mobiltec
5K Member
I make mistakes so you don't have to...
Posts: 9,823 
Likes: 3,749
1954 Jewel In Progress...
Currently Offline
|
Post by mobiltec on Oct 26, 2015 13:01:32 GMT -8
I do have a few suppliers near me that either have 1/8" birch in stock or could order it for me and have it within 2 days. And I'm totally willing to get it if that's what everyone thinks is best. But since my Sportcraft was built with 1/4" (or at least, that's what was in there when I opened it up) I started to think that I shouldn't change what has worked for almost 60 years. I'm really just curious to see if anyone has made 1/4" work, or made the switch from 1/4" to 1/8". 1/4 inch will not bend around the radius of the front or rear of the trailer if you have a radius top. The thickest that I have seen used is 3/16 on a 54 Aljoa and to the best of my knowledge they pre-bent those pieces in a steam box or something. I replaced the entire top, front and rear with 1/8 inch. Some trailers were built with 1/4 inch or just under 1/4 inch on the walls and 1/8 inch on the ceiling, front and rear. This Aljoa I worked on had the 3/16 through out. So matching up the butts wasn't really easy. I had to use shimming material. |
|
windborn
Active Member
Posts: 339 
Likes: 70
1957 Sportcraft 15
Currently Offline
|
Post by windborn on Oct 26, 2015 13:39:05 GMT -8
I do have a few suppliers near me that either have 1/8" birch in stock or could order it for me and have it within 2 days. And I'm totally willing to get it if that's what everyone thinks is best. But since my Sportcraft was built with 1/4" (or at least, that's what was in there when I opened it up) I started to think that I shouldn't change what has worked for almost 60 years. I'm really just curious to see if anyone has made 1/4" work, or made the switch from 1/4" to 1/8". 1/4 inch will not bend around the radius of the front or rear of the trailer if you have a radius top. The thickest that I have seen used is 3/16 on a 54 Aljoa and to the best of my knowledge they pre-bent those pieces in a steam box or something. I replaced the entire top, front and rear with 1/8 inch. Some trailers were built with 1/4 inch or just under 1/4 inch on the walls and 1/8 inch on the ceiling, front and rear. This Aljoa I worked on had the 3/16 through out. So matching up the butts wasn't really easy. I had to use shimming material. Ok, that makes sense. I hadn't thought about pre-bent wood. I think Sportcrafts are somehow related to Aljoas (Tin Can Tourists says Aljoa distributed Sportcrafts). Though my Sportcraft has 1/2" side walls with no framing and 3/16" curved walls. Where exactly did you need to use the shimming? |
|
mobiltec
5K Member
I make mistakes so you don't have to...
Posts: 9,823
Likes: 3,749
1954 Jewel In Progress...
Currently Offline
|
Post by mobiltec on Oct 26, 2015 16:14:39 GMT -8
1/4 inch will not bend around the radius of the front or rear of the trailer if you have a radius top. The thickest that I have seen used is 3/16 on a 54 Aljoa and to the best of my knowledge they pre-bent those pieces in a steam box or something. I replaced the entire top, front and rear with 1/8 inch. Some trailers were built with 1/4 inch or just under 1/4 inch on the walls and 1/8 inch on the ceiling, front and rear. This Aljoa I worked on had the 3/16 through out. So matching up the butts wasn't really easy. I had to use shimming material. Ok, that makes sense. I hadn't thought about pre-bent wood. I think Sportcrafts are somehow related to Aljoas (Tin Can Tourists says Aljoa distributed Sportcrafts). Though my Sportcraft has 1/2" side walls with no framing and 3/16" curved walls. Where exactly did you need to use the shimming? When I replaced a side panel on the curb side up front of the door I shimmed to meet up with the other panel over the door. It was a small area. |
|
windborn
Active Member
Posts: 339
Likes: 70
1957 Sportcraft 15
Currently Offline
|
Post by windborn on Oct 27, 2015 4:08:23 GMT -8
Ok, thanks. I'm hoping I won't run into that problem since my side walls are the same size.
|
|
gary350
Full Member
We should have gone camping today it is going to snow 6" tonight.
Posts: 573
Likes: 170
1964 FAN
Currently Offline
|
Post by gary350 on Nov 3, 2015 6:36:06 GMT -8
How far do you live from Murfreesboro TN, Lowe's restocked I bet they have 200 sheets in stock. I bought a 4x8 sheet yesterday.
|
|
windborn
Active Member
Posts: 339
Likes: 70
1957 Sportcraft 15
Currently Offline
|
Post by windborn on Nov 3, 2015 10:35:11 GMT -8
Thanks, Gary. I'm up in Massachusetts, so pretty far away! Luckily I have a lot of places closer to me that have 1/8" in stock. I was more concerned about using 1/8" because my trailer was originally built with 1/4" (or at least 3/16"). But I've been convinced to go with the 1/8" !
|
|
