Steve

[Marck]

When you did the finishing "strips" on your tear, with the strips, and glass....any guetimates on how much weight it added??? Just doing some figuring.

[Steve Frederick]

Strips and 'glass add about 25 to 30 lbs. The real weight is in the exterior walls. I wish I had been on this board when I did them Didn't have any input!
I used 3/4" ply, 'cuz I had it left from another project, with insulation and 1/4" interior wall finish. It's "bullet-proof" though!
I also over built the roof. I used two 1/8" layers for the roof, in addition to the strips. Next time I would skip the skin, and epoxy the strips directly to the pink board.
Things are proportional though. The trailer is about 1500 pounds and the tongue weighs about 150. Good thing we tow with Detroit Muscle!!

[Marck]

So if you did it again, you'd skip the outer plywood skin??
Hmmmm... I feel the brain gears grinding.
How thick would you make the strips if you did it again??

Hmmm I've done tons of auto fiber glass work....can't be too different can it??

[Steve Frederick]

I would skip the roof skin, and use 1/4" ply for the exterior.
I milled the strips to 3/16", about as thin as I can do while keeping strength for handling.
If I did the roof without sheathing, I would mill 1/4" for extra strength.
You would have to be sure that the foam of the roof, is smooth and fair, no gaps, so that the glue would get a good bite to the strips. I might even fair the joints in the insulation with small sections of 'glass. (good practice area!)
'Glassing of wood for clear coat is pretty easy. You just have to be sure to get the 'glass in full contact with the wood, otherwise, you can get bubbles or weave that will show up in the finish. No body filler here!
Finish is not too bad either. Four coats of a quality spar varnish with sanding between will give a nice look with good protection that shouldn't need re-touching for three or more years.

[Marck]

Thanks for the replies.
Hmm
I'm thinking since my design will be 6' wide and 12' long, mebbe I better go with 1/4 (or thinner if I can find it) ply, for the outer skin, Then go with the 3/8 strips. Thinking of structure integrity.

hehe I like the "no body filler" quote there ehhehehe Bondo WOULD look a bit bad in the middle of such nice woodwork heheheheh

[Steve Frederick]

I do make a kind of bondo, a schmutz of, epoxy, sawdust and a thickener. good for gap filling and fairing where no one see's.