Gary
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1967 Aristocrat "Kini"
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1967 Aristocrat LoLiner ST
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Post by Gary on Jan 10, 2014 23:55:38 GMT -8
I got all my tiling done before anything else. It was much easier with no cabinets, walls, or even side skin to get in the way, so I could reach all the tiles without having to step on any. Cutting them down with the table saw was really easy as well. I made the bathroom tiles 6" x 6" since it's such a small space. My Home Depot sells white tiles singly, but I had to special order the colors, but it's pretty cheap - far less expensive than any other suitable flooring material, I think, so I have some partial boxes left over, but it didn't cost too much. -Gary
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mobiltec
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I make mistakes so you don't have to...
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1954 Jewel In Progress...
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Post by mobiltec on Jan 11, 2014 8:05:09 GMT -8
I have a whole tutorial on VCT cutting and installation. There are four parts to this series and you can also find them in my Trailer Tidbits on the website... I was taught by a professional who has done lots and lots of Walmart floors not to mention thousands of houses and other types of industrial buildings. This tutorial is with the cabinets still in place. On my trailers I remove everything but the floor to ceiling cabinet then I cover the entire trailer floor. But this shows lots of different cuts and how they are made which is why I chose this job for the series. Part 1 Mobiltec, do you suggest laying the tiles before any cabinets/frames are installed? We are starting frame up and there is a little dispute as to when to lay tiles. I see the advantage of laying them before any cabinets or even frame work is done. We won't have to fuss with cutting them to fit. I don't want to risk damaging the tiles(VCT). What are your thoughts?
Yes Jodi.... Lay the floor tile first but then you also must cover it with really good construction paper to keep it clean during the rest of the build. Make sure and do a good layout though so that the tiles end up nice and evenly spaced between the cabinets. You could also wait or you could do the layout, and then just put tiles where the big floor to ceiling cabinet goes just before you put the it in. Hope that helps.
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mobiltec
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1954 Jewel In Progress...
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Post by mobiltec on Jan 11, 2014 8:07:54 GMT -8
Gary that's really an artistic and nice looking floor!
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jodybitzz
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1968 Shasta 1500
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Post by jodybitzz on Jan 11, 2014 12:18:15 GMT -8
Thank you Gary and Mobiltec! My tiles are yellow and white also.
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Post by bigbill on Jan 12, 2014 9:42:24 GMT -8
Gary I really like your floor, are you just using a fine toothed carbide saw blade to cut the tile? I also like the jig you made to hold the tile.
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Gary
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1967 Aristocrat "Kini"
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1967 Aristocrat LoLiner ST
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Post by Gary on Jan 12, 2014 11:58:53 GMT -8
Hi Bill, Yeah, I used a cutoff blade - 80 tooth, good and sharp. Also made a "zero clearance" blade insert for the saw - you know, you make a blank one out of quarter inch plywood, then raise the blade up through it so there's virtually no gap on either side of the blade. This helps prevent chipping. A couple of other ways to prevent chipping is to go slow, especially at the end of the cut, and warm the tiles in the house for a few days before starting. The jig for the pie slices was set up so that the fence could stay at exactly 9" - same as for the square pieces. A couple sacrificed tiles gets that dialed in. Here's where my pictures and captions start: picasaweb.google.com/102436506554137075274/Trailer?noredirect=1#5395943347761305522Thanks, Gary
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Post by bigbill on Jan 12, 2014 19:54:16 GMT -8
Gary it is a shame you don't know anything about wood working, just think what you could do if you did. That is much to nice to use it looks like it should be strictly a model. You must have 15 or 20 minutes in your project. (thks)for sharing your pictures.
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Gary
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1967 Aristocrat "Kini"
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1967 Aristocrat LoLiner ST
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Post by Gary on Jan 12, 2014 22:36:38 GMT -8
Ha ha.. thanks. I confess it did take a couple years to build... okay, four, but the first two don't count because I wasn't retired yet and was mostly taking it apart and wondering what the hell I had gotten myself into! I do use it though... it's been finished about a year and a half, and I've taken two 30-day, 3000+ mile trips and assorted shorter ones. I'd guess around 10,000 miles in all. Building it was fun, but using it is a blast! Cheers, Gary
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soup
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Post by soup on Jan 13, 2014 3:11:37 GMT -8
Ha ha.. thanks. I confess it did take a couple years to build... okay, four, but the first two don't count because I wasn't retired yet and was mostly taking it apart and wondering what the hell I had gotten myself into! I do use it though... it's been finished about a year and a half, and I've taken two 30-day, 3000+ mile trips and assorted shorter ones. I'd guess around 10,000 miles in all. Building it was fun, but using it is a blast! Cheers, Gary Nice!!
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newmexicogal
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Post by newmexicogal on Jan 25, 2014 16:07:51 GMT -8
A ceramic tile saw and a fence makes turning 12x12 tiles into 6x6 tiles a snap. You'll need to plan to shave 1/8 of an inch or so off of each one to compensate for the saw blade cut.
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CorvettCrzy
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'58 Corvette, '64 Franklin
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Post by CorvettCrzy on Feb 8, 2014 21:13:36 GMT -8
Gary, Is there anything you CAN'T do? I really enjoyed the transformation, thanks for all the details and pics! I am now reconsidering going with the original colors on mine - teal exterior, yellow interior!
Also, I ran across this page with several links to suppliers of "vintage style" materials. This seems like a good place to post it. Take note that I've had it bookmarked for some time (abt. a year) and I noticed that at least one of the links isn't any good, but many are. It includes a link to VCT tiles. Hope it's useful to someone.
www.birchwoodbeauties.com/pages/links-page2.html
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Gary
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1967 Aristocrat "Kini"
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1967 Aristocrat LoLiner ST
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Post by Gary on Feb 9, 2014 9:29:31 GMT -8
Hey thanks! The answer to your question is yes, there are plenty of things I can't do! The trick is ignoring the fact you can't do it and stumbling ahead anyway. If I'd stopped to think about what I was getting myself into, I'd have never started the trailer. That site you linked to, Birchwood Beauties, is Scott Lockwood's business in San Pablo California. He's a restorer who once drove 40 miles (each way) to do an appraisal on my Aristocrat. Nice guy. Have fun with yours. There are two schools of thought on restoration: try to stay original, or make it look the way you want it to look. I'm a proponent of the latter when it comes to trailers. -Gary
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CorvettCrzy
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Post by CorvettCrzy on Feb 9, 2014 19:39:18 GMT -8
I admit that after looking at your redesign, it did make me think about possible changes to the floor plan. In my case the difference between the two might mean the difference between finding a new owner and us using it ourselves. I generally have a singular requirement - BATHROOM, I don't care if it's a trailer or a boat or whatever! Definitely will be giving it more thought!
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timeout1
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"Vintage" White Water RETRO 150
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Post by timeout1 on Feb 10, 2014 13:54:15 GMT -8
Gary, my wife and I just looked through all your build photos. Your craftsmanship is enough to make this grown/retired man tear up! We were blown away!! May I ask what the original weight of the trailer was and what it is now that it is finished, if you know?
I am a sort of perfectionist, but know I could never perform even near to that level of artisan creativity, so it is enough for me just to be allowed to view such inspired workmanship.
Thank you for the viewing pleasure,
Clyde and Linda
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Gary
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1967 Aristocrat "Kini"
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1967 Aristocrat LoLiner ST
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Post by Gary on Feb 10, 2014 21:28:40 GMT -8
Wow... thanks, guys! Corvettecrzy, I'm absolutely with you when it comes to a bathroom. Even if it's just a porta potti. The idea of hiking out to a campground pit toilet (or tree) in the middle of a cold dark night is enough to make this grown/retired man tear up!
Speaking of which, Clyde and Linda, thank you so much for your kind words. As I mentioned in my previous post, half the battle is ignoring the voice that says you can't do it. Good woodworking is mostly about being careful and precise, and if you're already a perfectionist, you're better than you give yourself credit for.
The 1967 brochure listed the weight of my 17' LoLiner ST as 2500 pounds. I built it with full-inch thick framing, added some tanks, batteries and an air conditioner, and the truck scale put it at almost 3900 pounds! Still tows fine with my 6-cylinder Tundra, but I put on oversized tires and do use a sway controller.
Cheers, Gary
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