Right, today I went to the not so local secret Council tip to look for some pieces of hardwood, oak, or whatver fell to hand.
None to be found.... today.
BUT: I got to the metals bin and also the electricals and got lucky.
I was hoping to find another of the Black & Decker Workbenches I have found before, had 3 and gave one to Bruce "MysteryMachine" last year as he needed it.
Now I want another to work on, and know they often get thrown away, so had high hopes.
The metal recycling bin was a fresh one, so no chance of getting anything from it.
As I descended the stairs an older guy came up with this "Jam pot" about to turf it out.
I grabbed it, as Nicola has been telling me not to fit a dedicated sink to the galley, but rather to use a washing up bowl, as it only gets used for short periods every day, and she would rather see the work surface being maximised.
So find no1:
Find number 2 in the electrical goods recycling area had me VERY CHUFFED....
A beautifull old Bakelite valve radio.
Perfect for either ornamental use inside the teardrop, or maybe I will convert it to being a iPod player and speaker .
When I got home, Nicola was straight into the back of it, opening, investigating, and then cleaning it all out. (gotta love this girl ! )
Find number 3 was also in the electrics area.
Made in the USA.
A 3 inch Craftsman belt sander.
Got home and plugged it in, and tested it..... Works perfectly, came with a belt fitted.
CHUFFED ?? You betcha.
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Today I was into the skips very early, as I had a load of work to do as well (I do still have a regular job)
I was again after some hard wood, and found an old louvre door, similar to the one Jackdaw Dave used in his 2nd build.
I wanted it for the door frame, so that the screws holding the hinges have something decent to bite into.
While I was there I found what may be a Mahogany table top. It had previously had just 2 thick legs, which had been unceremoniously broken out ,as well as a pair of drawers at the front which are missing.
Weirdly, Nicola and I had been discussing using wood rather than a piece of kitchen worktop for the worksurface in the galley.... so this seems to be just the right thing, unless it turns out not to be a solid top, and rather some veneered wood.
I will investigate at the weekend when I dismantle it all.
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Just wrapped up for the day. Did all I wanted to do today.
Remember the table top ?
Well, I dismantled it this morning before 9am, I have a self imposed rule of not using large power tools outside before 9am, so need to get stuff ready, or use "quiet" handtools before 9am.
The table top turned out to be a veneered piece, but even the supporting wood it beautifull.
I stripped it back with a used medium grit belt, then followed up with a used fine belt, this brought the wood back, and though there are some residual marks from years of abuse, they will stay as a reminder of the origins of the worktop.
Nicola who has taken a personal interest in this part of the build told me not to just slop any old oil or varnish onto the tabletop, she went to town and bought a can of Danish Oil for the top, never heard of it before, but then she is full of surprises.
So when she came back from her day out shopping with her friend Jill, I oiled up the table top and then buffed it back 10 minutes later, it still needs at least 2 applications.
First job today after dismantling.... sanding back through the water marks and scratches etc.
After the first Danish oil treatment, looks very dark now, but I guess thats the look of Mahogany.
Another rewarding job done today was to allign and clamp the two sides and belt sand back the fillets and sides, as well as to round off the flat surface I had created on the front when cutting the profile, I realised it was not clever after doing it, so rounded it off today.
Earlier this week they were trimming back the trees along the road at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Greenwich..... I had a teaching session to do and some clients to see, on the way into the hospital I asked one of the tree surgeons what happened to the stumps they were cutting off, as I had seen a couple with holes in, and one that had a hole all the way through... he said "Help yourself mate"
So when I was done after 4pm, I went back to the the piles of stumps and took a couple home for Nicola's garden.
Here is the one with the hole through it, Nicola asked me to cut a couple of holes in the side of the one and plug up the ends, so that she could plant Alpines in there and have them grow out and cascade down the side.
Started with this:
Ended up with this before closing up the ends.
UPDATED: Now looks like this :
The rest of the day was spent measuring, looking , planning, cutting and screwing together the supports for the bulkhead and also the fridge space.
Does not sound like a lot, but for a guy of my limited ability and experience it just takes time to do stuff, along with eating lunch and surfing the web inbetween.
I got the doorway cut out today , which to me is a massive milestone. I also got the door to fit the hole tightly, which the belt sander will probably address later.
The illusion is that the door is fitted too high, but remember that I am building a 4x8 Grumman , but used 5x10 ply, and have a 10 inch overhang to create look of lowness in the caravan in the end.
Lastly the door frame, which to me is another sign that I am getting there....
Made up of bits of recycled louvre door frame, at least the screws for the door hinges will have something decent to bite into.
All wrapped up, ready for the night....
A good day it was indeed.
Tomorrow morning it is off to the Bootfairs again to look for bargains.... I want some old tools etc.
Thanks for looking in.
)
