doors.?

[One Smith]

We have identical doors, 2020 FC, have had absolutely no problems. We are both 5ft 9in and neither of us, on a 5 month trip, have bumped our heads. (Except for the time hubby opened the door over the kitchen sink behind my back and I turned around to BONK!.) How tall are you?

[perri]

Wow. Thanks for the photo, tall grass.

If you were bumping your head in the corners, Travis, I was going to suggest Sugru. You can mix the colors to get a custom color of the putty, apply in a pleasing, symmetrical manner, and let it cure. It takes a arty/crafty hand, but it’s amazing stuff.

But if it’s the entire edge... not practical.

When shopping on an Airstream lot, we looked at a model with the queen brm like tall grass’s photo. In examining the walk-around-ability of the left side of the bed, I —— indeed, inevitably ——cracked my skull on the cabinet. It was not equipped with tall grass’s nifty yellow upholstery. 😫 I was a cranky camper indeed. No sale.

[perri]

Originally Posted by 72sahara

My 72 safari has rolling slider doors that dont protrude into noggin space. why quit that and go to ordinary swing out cab. doors.?

Do you mean tambours?

Because they break over time (like, crumble, the backing tears) and the roll of tambour, when the cabinet’s open, hogs up the limited cabinet space. Tambours weren’t used for a lot of years.

[perri]

Originally Posted by perri

Do you mean tambours?

Because they break over time (like, crumble, the backing tears) and the roll of tambour, when the cabinet’s open, hogs up the limited cabinet space. Tambours weren’t used for a lot of years.

If you mean sliding panels, many find it inconvenient to be unable to open all the cabinet doors when loading up for a trip. With panels, you can open one side or the other. Not both.

[Jsailmo]

While the clear plastic edge guard softened the edge and blended in fairly well I tried easing the sharp edge with a router. Using a laminate trimming router bit from Freud ($26) - trimmed the sharp laminate edges in a fraction of the time that it takes to hand file them. Plus, the 1/16" radius gives you a perfectly rounded smooth edge with no burrs or sharp spots. Highly recommend this solution. It solves the problem and maintains the aesthetics.

[brick1]

I have noticed the same issue with my 2018 Serenity 28. The edge laminate has a sharp 90 corner that will cut you like a knife. Careful use of a nail file solved the issue.

[perri]

Jsailmo: what kind of material under the routed laminate was exposed? Did you feel the need to apply a sealant?
Sounds like an attractive solution. Would love to see a photo of your work.

[Jsailmo]

You can feel the difference but there is no visible edge. Had my wife inspect and she asked when I was going to do it! Had her feel the edges and her response was WOW! You can see a slight change in the side panels I did not route as you can't remove them - they are framing the overhead in the front and back walls of the FS25 FBT. I will try to post a photo tonight

[Jsailmo]

Hope these help