@Walkaholic Well done.
I think I've done too much. I've made a loaf (in the breadmaker). Made some Spicy Parsnip soup (in the Slow Cooker). Done lots and lots of thinking about how to build #PaddyTheCaddy's kitchen and now I'm sitting having a mint tea and listening to lawnmowers.
I think I […]
I've been going round in circles trying to design #PaddyTheCaddy's kitchen.
I decided that I would use 20x20 Aluminium Extrusion and I've been watching videos and studying the different kinds of connectors and joints.
However, I just don't think I'm clever enough to order the right stuff. Yes […]
I'm doing the #LDWA #TwoCrosses walk today and I spent the night in #PaddyTheCaddy nearby rather than have a really early start from home.
I am pleased to say that my new bed is very comfortable. 😴
I've made a folding shelf to bridge the gap between #PaddyTheCaddy's bench seat and the folded flat 2nd row seat. This means the bed is long enough to stretch out on.
I need to finish the support struts and I'll need some kind of hook and eye to stop the […]
[Original post on mastodonapp.uk]
@Walkaholic I'm going to use the sewing machine to make #PaddyTheCaddy's seat cushions (which double up as a mattress).
There will be some hand-sewing as I need to tack everything together to begin with.
I'm a little nervous but I'll take it slowly and I'm starting with the small cushion so I […]
A black and white diagram of a sewing machine with each part labelled with a number.
A list of numbered sewing machine parts: 1 Spool pin 2 Zigzag width control knob 3 Stretch stitch control knob 4 Top cover 5 Top cover thread guide and Tension bracket 6 Thread take-up lever 7 Patchomatic darner 8 Face plate 9 Thread guides 10 Presser bar 11 Needle bar thread guide 12 Presser foot thumb screw 13 Presser foot 14 Shuttle cover slide plate 15 Feed teeth 16 Needle plate 17 Needle 18 Thread tension regulator 19 Needle clamp 20 Arm 21 Bed plate 22 Drop feed knob 23 Reverse button 24 Stitch length regulator knob 25 Stitch indicator window 26 Balance wheel 27 Bobbin winder latch 28 Bobbin winder spindle
After mastering carpentry 🪚 I am now embarking on a short qualifying course as a seamstress.
#PaddyTheCaddy
#VanConversion
A bench seat along the driver's side trim in the rear of a VW Caddy. It is made of a wooden frame which has slats on top. In the trim pockets there's a roll of kitchen roll and other useful things. There's a tiny blue and white striped mug on top of the bench just to mess with the viewer's sense of scale.
I've made a bench for #PaddyTheCaddy.
It pulls out in 2 sections to make 3/4 of a bed. The remaining 1/4 will be at this end and built onto a folded down middle row seat.
Bits aren't straight. Some of the joints and screws are woeful and I've already […]
[Original post on mastodonapp.uk]
Something I've learned from my #PaddyTheCaddy #VanConversion is that I simply cannot do anything straight.
I can't saw straight, drill straight, screw straight.
Everything is not quite right. It doesn't help that most of Wickes' wood comes from the boomerang plantation, but it's not ALL their […]
A rectangular frame made out of soft, pale wood. In each corner is a leg which is thicker wood than the rest of the frame. There are 4 slats of wood resting on top along with an offcut of the same wood. The frame is inside a small van which has a vinyl floor There are bits of red tape showing the location of hidden screws and clips.
#PaddyTheCaddy's bench seat is coming along. I've made most of the fixed frame. I planned to put 2 more legs in the middle but I'm sitting on the loose slats now and it seems quite sturdy, so I'll have a think about that.
The fixed slats will be spread along […]
[Original post on mastodonapp.uk]
A rectangular frame of light coloured wood with legs in 3 of the corners. The wood is clamped to 2 work benches. There is garage clutter in the background.
Making this #VanConversion bed for #PaddyTheCaddy reminds me of one of my favourite jokes.
Q: What is the difference between a Duck?
A: One of its legs is too far apart.
A corner joint of 3 pieces of soft wood. There are various clamps and pencil marks. A hand, in fingerless gloves, supports one piece. One tiny move can throw everything out of true.
I could do with a jig, but this is no time for dancing - I have a bed to build.
#PaddyTheCaddy
#VanConversion
A piece of 44mm square section wood being sawn with a handsaw. The wood is clamped to a workbench and to another one which is out of view. On the workbench there's a notebook, some sandpaper and a square. There's a Union Flag mat on the cold garage floor.
I find sawing wood very satisfying.
I'm making a bench/bed for #PaddyTheCaddy.
#VanConversion
#VWCaddy
A coloured line drawing. There's a pale blue 3D box with a total of 4 weight-bearing supports. The long side of the box has a separate green frame. On top of the box are a mix of yellow and purple slats which are massively too big but give me an idea of the construction technique. The yellow slats are fixed to the blue frame. The purple slats are attached to the green frame, which slides out. "NOT TO SCALE" is printed above the drawing.
In case anyone is wondering how my #PaddyTheCaddy #VanConversion is coming along, this is my attempt at designing a bed.
I'm rubbish at drawing, either by hand or by computer, but a simple not-to-scale sketch is helping me to work things out. The different […]
[Original post on mastodonapp.uk]
Looking up, past the silhouette of next door's house, at a cloudy sky. There are tantalising bright spots, where the sun may think of popping out, but the strong wind is quickly spreading the cloud over any gaps.
Yes, of course I'm testing #PaddyTheCaddy's new solar panel. Why else would I be standing in a gale staring at a cloudy sky?
#VanConversion
#PaddyTheCaddy #VanConversion update.
After finishing the floor, I seemed to run out of steam and needed a break. I also needed to give some time to the household and other tasks which had been backing up.
I'm refocused now, although I'm in a circle of decisions. My design will depend on what […]
After a really enjoyable Half Man Half Biscuit gig last night, I stealth camped in #PaddyTheCaddy.
No, I've not built the bed yet but it's just like camping in a tin box.
Central Wolverhampton was quite noisy, but my earplugs worked.
#HMHB
The inside of a red van with the side trim removed so you can see bare metal. Lots of the metal is covered with silver-backed foam. Also in the picture is a roll of fluffy white loft insulation.
I'm insulating #PaddyTheCaddy.
The driver's side is easy enough. The passenger side less so as I think that's where the fuel tank is and there isn't access to the inside of the outer skin. Hopefully any insulation will make a positive difference even if I […]
[Original post on mastodonapp.uk]
The floor of a red van. Wooden battens have been glued to half of the floor. The battens are weighted down with various cans of beans, tomatoes, fruit and with bottles of water etc.
Worst tombola ever.
#PaddyTheCaddy
#VanConversion
The red ridged metal floor of a VW Caddy. There are 10 wooden strips running side by side away from the camera. 4 strips have 4 small holes in them. Away from the viewer, at the front of the load space, are 3 metal brackets and some smaller pieces of wood.
For anyone not yet bored of photos of #PaddyTheCaddy's floor, here are the battens cut and ready for gluing down.
When I removed the 3rd row seat brackets, it left 16 holes in the floor which I filled with bolts with a dab of copper grease in case anyone ever […]
[Original post on mastodonapp.uk]
Looking inside a VW Caddy from the rear. The carpet and rear trim panels are removed so the red painted metal floor, with its ridges and grooves, is visible. There are strips of brown cardboard and wood in some of the grooves.
A sheet of plywood clamped to a bench. A saw is being using to cut a 48mm strip off the wood.
Today's #PaddyTheCaddy #VanConversion job was finalising where the floor battens need to go. I made cardboard templates and used a few ply offcuts from when I made the floor.
The battens will be glued to the dips in the floor and the floor then screwed to the […]
[Original post on mastodonapp.uk]
A sheet of marine plywood clamped to a workbench. There are three slots cut into it and some other cuts around the edges.
Today's #VanConversion task has been cutting holes in the floor for the 2nd row seat anchors and the lashing points.
These holes will be covered with plastic trim so don't have to be perfectly neat. I needed to tidy the edges after the first fitting and sand […]
[Original post on mastodonapp.uk]
A sheet of pale wood on a work platform. On top of the wood are clamps, safety gloves and safety glasses. One edge of the wood is cut in a curve and you can see where I failed to follow the pencil guideline. The concrete floor is partly covered with a Union Flag mat.
#PaddyTheCaddy's floor is starting to take shape.
Marine ply turns out to be quite hard to cut. Especially if you have no experience of different materials, saws or blades.
I experimented with a circular saw and a multi-tool then settled on the jigsaw. The […]
[Original post on mastodonapp.uk]
Today's new (to me) word. I'm reading the instructions for Dad's circular saw. Meaning 3 is relevant in this scenario.
kerf (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/kerf
Noun
kerf (plural kerfs)
1. (now, rare) The act of cutting or carving something; a stroke or slice.
2. The groove or slit created […]
A river heading away from the viewer. There's grass on this bank and trees on the other side. The sky is blue with wispy clouds.
A green field with undulating hills beyond. Beautiful slightly hazy blue sky .
A metal signpost with a sticker for the North Wales Pilgrim's Way. Interesting apostrophe. Only one pilgrim?
A screenshot from my Garmin app showing a basic map with a 5.6km walk I've named St Asaph Circular.
A pleasant 3 mile walk around St Asaph / Llanelwy this morning.
I'm now drinking coffee and eating homemade malt loaf in #PaddyTheCaddy.
#Walking
Waking up in #PaddyTheCaddy, I wiped the steamed up windows and still couldn't see out. 🤔
It's misty outside!
#VanLife
#VanConversion
Good morning #CamperConversion or #DIY or #Crafting friends
I'm making curtains for #PaddyTheCaddy and have 2 windows where the metal frame is hidden behind trim, so I can't use neodymium magnets to hold the curtains like on the other windows.
I've improvised a curtain rod using a length of […]
I survived my first night in #PaddyTheCaddy and am now enjoying breakfast of Aeropress coffee and Pain au Chocolat.
Yesterday's torrential rain eased off overnight. The rain meant I couldn't have the rear windows open overnight so it's a bit steamy in here this morning.
The road traffic […]
Tonight is my first night camping in #PaddyTheCaddy. I have a camping mattress and camping chair and that's about it. Oh, and curtains (of a sort!).
Lots of lessons being identified. The noisiest of which related to Paddy's alarm sounding while I was locked inside. In the dark. Frantically […]
Inside a small van looking from the back to the front. A stripy curtain has been pegged to the overcab cubby hole and the coat hooks on the door pillars. The curtain stops people looking in to the sleeping area.
Well, it's very simple and probably not an ideal longterm solution, but a piece of old curtain and 6 clothes pegs can be transformed into a behind-the-cab privacy screen.
What I'd really like to know is whose dog hairs were on this curtain. All of my […]
[Original post on mastodonapp.uk]
Now that #campervan conversion has become my all-consuming occupation, I wake up every morning with a new purpose. My brain must carry on working overnight and it comes up with the latest plan in the morning, and it's quite often not what I intended to do the day before. It's quite exhausting! […]
