airstream project update January 2007

Finally after 8 months of dealing with many of life's issues ...... (You know, those unanticipated situations thrown at you when your least expecting it!) its finally time to update our airstream blog.

After our last update in May 2006, my four-footed companion of 11 years, lost his 20 month battle with doggy cancer on June 15, 2006. "CEASAR" -rest in peace my friend.... (there's a photo of him in our last blog)

Then in early July, the Delaware River flooded our town. We woke to find two feet of water inside my shop. After draining the river out of the gallery, we spent our days cleaning, repairing and painting. We worked all day from early morning to midnight, but did find time for a mid-day canoe trip through town!



Two weeks after the gallery was up and running, an apartment close by became available for rent. With little thought we decided it was time for us to get a place together. Before we were able to move in, we spent another week cleaning, repairing and painting. By August 3rd we were completely settled in, but Will couldn't take a break until the airstream was on the new property. We parked the airstream at its new home and took the rest of the month off to relax and do some mountain biking before the summer ended.

In early September, to help get our project back in motion, we decided to purchase aluminum sheeting for the interior. After much research, and the unwillingness to pay $6000, we found a supplier two hours away in South Jersey who charged half as much.... still not cheap, but, It will be worth it to see the airstream clean and shiny inside! We parted with the money and picked up the sheeting in a flat bed trailer that we borrowed.... Thanks Dad! To protect the new aluminum shine, we covered the sheets with a tarp until we were ready for the installation.





The airstream needed a good cleaning before we could start polishing the exterior. We borrowed a pressure washer from a neighbor to help get the job done. Will climbed on top of the roof and sprayed the exterior from top to bottom.....then he started to spray the trucks..........me.........and Opal!

Will having fun with his new toy!

In the world of airstreams, there is much controversy about how and what to use for polishing the aluminum. After reading many opinions on the airstream forums, we decided on a high grade polish that is also used to polish aluminum airplanes. Will wanted to test it out before he handed the job over to me. It took about 20 minutes to do a 1 x 2 foot section. We're both excited to see the entire airstream polished to a mirror finish!


It took me until mid-October to finish the bottom half!
(photo on right)


The trailer hitch was rusty and the paint was peeling off. Instead of buying new one, I took most of the rust off with a steel brush, cleaned it and sprayed it with a metal primer. I found a silver Krylon spray paint to cover up the old hitch....She's a shinin' now!



The interior walls needed fresh insulation. Since we are only working on one section at a time, I insulated the front end. This is where the sitting and eating area will be.




The next phase of the project was to start cutting the aluminum sheets for the interior walls. We bought a rotozip to cut through the sheeting. Will had been talking about buying one for weeks. The airstream project gave him the excuse to finally purchase it! ( Funny how this project is becoming a way for Will to accumulate an entire tool collection.) Turns out the rotozip was an ideal purchase. We had originally planned on cutting the aluminum with tin snips! What a nightmare that would have been! So...with rotozip in hand, he cuts through the first piece with precision and ease.



After the first piece was cut, we held it in place. Its a perfect fit! We set up the first rivet in the new rivet gun - I'm the rivet loader and he's the shooter ( another toy to add to his tool collection). Finally, the very first rivet is put into place!



Our motivation is higher now that we finally see things moving along. The hard part is mostly over, and the fun is beginning! We're both excited about finishing the sheeting so we can start to lay down the wood floors and begin to plan where all the furniture and appliances will go! We're building all our own funiture and cabinets for the airstream. (except for the one that is already up in the sitting/eating area)

Next blog: Putting up more aluminum sheeting on the walls, staining the cabinets for the sitting area and painting the small wall section behind cabinets. Its going to be a dark red with a really cool faux finish!

"Nothing will work unless you do." -Maya Angelou

1966 Airstream Project

In April 2006, we purchased a 1966 Airstream - 26 ft. Overlander. We found it on the property of an antique dealer we knew from town. She sold it to us for $1500, although $500 is being bartered in exchange for picture framing ( I own a frame shop/ art gallery in town) and for electrical work (Will is an electrician). The prior owner, Leanne, is allowing us to do demolition and rebuilding on her property. We are hoping to have this project finished within 6 months. It will then become our primary residence for the next three years. I will be selling my business this year and we will abandon the east coast and head off for a new adventure in the great northwest. Living life as wayward gypsies for 3 months, we will stop off in Utah, Colorado, and then stay in Arizona for a few weeks before heading up the California coast to arrive in Oregon.There we will look for land to build our small rustic home. Eventually, we will add rental cabins to the property including a teepee, cordwood cabin, board and batten cabin, hand-hewn log cabin, and of course, the airstream. All rentals will be run from solar power and will have compost toilets.

Before photos
I am more and more inclined to reduce my baggage. I am becoming more in love with simple things - a small house, a hut in the woods, a tent on the shore. The show and splendor of greathouses and elaborate furnishings oppress me. They fix the attention on false values, set up a false standard of beauty and stand between me and the real feeders of character and thought. - John Burroughs

If you want to check up on the progress of our airstream refurbishment, we will be posting photos and updates regularly.

airstream update May 2006

Here we are 3 weeks into the project and only 2/3 of the sub-floor is complete. We gutted the entire trailer, and are rebuilding to our liking - a bit rustic and a bit modern.

Will - taking out the old cabinets

The original flooring was bolted down into the metal framing and the nuts were not accessible due to the metal sheeting that was attached to the under belly. Getting the floor up seemed like an impossible task at first glance...but, to my surprise, Will attacked the floor like he was engaged in battle! Ripping, hacking, and tearing at the plywood floor until all that was left were a thousand rusty bolts! (really about 30). Will was not a happy boy! But, being the Aries that he is - he pressed on. He cut through each bolt with a sawsall and within 2 hours the bolts were defeated!
Once the floor was demolished, we could really see what was going on "down below." The old insulation was worn and sparse and we willingly replaced it with a fresh, new layer...ahhhh.

Next, we measured and cut 3/4 inch plywood for the new sub-floor. The first piece of flooring was firmly attached to the metal framing using tech screws. We're patiently working our way to the other end of the airstream! Here are some photos of the new sub-floor.

We just have the back end to finish - where the shower and compost toilet is going!

"Determine never to be idle....It is wonderful how much can be done if we are always doing."
- Thomas Jefferson

NEXT BLOG: Completing the sub-floor and starting to install aluminum sheeting on the interior walls.