by cracker39 » Sat Mar 25, 2006 8:29 pm
[quote="Ira"]It's not just the applying--it's the sanding BETWEEN applying.
I spar varnished my roof (1/4" bendy birch) after it was on, and it wasn't a MAJOR pain in the a** getting up there up top to apply, sand, and apply thrice again. (I used mega-expensive stuff--Pratt & Lambert's Vitralite.)
But if I knew I could do it before-hand on saw-horses, I probably would have gone that route--although I was in a rush to get the roof on because the rains were coming here.[/quote
Ira, You think your's was a bear to work on the top? Just think of what I'll go through. Mine will be just about 7 1/2' high at the peak. I'm doing my sealing with thinned poly varnish on the roof skins on saw horses before installing them (starting the sealing tomorrow). But, I'll have to fill the joints, sand, prime and paint the top using a ladder. That'll be fun (NOT). Maybe I'll take off the wheels and tires, put it on low blocks for the finishing, then after it's painted, jack it up to put the wheels and tires back on. But, that will only reduce the height by 6 or 7 inches.
My wife mentioned today that she would like to see it with the door and windows put in. But, those will be installed much later, after it's painted and the interior paneling is installed. She also asked how long until it's finished and where are we going on our maiden voyage. I haven't even thought that far ahead. No idea how long to complete it (i'd say 3-4 weeks...maybe), and the first trip will probably be somewhere within a hundred miles to shake out the bugs.