repairing timber frame on a clipper

[gerrynshaz]

Hi
we re from melbourne 
Im renovating our 1954? 15 ft Clipper caravan.
Ive removed the internal skin leaving only some of the cabinets/wardrobe
I ve removed the front of the external skin so i can repair some of the rotted timber frame.
I ve been told to use meranti to do the repair but have only managed to find some scrap pieces from mitre 10, not enough for what i need.
has anyone else replaced some of their timber frame, if so
what timber,
where did you buy it
did you paint/treat it before putting skins back on.
i want to get it right so i dont have issues down the track 
Ill be uploading photos soon (if i can get it right)
cheers
gerry and sharon

[sportsman 1]

Hi Gerry,

great to hear the restoration of the Clipper is progessing.

I would recommend ash to repair the frame. Australian ash is ok but the best would be American ash - also known as white ash.

You will probably need to go to a timber yard rather than a hardware store to get it. Try googling some timber yards in your area or phone them to see what stocks they keep.

It should not need to be treated before putting the skins back on, especially on a quality van such as a Clipper which has a skin on both the outside and inside. When I took the outer skin off mine the frame was perfect. Having said that it certainly wont hurt to treat the timber to some preservative if you wish.

Good luck with it, and stick some pictures up of your progress.

Leigh.

[Mustang]

Hi Gerry and Sharon
Re posting images, I find  Flickr  easier to use than Photobucket, other members like Tinypic.
You can google how to use "flickr". 
Cheers

[Roehm3108]

The Big Green Shed still sells meranti.

I was talking to the owner of a local caravan sales yard who does a thriving business. He told me that the majority of caravans are now being built from meranti again, as the aluminium framed ones didn't last as well. Go figure - the industry does a complete circle. The only Australian brand still using aluminium frames is a WA company. They always have to be different!!!!!!

[Don Ricardo]

Mar 15, 2017 7:11:55 GMT 10 Mustang said:

Hi Gerry and Sharon
Re posting images, I find  Flickr  easier to use than Photobucket, other members like Tinypic.
You can google how to use "flickr". 
Cheers

Hi Mustang and Gerrynshaz,

Photos can be posted on the forum using a variety of photo storage websites, and there are instructions in the 'Forum Guidelines & Helpful Hints' section of the forum on how to use:

• Photobucket
• Flickr
• Picasa, and
• Imageshack

A few people tried Imageshack for a while, but the photos seemed to 'expire' after a time, so I'd probably steer clear of that one.

I personally use Photobucket, and once you get the hang of it, find it easier to use than some of the others - but then I've now got Photobucket set up for my preferences to make the linking to the forum easier, so that helps. But then if you already store your photos on something like Flickr or Picasa, you would probably want to stick with that, rather than having photos stored on two different websites.

Anyway, my purpose is not to advocate for one photo storage website over another, but just to let you know that the instructions on how to do it using the websites listed above are available in the 'Forum Guidelines & Helpful Hints' section.

Mustang, you mentioned Tinypic. Maybe we need to add some instructions for that as well?

Don Ricardo

[Mustang]

Mar 15, 2017 9:21:44 GMT 10 Roehm3108 said:

The Big Green Shed still sells meranti.

I was talking to the owner of a local caravan sales yard who does a thriving business. He told me that the majority of caravans are now being built from meranti again, as the aluminium framed ones didn't last as well. Go figure - the industry does a complete circle. The only Australian brand still using aluminium frames is a WA company. They always have to be different!!!!!!

Interesting analogy from the sales yard?

One would have to wonder how in this day & age how an untreated timber product used in a frame that is suspect to water ingress would be better than a 
modern material like aluminium??

When I look at modern companies using timber as a frame, cladding as a wall covering & silicone to supposingly seal it all up,
I think history has to repeat itself.

We renovated a 40 year old aluminium framed Aussie icon & the frame was as good as the day it left the factory.

Also recently sold a modern van & are at a loss as what to replace it with, if anything, as your friend suggests, even the major makers are using wood?
Cheers
Brent

[gerrynshaz]

Hi Leigh
Thanks for the reply. Hope your keeping well. I actually saw pics of your van with its skin off. You did a great job.
Will def post the photos as soon as I can
One Front corner has wood rot.
I'm going to change pretty much the front frame section. Want to make sure it's all good and sturdy.
the front curved part is currently made up of approx 10 mm x 50 mm strips of timber that are nailed together (laminated)
to make one piece thickness approx 40mm.
Im thinking of replacing the curved piece with marine ply approx 19 mm. I was going to trace the shape of the curve cut out 2 pieces
laminate by screwing and gluing them ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS IDEA.?

I'll work my way around the van
I'll rebrace the exterior with the old skin just to keep it sturdy.

Thanks for the info Roehm 3108, mustang & Don

Cheers

[sportsman 1]

Hi Gerry,

ply will be fine but make sure it is good quality marine ply. You wont see it inside the two skins but poor quality ply will delaminate over time.

Leigh.

[neilncheryl]

Hi Gerry
I use Meranti on my renos which I get from Bunnings.
You won't find the exact size as the old vans are imperial measurement.
I buy larger than needed then trim to size on the saw bench so I end up with a few pieces of timber from one large piece.
After I have finished the repair on the frame I coat it with Norseal Wood Treatment which you can read about at www.norglass.com.au/products/norseal-wood-treatment
It won't rot again in my lifetime even if it leaks. Job done once
Neil

[gerrynshaz]

Thanks Leigh marine ply it is
I ll trace the shape out &. Cut 2 pieces the screw n glue the two pieces
I ' ll start tomorrow

[gerrynshaz]

Thanks for replying Neil
I'll try one more time at burnings & ask if they have meranti
I didn't think they sold it
I' m from melbourne
Which bunnings did you buy it from and what sizes.
I know the sizes won't be the same but I ll rip them down to size
I like the sound of nor seal wood treatment

Can't wait to post photos
Cheers Gerry

[neilncheryl]

I am just outside Brisbane at the northern outskirts Gerry.
Have two Bunnings stores nearby and both carry meranti.
Think the size was 19 x 75 that I bought and at 2.4 long
Cut three lengths out of it for framing with a nice strip left for smaller jobs

[shesgotthelook]

I didn't find any results for meranti timber when searching Bunnings web site. However, I purchased meranti from a local timber & building supplier in Echuca (Dempsey & Galvin) so if they had it, I'm sure a similar supplier in Melbs would carry it too.

[fo00se]

I will be posting some photos over the next couple of days, I am restoring a 57-59 Swanson. I purchased Meranti from Bunnings (Sydney area). Some had to be trimmed down to get my sizes. Good luck, cant wait to see the photos.
Barry

[Roehm3108]

Seems like you need to search out the Bunnings stores that sell meranti. Their super stores might be the better place to go. I was at Bunnings Forster (NSW) today and they had meranti there.

[gerrynshaz]

Thanks for everyone's input.
Soooooo frustrating i went to bunnings taylors lakes (melbourne) they said if would havd to be special order.
i actually want wider than 19mm pieces, i feel itss not thick enough.
Found a bloke on ebay from coldstream victoria had heaps of lengths and thickneses but unfortunately won't bteak the pack, he was wanting to sell it as a whole pack.
i'll ring a few bunnings stores see wat i come up with.
Have a second option of white ash (american ash) whick i've sourced.

Just curious, why is treated pine no good?

[Geoff & Jude]

Mar 20, 2017 16:56:03 GMT 10 gerrynshaz said:

Just curious, why is treated pine no good?

treated pine is pretty unstable, mainly because it is treated while still "wet" and tends to warp and twist as it dries out, especially smaller sections.

geoff 'n jude

[gerrynshaz]

Thanks geoff

[gerrynshaz]

Tried using flicker to upload photos unfortunately no good. Very frustrated
i ll keep trying

[shesgotthelook]

vintagecaravans.proboards.com/thread/15290/post-photos-on-forum

[gerrynshaz]

Hi finally found meranti timber supplier in melbourne
WR timbers
12 trade way, kilsyth
ph 97614300
you can buy all djfferdnt sizes and have it dresses or rough sawn
I bought 2.7 lengths at different widths and thicknesses and Ill just rip it down to the sizes i need

hope this info helps someone else

[gerrynshaz]

Hi all
finally posted photos under members photos of my progress in restoring the van
Going to work my way around thew van starting at the front and replace any rotten timber. I ll reskin it with the old ply just to brace it but its going to get all new skin inside and out.

[equalazar]

I think that when you renovate you should pay attention on everything because it's old and can get ruined. And you don't want that. Did you think about roof? It's one of the first things you should repair. You can use RV Roof Repair services. After that I'm sure that your roof won't fall down.

[gerrynshaz]

Hi Equalazar
I've been procrastinating about repairing the roof.
1. haven't decided whether to go aluminium, fibreglass or the painted canvas.
2. Other than aluminium roof, not confident in being able to do the other 2 types (having said that haven't really researched them)
3. Having just read SHAZRON’s thread dated Sept 11, 2016 makes me worry even more
Cheers

[fo00se]

I used the Meranti, but i only had to use short lengths, 90% of the frame was solid, I primed and painted all the timber before replacing the external skin with 6mm marine ply and the inner skin with 3mm ply. I also painted the inside of the 6mm before applying the inner skin. I also dropped the inner ceiling 70mm by adding extra cross braces and fitted r3 batts to the roof. I used 20mm polysterene (made to my thickness) inside all the external sidewalls.