Work continues on the galley. There's a lot going on under here. There is some reusing of original components, there is some new items going in, there is some restoration of original cabinetry, there is some rebuilding of design as well as new function. Keeping it all organized in relation to other components is one of the greater mental processes of the current project, something as simple as choosing a 1x2 over a 3/4" by 3/4" cleat for a counter top ledger, as one example. How will the counter fasten using either?
Some of these decisions are well thought out. Some designs are just chosen in the moment, often needing re-consideration just a little bit later. I guess this is because I'm not an engineer or a designer, I'm just an "everyman", doing what feels right at the time. Kind of how we live our lives, or play Chess.
Today I placed the small storage cabinet face to the left of the water heater. Here you see screws fastening the right side from the water heater side into the cleat on the back of the cabinet face.
And the left side.
At first glance it might seem like a lot of screws for such a small piece, but there is some stress between the camper structure forces at play, I think. These screws may well balance the load over a larger area, I think maybe resulting in a little less stress on any one fastener, or on that spot of the piece being fastened. But this piece, and the rest of the galley cabinet, should lend overall support to the whole back, left-side corner of the camper.
Then I moved on to the counter ledgers in this corner. These were fastened with screws into the camper framing and the mounting screws placed so as to allow logical open spots for counter top fasteners.
I used the 4' level to reach out and find the right placement for the top of the ledger. Then the face board was removed for finishing and gimp installation.
I moved forward.
To protect the top of the water heater from movement of the bread board, I built a shelf out of 1/8" paneling. I now installed it into correct position. Three screws front and three screws back, each accessible for potential future access directly from the water heater cavity.
From above.
And from below.
Then like the storage cabinet face board, it was also removed for finishing.
I moved down. Time to make the water heater cradle. I had already cut two 3/4" boards for support under the heater. The installation instructions show the heater installed on a flat surface, so far so good. Then it calls for 6.5" long supports at the back of the heater, alongside the styrofoam housing, to keep it from rolling, or shifting front to back.
The instructions illustration show use of two squared off 2x2 chunks, with the 2x2 corners poking into the styrofoam. I didn't like that, so I beveled my supports, then fastened them to the under boards. I also had to add another 1/8" thickness to the two spacers, so as to obtain exact proper height. I sandwiched the three boards with brown glue and staples then screwed the side supports to each row of the support boards. As an assembly, it will get finished, and then installed when the heater is.
The cradle goes here. Holes are pre-drilled.
Screws fasten from underneath. The six on the left are for the water heater cradle. The three on the right are for the cabinet wall cleat just to the side of the heater.
It fits like this.
Final positioning and driving home the screws will take place upon heater install after the skin and everything is in place.
The support block took space away from the small storage place I had been eyeing. It's just as well, The ignition line is down here, as is a soft sided heater housing. I probably don't need any excuses to jab stored items up in there.
The heater will be pulled and stowed on the shelf, the cradle into the ever increasing "to finish" pile. I moved forward - drawer glides.
