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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
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    Australia
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    660

    Default Repairing a caravan. What is the best way to strengthen up this cupboard?

    You will probably get a lot of this from me in the near future. I bought a caravan at a very good price knowing it needs some work. I have repaired all the mechanical and most of the electrical issues, so now its time to start on the cabinets. I did not take me long to stumble on the first problem. I planned to use dominos but the machine wont do what I planned, so I may have to make a jig and use dowels. Thought I would throw it out there for some advice.

    This should give an idea of the cabinet. I am adding a back to it made from 12mm ply.


    I was planning to use dominos like this:

    but the machine cant cut a domino at that angle on the face of the existing panel (which I cant discard unless I can find matching veneer).

    So any ideas on how to make this joint with decent strenght would be very welcome!!

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge SA
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    3,339

    Default

    The way that I'd repair it, is to cut a section of timber that will go in the corner of the 2 pieces, use an epoxy glue to hold it, and a few screws will hold it together, while the glue sets.
    I'd rethink the use of 12 mm ply as that will add a bit of weight, particularly if you end up finding more cabinets that require treatment of this nature. I know of one person that repaired his caravan with treated pine, (75 X 32) to replace the rotted sections, that were meranti, his van is now 100 kg heavier. You might think that's not much, but the van now handles like a pig, with the extra weight.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    back in Alberta for a while
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    68
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    12,006

    Default

    I agree with Kyrn that a glued on fillet is probably the best way to go.

    But if you want to use Dominos, I suggest you build a jig to hold the Domino machine at the appropriate angle and distance from the board's edge.
    regards from Alberta, Canada

    ian

  5. #4
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Peoples Republic of Bryn
    Posts
    393

    Default

    If you made a jig, you should be able to use the domino

    But Kryns idea works, id mill it down and have a strip top and bottom, angles cuts, expoy and screwed, id leave the screws in as caravans shake and rattle everything apart.


    Enjoy the Caravan, I'm building a camper van, i really got to pull my finger out and finish it.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    660

    Default

    Kryns method it will be then!

    Re the ply, this is the only spot that needs it. However the under the dining seat and the parts that hold this cabinet in place require strengthening. I was intending on using 40x19 or 40x32 pine (originally thought about tassie oak). There is not much required, at I guess I would say it would add up to 10kg at the most.

    Thanks all, got another curly one I will post up today sometime.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Little River
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    77
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    1,205

    Default

    The domino will work without any jig.

    Graphic1.jpg

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Strathalbyn South Australia
    Posts
    1,141

    Default

    Have a look at the timber that is in the rest of the van and stick with that. As Kryn said meranti is a common timber used in vans and staples/brads lots and lots of them for framework and the ply. The weight of pine doesn't equate to more strength (cheaper yes)
    Cheers Cal

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    304

    Default

    I thought caravans used a lightweight ply to save weight. Even Bunnings have it listed but probably better to get from ply supplier.

    Peter

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Australia
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    660

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Cal View Post
    Have a look at the timber that is in the rest of the van and stick with that. As Kryn said meranti is a common timber used in vans and staples/brads lots and lots of them for framework and the ply. The weight of pine doesn't equate to more strength (cheaper yes)
    Cheers Cal
    The only timber in the van is the 3mm ply panels and 12mm ply used for cupboards. There is little to no internal framework, its basically a laminate of aluminium, foam and ply.

    Its only a tiny amount I of timber need to use. For that cupboard I have used 2 pieces of 12mm marine ply, 480*310 from memory. The framework I am using for the dining seat will be about 4 metres of 40*19 which I am now planning to rip from some well seasoned standard 70*35 pine studs I have here. That timber is will be used to reinforce the existing structure, i.e, glued and screwed to the tops of the ply in this pic:


  11. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    660

    Default

    This is the only other panel I need some extra support in.



    Its made from a ply frame, with 3mm ply sheets on either side. The milled slots (which support the seat frame in the last post) have internal frames, but the 2 holes at the top had a seat back screwed into and there is no internal framework, so its just ripped a hole in the 3mm sheet. I need to add some internal frame in that section to support the seat back

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