jannica
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Post by jannica on Jan 7, 2014 14:26:49 GMT -8
Hi all, I am in the process of restoring my 1961 Shasta Compact, and I would like to use 1/8" birch to replace some of the water damaged paneling. The walls and cabinets are in good shape, but everything except the cabinets is coated in some sort of yellowish shellac or varnish. Could this still be birch or is it a different kind of wood? I really don't want to replace all the wood if I don't have to. If it is ash or some other type of wood, could I still sand everything down and coat it all with Zinsser's amber shellac and it will still look good? I don't mind as much if the wood grain is slightly different, as long as it doesn't look horrible. Any thoughts? Here's a picture, sorry the lighting is not the best.
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Jan 7, 2014 15:00:19 GMT -8
I wondered the same thing about my '62 because the wood looked so light. I bought some birch and it was pretty obvious that the grain of the wood was the same. You may have a hard time finding 1/8" birch. I gave up and am using 1/4" but it turns out that the sides of my trailer originally had 1/4". Here is a recent thread that might help you out some. There are many others, just look around the forum. vintagetrailertalk.freeforums.net/thread/1042/new-birch-shellac-job
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Jan 7, 2014 15:01:22 GMT -8
Oh, and do you have any more pics of your trailer? I love to see other Compacts!
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jannica
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Post by jannica on Jan 11, 2014 16:03:20 GMT -8
Hi Susie, I actually already bought some 1/8" birch, so I guess was lucky! I live in Houston, so it's easy to find pretty much anything here. I got it at a specialty hardwood shop. The guy who delivered it today said he thinks my interior wood is luan or possibly ash though. I really wanted birch for the interior because I like the look of it once it's coated with the amber shellac. I may do a sample piece of the closet just to see how it turns out before changing my mind on the birch. I do have other pictures. You can see everything, including my comments on my restoration progress (just started this project so very early on) if you check out my blog: www.junebugflying.com
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Jan 11, 2014 16:34:12 GMT -8
I wish I could see your Compact in person! It does look like a different wood. I really can't see a grain in the pics. Being a '61, maybe it is different. Do you know where it was manufactured? Hard to find 1/8" birch east of the MS. And yes, I found your blog when you first started it. I'm really glad you found your way here!
Houston is great. My son and I camped at Steven F. Austin State Park the end of May and first of June last year. My roomie from college lives in Clearwater (?) and we visited the space center of course. Oh, and when I was 6, I had my appendix out in Houston. Still, I love Houston.
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Jan 11, 2014 17:35:45 GMT -8
Here are some pics I took of my closet door with my iPhone. The light makes it look different. I took the mirror off and you could see how much the wood had yellowed around it. But there is a definite grain to birch, no mistaking it. Sorry, I can only get one to post. Our internet is waterlogged tonight! Now watch someone tell me mine is really ash, LOL! The birch I bought has the same grain, so I don't think so but it was so light when I first saw it, it was not what I thought birch would look like! image by susieqilvu, on Flickr
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txoil
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Post by txoil on Jan 12, 2014 6:30:04 GMT -8
SusieQ, I might be mistaken, but I think that the photo you posted shows ash rather than birch. We replaced most of the interior paneling in Tallulah Belle with 1/4 birch and the grain looks nothing like what you have posted. This is one of the original cabinet doors Original wardrobe door New replacement rear wall 1/4 birch. under the shelf has had one coat of amber shellac, the strip above the shelf is still naked in this photo. Better view of the new rear wall paneling compared with original wood color and grain
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Post by bigbill on Jan 12, 2014 7:25:52 GMT -8
That is one of the reasons i am going to paint mine inside then all the wood will match perfectly, that and the thought that the older I get the lazier I get.
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Jan 12, 2014 8:16:41 GMT -8
Toxoil, thank you! I really thought it was ash when I first saw it, but I couldn't convince anyone else of that! But then I figured in the big scheme of things, it didn't really matter because I can't find ash to replace it. The birch I stained does look really similar. I even sent this pic to a friend of mine who is a master woodworker who told me it was birch. I think everyone I showed it to just expected it to be birch.
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Jan 12, 2014 8:18:37 GMT -8
And Bill, I would have painted mine too but the wood that is in it is really beautiful!
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Post by bigbill on Jan 12, 2014 8:49:09 GMT -8
Yes and I know that the "golden glow" is much admired but mine was paneled originally and even though I plan on replacing all interior panels with smooth I still plan on painting it. I admire all of you that are willing to put out the energy to shellac them, you are my Heroes. Our home is 60 years old and my wife decided that she wanted all the doors replaced with solid six panel doors that were stained to match the original wood work. Every door was a different size sometimes by as little as a 1/4 inch (the fun of owning a totally custom built house) after getting them all custom fit, hinged, and latched we spent about three weeks working with Sherwin Williams getting the proper stain to match the aged varnish. They turned out beautiful and everyone raves about them but never again. signed old and lazy
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Jan 12, 2014 9:20:16 GMT -8
That "golden glow" is just another thing that made me wonder because mine doesn't have it. I just went out and took some good pics. Now I'm really sick over this. And the kicker is, my hubby ruined a birch panel and I sent him for another. He came back with one that said birch and looked like it on one side, the bad side, and the other side looks like and I'm almost certain IS ash. But I shellacked it with amber and it doesn't match the birch. It probably would have matched what is inside my trailer if I had just used clear on it.
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Post by bigbill on Jan 12, 2014 9:34:58 GMT -8
Can you wipe most of it off with alcohol to lighten it up then use clear?
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Jan 12, 2014 9:43:18 GMT -8
Here's a couple more pics. I have one good weather day today and I was going to put the back panel in and now, I don't want to. My hubby wanted me to replace all of the wood and I wasn't planning on doing that but now I'm thinking I'll never get it all to match! DSC00396 by susieqilvu, on Flickr DSC00415 by susieqilvu, on Flickr I think at this point I need a pep talk! I usually make a plan and just get stuff done but suddenly I'm feeling overwhelmed. Ugh. And I have some beautifully stained birch
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Jan 12, 2014 10:35:18 GMT -8
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