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pinkflamingoes · 12-07-2004, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eljay

Applied Vulkem to the fridge vent and all of the little vents. Vulkem has a weird application. I found that I did better with pushing a bead rather than pulling it along using the tube tip to smooth as I went. Some areas look beautiful, some don't. I'll live with it if it stops the leaks. Don't look too close, it'll be fine.

This is sort of for everybody out there; there's this thing we have for caulking that costs about .99c and works like a dream for finishing your caulking edge. We got it at a Yardbirds but here's the item and company. You just take this little square thingy and push it along your wet caulking bead and everybody things you're a genius caulker. Looks like they have other stuff too that works great.

http://www.homaxproducts.com/catalog/caulkfinisher.html

sovereignrwe · 12-07-2004, 04:21 PM

Sounds like a great love! Keep the faith and keep the posts coming, you have us all pulling for you!

We didn't get to the experience everything you are with our trailer, as ours was in great shape already. I am hoping our second trailer (probably going to be a 19'-25' Vintage TT) may well provide us with many of your experiences. Looking forward to checking in from time to time to keep cheering you on!

sovereignrwe · 12-07-2004, 04:22 PM

Great post! Looking forward to trying this out. Any tips on using it? e.g. wet or dry?

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinkflamingoes

This is sort of for everybody out there; there's this thing we have for caulking that costs about .99c and works like a dream for finishing your caulking edge. We got it at a Yardbirds but here's the item and company. You just take this little square thingy and push it along your wet caulking bead and everybody things you're a genius caulker. Looks like they have other stuff too that works great.

http://www.homaxproducts.com/catalog/caulkfinisher.html

pinkflamingoes · 12-10-2004, 12:46 PM

I've never used it but I'm putting a second strip of caulking along our bathtub in our house bathroom soon, when I do I'll post. I've never caulked before, so this should be a good test.

I think you just use it dry. And it's unbelievably effective, but I don't know the retailer where you can get it.

wahoonc · 12-10-2004, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eljay

... Vulkem has a weird application. I found that I did better with pushing a bead rather than pulling it along using the tube tip to smooth as I went. Some areas look beautiful, some don't. I'll live with it if it stops the leaks. Don't look too close, it'll be fine. ...

Eljay,
I thought you always pushed caulk....I didn't realize the other way would work

Years ago a painter taught me how to caulk and we were taught to push the caulk, because it gives a better adhesion and tooling. Better adhesion because you are putting more pressure on it and forcing it into the joint. IIRC he had us do a couple of joints, one pushing and one pulling, let them dry over a weekend and then cut them open across the joint and the pushed joint was sealed much better than the pulled joint. This guy was one of the old time painters that could paint a window with mullions, not using masking tape and there would not be a spot of paint on the glass when he was done. He was that good.

BTW my lovely wife has one of those caulking thingy gadgets like Ingrid has, I can't make it work but she does just fine with it....must be her artistic side

Aaron

**Stefrobrts** · 12-10-2004, 01:38 PM

I also 'push' the caulk and get a pretty nice looking bead out of it. Takes practice though. I learned to do it that way back when I worked in a petstore and had to seal all-glass aquariums with clear sealant. You do push the bead along so it adheres well on both edges. Check out a glass aquarium sometime - five pieces of glass held together by nothing but sealant, holding in 10,20,30 gallons of water. It's pretty amazing. But if you do it wrong...

norbert · 12-10-2004, 03:40 PM

what happened to licking your finger and pushing it in?

eljay · 12-10-2004, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norbert

what happened to licking your finger and pushing it in?

That was my old way of doing it, but I (actually) read the warnings and thought I ought not to do it that way.

I found "a caulking tool" at Walmart. The sun is supposed to shine tomorrow with highs in the 50s. Anybody wanna guess where I'll be?

pinkflamingoes · 12-14-2004, 11:10 AM

I caulked the bathroom floor along the bottom edge of the bathtub and it worked great, so if I can do it anyone can! We're not talking about an aquarium however!

eljay · 12-26-2004, 04:17 PM

High in the 50s today so out I went. Husband came along to destruct things. He's handy like that. Weather forecast calls for several dry days in the 50s so I thought I'd try to repair/scuplt the floor in the refrigerator area.

The good news-no further floor damage beyond that fridge area...

The bad news-ran out of daylight.

The photos are of the floor epoxy and sculptwood, and the current locations of the cabinets, sink, stove. I am running out of places in the basement and the house to store stuff! It will all have to come out for the floor tile or whatever we decide upon.

maxandgeorgia · 12-26-2004, 07:17 PM

The gleam of that old wood, the curve of the ceiling. . .tantalizing promises of what will be. You are working on a beautiful canvas. . .in great disguise right now! 60's by New Years--prime remodeling weather. Take heart!

eljay · 12-28-2004, 04:55 AM

Yesterday we visited the foam supplier in Kansas City. We selected a nice density foam for the cushions. Husband has now recovered from the sticker shock, I believe. I had a good idea of what we needed and know that our comfort during sleeping and sitting is the ultimate goal. Princess and the pea, I don't want my butt or his touching plywood when sitting or sleeping. We pick the pieces up today or tomorrow.

Found pleating tape for the drapes at 99 cents/yard at Walmart. Gotta have a bunch of it (40 yards) to pleat tops and bottoms. They make some "automatic" pleating but at $3.49/yard I think I'll pass. Maybe if I didn't know how to pleat I might consider it. The time pleating or the cost of the tape maybe one reason the drape sets cost so much. I know that I will be spending some time pleating. I have two sewing machines and a serger set up and ready to go.

If anyone has an interest in vintage sewing machines, let me know-my "daily driver" is a 1957 Singer 401A all metal gears, with every cam and attachment--can't be beat. I also have an early electronic 1975 Singer 534 Stylistic-it's a recent acquistion, but does basic stuff just fine. My serger is a Singer Quantamlock 5 thread. My mom's machine is a Singer 15-91 workhorse. Nothing but straight stitch but nothing phases it. I would LOVE to have an industrial machine but I think husband will squawk loudly if I bring one more sewing machine into the house.

We have two choices for seating and I just may do up both. They are Unika Viav commercial wool. One is a blue green which is very similar to the original color. The other is a copper, periwinkle and pink. It is warmer and blends with the oak. Choices, choices. The drapes are going to be a boring off white (cream) or tan. I can't find exactly what I am looking for so will make do until the "right" thing comes along.

Ready to sew...

Over59 · 12-28-2004, 06:56 AM

Good quality foam is very expensive but will last a long time and given more comfort.

eljay · 12-28-2004, 08:50 PM

Well the Sculptwood and Rotfix are a success. Harder than woodpecker lips. I would never have believed it. A little more cleaning today, lots of running around gathering this and that. The "to do" list is growing but so are the supplies that support the list. The more warm weather we have, the more that gets done.

eljay · 01-16-2005, 06:24 PM

The protective covers are made and on. Now I can move on to the real upholstery work. The pics are of my sewing area (formerly known as the dining room), the cushions, and husband testing one out. Too darn cold to be out in Icky although we did get a high of 32 today and some sunshine.

silver 67 · 01-16-2005, 08:08 PM

Say Eljay - did it get that warm down your way? We only got up to 23 here. Guess the river has something to do with that.

I'm happy to see that you are into sewing. I think I can crochet a cover faster than I can thread my portable. I had to take apart my 4-H sewing projects so many times they started calling me "Beth the Ripper". Our son built me a beautiful new dining room table big enough to really spread out on to try to get me in the mood to create. So far all it's doing is holding the preliminary income tax stuff.

Where in KC did you get your foam? And I forget, do you have twins or a double?

Great pic of hubby...

eljay · 01-16-2005, 08:55 PM

Yes it really did get to 32. I bundled up and took the dogs for a long romp. They have been cooped up for several days as it's been too cold for me.

Once I get my stuff done, I'd consider doing some additional sewing. It's relaxing for me. You may want to wait to see how things turn out though!

Our dining room table is huge. For this project I put all four leaves in it. He stretched out on a cushion on one end and I still have room for 2 machines on the other end.

I'm not sure what possessed us to buy such a big table but it sure has come in handy for sewing and cutting.

The foam place in KC is: AM Foam Products 1242 Erie St. KCMO 816-421-7311. We are pleased with our selection. We may have been able to find the same quality for less elsewhere but it was worth it to us to be able to feel it and to have the pieces cut to order.

eljay · 01-25-2005, 10:47 AM

It got into the upper 50s yesterday so out we went. Same old, same old clean up as usual (and those Magic Erasers by Mr. Clean really do work well!) Husband starts in on the fridge. You can read that thread in the fridge/appliance section. Wiggled here, broke there. Ammonia leak. We ran.

Hauled the sink and connected plumbing out. It was oozing an odd greasy looking stuff so while we were emptying the hot tub we ran that 500 gallons + water through the sink and drain pipes. Cleaned it right out.

Progress on cushions moving along well. It's in the 50s again today and I am stuck at work...wishing I was doing something with Icky.

eljay · 02-25-2005, 05:36 PM

The tile came in! We went with Armstrong commercial tile. We plan to cut it to 9 inch to more closely match the original tile. I have a plan for a special touch. I'll let you know how that works out...

It was still in the 50s when I got off work tonight so I went out and washed the walls somemore. They were previously painted so I believe I'll be painting them again. I'm just not certain that I could get the paint off without damaging the vinylclad beneath.

Opinions?