I had been sanding for a few days, among other tasks, but everyday various other things came up and took my attentions away from continuous work, so it was good to finally get the sanding completed and to wipe down everything and get the shop swept up. Here are a few shots of the sanded and wiped down woodwork, some with additional explanations at their tops.
That piece of wall on the left is range/refer shared wall and the surface you are seeing will receive some sort of back-splash material.
This shot shows the "back-splash" walls more clearly. The camper left side side-wall below the upper cabinet will only be stained around the window area. The back-splash begins not far to the right of the window opening.
The paneling below the counter-top level is in pretty good condition. We haven't decided yet whether to paint it primer white for the "easier to see" under cabinet locations like we are doing in cabinet and utility areas closer to the floor, or to finish it in stain and poly just like will be done in the upper, eye-level cabinets. But we are leaning toward the latter. I'll decide once we get the left wing assembly down, and that's not until after we get the right-side wing assembly in place, as well as the back wall.
After wipe down and shop cleanup I broke open the stain. Here's what I used. We've used this color in so many places around the home. Of course it depends on what type of wood, and its grain, for how dark it will be. Last summer we had tried out about five different choices on some scrap from the donor camper and had chosen this color. We had already stained two other interior cabinet pieces (currently removed and stored) as well as the refrigerator face wall. That refer wall incidentally, will require more work as the fridge cutout will change it somewhat.
And here are the "stained wood" results.
I applied the stain with a rag and it was all hand rubbed. I spent several hours "hand rubbing Lil' Queeny in the garage", and I enjoyed the process so greatly that after a while I began to feel a little bit of guilt. At lunch I promised DW a soothing body massage real soon.
That piece of wall on the left is range/refer shared wall and the surface you are seeing will receive some sort of back-splash material.
This shot shows the "back-splash" walls more clearly. The camper left side side-wall below the upper cabinet will only be stained around the window area. The back-splash begins not far to the right of the window opening.
The paneling below the counter-top level is in pretty good condition. We haven't decided yet whether to paint it primer white for the "easier to see" under cabinet locations like we are doing in cabinet and utility areas closer to the floor, or to finish it in stain and poly just like will be done in the upper, eye-level cabinets. But we are leaning toward the latter. I'll decide once we get the left wing assembly down, and that's not until after we get the right-side wing assembly in place, as well as the back wall.
After wipe down and shop cleanup I broke open the stain. Here's what I used. We've used this color in so many places around the home. Of course it depends on what type of wood, and its grain, for how dark it will be. Last summer we had tried out about five different choices on some scrap from the donor camper and had chosen this color. We had already stained two other interior cabinet pieces (currently removed and stored) as well as the refrigerator face wall. That refer wall incidentally, will require more work as the fridge cutout will change it somewhat.
And here are the "stained wood" results.
I applied the stain with a rag and it was all hand rubbed. I spent several hours "hand rubbing Lil' Queeny in the garage", and I enjoyed the process so greatly that after a while I began to feel a little bit of guilt. At lunch I promised DW a soothing body massage real soon.
Finishing work today consisted of removing more interior trim, examination of interior for repair areas such as: setting staples, pulling improperly seated nails and "mistake" staples, filling holes, clean-up of splintered edges on window and vent openings, sanding with everything from steel-wool to sand paper in various grits, to use of an orbital power sander.
I'm doing all the interior from the front wall of the box backward. Once I get the front wall out I'll continue from there forward.
The ceiling is only needing a 0000 steel-wool buffing. Much of the rest of the walls surfaces are asking for at least a 100 grit and then a 220. Hand sanding is tedious, but there's nothing like the "feel" of it in your hand to give perhaps a best result.
Where I've used wood filler there is a greater need for the orbital, and there's a risk of taking down too much veneer (which I've accidentally discovered is terribly easy in a couple of places which I will not point out).
This process will take a few days, especially since I'll be taking Saturday off to help the kids hang sheetrock. But we'll get the back 2/3's of the camper interior surfaces ready to receive the back and side wall assemblies.
Here are some pictures to show the process and the progress.
This photo shows some test stain applied...
I'm doing all the interior from the front wall of the box backward. Once I get the front wall out I'll continue from there forward.
The ceiling is only needing a 0000 steel-wool buffing. Much of the rest of the walls surfaces are asking for at least a 100 grit and then a 220. Hand sanding is tedious, but there's nothing like the "feel" of it in your hand to give perhaps a best result.
Where I've used wood filler there is a greater need for the orbital, and there's a risk of taking down too much veneer (which I've accidentally discovered is terribly easy in a couple of places which I will not point out).
This process will take a few days, especially since I'll be taking Saturday off to help the kids hang sheetrock. But we'll get the back 2/3's of the camper interior surfaces ready to receive the back and side wall assemblies.
Here are some pictures to show the process and the progress.
This photo shows some test stain applied...
One of our first finishes to go on was the white - you know, the white we said we don't do?
This white is primer and it is pretty intense! It's a "zero" something or other and is supposed to be a stain and odor blocker like Kilz. DW bought it for some other project we haven't yet gotten to and we still had a full gallon. It is water-base but it's not at all like these latex house paints that if they dry on your plastic roller pan you can still get it wet and peel it all off. Oh no, this stuff seems to now be a permanent part of my pan, not to mention my fingers - in spots. It's a really tough sticking primer.
I covered all surfaces of both wing assemblies, the bathroom basement surfaces (the under shower pan compartment), the interior surface of the left rear wall panel, and the plywood edges of both back wall panels. Initially I wanted to leave the bathroom walls unfinished for application of another substance, but I am now considering priming those surfaces as well because of the terrific adhesion of this primer over the sanded and smoothed original surfaces of most of the bathroom wall.
Just prior to priming I had been looking over the interior paneling, experimenting with some sanding and getting together a plan for finishing the woodwork. Part of the reason for that now is to prepare the partially damaged panel edges to receive the back wall panels, and the other edges to receive the wing assemblies, etc. Another reason for the plan on the interior wood finishing is to perhaps DO IT before closing up the camper. Each of these decisions delays the assembly process, but I'm starting to feel it will greatly increase the completion process once assembly DOES begin to take place.
The next few days will be work on the actual interior woodwork and panels!
This white is primer and it is pretty intense! It's a "zero" something or other and is supposed to be a stain and odor blocker like Kilz. DW bought it for some other project we haven't yet gotten to and we still had a full gallon. It is water-base but it's not at all like these latex house paints that if they dry on your plastic roller pan you can still get it wet and peel it all off. Oh no, this stuff seems to now be a permanent part of my pan, not to mention my fingers - in spots. It's a really tough sticking primer.
I covered all surfaces of both wing assemblies, the bathroom basement surfaces (the under shower pan compartment), the interior surface of the left rear wall panel, and the plywood edges of both back wall panels. Initially I wanted to leave the bathroom walls unfinished for application of another substance, but I am now considering priming those surfaces as well because of the terrific adhesion of this primer over the sanded and smoothed original surfaces of most of the bathroom wall.
Just prior to priming I had been looking over the interior paneling, experimenting with some sanding and getting together a plan for finishing the woodwork. Part of the reason for that now is to prepare the partially damaged panel edges to receive the back wall panels, and the other edges to receive the wing assemblies, etc. Another reason for the plan on the interior wood finishing is to perhaps DO IT before closing up the camper. Each of these decisions delays the assembly process, but I'm starting to feel it will greatly increase the completion process once assembly DOES begin to take place.
The next few days will be work on the actual interior woodwork and panels!
We did the "cherry" (dark) with all the wood, so we decided "lite" gray and white to keep things lightened up.(and normally I don't do white) It seemed to fit the color scheme I was going for. More of a "MOD" with hints of 70's retro (green). Still haven't got all my hints hung yet... but there is plenty of time for decorating. Just have to find which corner I will place the disco ball I just got before it breaks. Can't wait to see your choices. Love when a good vintage renovation comes together.
Dave Pete wrote:
I know, I know, the traditionalists are going to say, "You have to keep the colors light in the camper, otherwise it will feel smaller, closed in!" Perhaps, but we'll see won't we
Whelp, I don't think I'm a "traditionalist" nor do I belong to the vintage police. But, I do love the old fashioned look of the wooden interiors. We sure used a lot of poly and wood tones in our Avion.
