Hi Folks.
Just back from Town n county, where I brought a few thing I will be using today...
Had breakfast and took some Tramadol and promptly fell asleep !!
I have printed a sign for postie & delivery men, saying I am in the back of the transit, and of I go.
Today is all about securing the wall and a general tidy up.
Today's BONUS Job is - Design n sketch out portaloo frame
I did not bother just getting a long length of threaded bar today,
It is just to unwieldy for me to use.
So I brought 4 x 1mtr lengths of 8mm instead.
A bit more expensive, but more manageable for me with my current health issues and working alone.
40 x 8mm spring washers
40 x 8mm Penny washers
40 x 8mm Nuts.
Should keep me going for now.
Using an off cut I make a wedge shape, as close to the gap between the bathroom frame and the transit as I can.
I am struggling with my hands today and I cannot grip the saw, or get my fingers around the handle!.
So I use cutting disc on the angle driver and rest my arm on my leg, to take the weight..
It is not perfect, but it does the job :):)
I line it all up and gently tap it in place and it stays there by itself ...
I screw the 2 pieces of timber frame together
and finally 1 8.2mm hole thru the wood and the transits frame, where they meet.
the wedge shaped off cut, is very close to fitting in the remaining gap,
So using the cutting disk, I slowely get rid of the excess, until it fits the best I can get it....
again, I give it a gentle tap and it stays there.
Not pretty, but does the job and will eventually be covered up!.
I measure the threaded bar and slide on 2 nuts, to the cut line, and with the angle grinder held between my legs I slowly roll the threaded bar around the cutting disc..
About halfway threw cutting the threaded bar, I slide the buts onto the longer section of the threaded bar to make sure the threads are un-damaged...
and with spring & penny washer, I gently tap the threaded bar thru the wood and frame.
And slowly do up the nuts until everything is nice n tight..
My hands are killing me, and I can now barely grip the angle grinder :( :(
So time for a quick 20 min break.
Whilst I am chillin out on the computer, updating this website, A delivery man drops this package off.
I only wanted a spare battery, so if mine went flat part way thru the day, I could carry on whilst the flat battery was on charge.
But everywhere was out of stock, and then I saw this nearly new driver/drill complete and made an off for the cost of 2 batteries and the seller surprisingly accepted my offer.
And the battery is fully charged, so when I go back out to the van shortly I will take it with me :) :)
Just as I got up to head back out to the transit, another knock on the door and the drivers side window has arrived...
Now my transit does NOT have a drivers side sliding door, but was the nearest I could find, that hopefully will do as I want.
But I will not know until next week when they try and install it..
Altho I am struggling with my hands, I have decided to write off today, and I will just be very happy with anything I get done!.
Right the next job is to brace the bottom of the Bathroom/Kitchen wall frame to the transit.
And there is a very handy frame strut, just where I can make use of it !
The strut is only held on by one rivet at the top, By the time I have finished it will have both 8mm holes used with nut n bolts,
Just to make sure the frame brace is strong enough....
weirdly the bottom all 3 holes are used ??
Using an off-cut, I mark where the holes should be drilled thru the frame.
So I can use some 8mm threaded bar and an assortment of nuts n washers.
These corner brackets are in my way!.
so they are removed. I am not sure whether I will put them back or use a squareish off-cut, time will see what happens...
So I mark up the holes for the drill and check several times,
But I am struggling to bend over and I cannot get straight to where I am working either!
It is at this stage, that I decide on a slight change to my plans, using the off-cut I marked the drill holes out of, that will now become a part of this bracing...
I decide to drill one hole at a time, and make sure it lines up, before drilling the next hole..
I roughly measure the length of threaded bar I need, and went 1cm longer,
I will cut off any excess once everything is tightened up.
The nuts as I usually do gives me a cutting guide and before I have cut right thru the bar, I wind them over the cut to make sure the treads are not damaged.
Time to tighten the nuts up and push the baton to the frame of the transit.
mmm the middle holes do not line up!!
Too late now, I will just keep going and hope it tightens up ok.
Although already this area is nice and tight, there does not appear to be any strain on this rivet.
But I will not be taking any chances! I would rather go overkill and be happy that everything is solid, than wondering when it will break and how much extra it will cost to get to it and sort the mess out later on.
I have had to call it quit's for now, as I cannot even hold the spanner, let alone grip it.
But fingers crossed I can get at least 1 more session in the back today...
first job, is gonna take me a while, but I do not care, as long as me fingers n hands still allow me to get on with something, ,even if I keep having to rest then that is ok.
So I start to tighten all the nuts up in order and gradually the buffer upright, is up against the frame of the transit and rock solid.
One last check to make double sure all the nuts are done up tight.
then with the angle grinder i remove the excess threaded bar and smooth the bar ends, so it will not rip the insulation to bits, when we install it or leave us with scares as we rub against them!!.
The wall frame is already solid and I cannot get it to move, but I still have not quiet finished yet....
Drill thru the floor boards and the van's floor and use some self tapping screws to fix the frame to the floor...
Just one each side, is gonna be plenty and they are counter sunk into the board for good measure..
The last of the 1st threaded bar I have been using, is just long enough for to short bolts :) :)
and with the washers I am ready to just about finish securing the Bathroom/Kitchen wall frame.
and in they go, either side of the rivet, to give much added strength.
And I hope it never causes me any grief in the rest of time that we own the van
As I am sat on the porta loo, looking at this area.
I cannot leave it as is, as the 3 ply will just be hanging loose, so I look at a few off-cuts I have and a plan comes to my mind.
The angle grinder cuts out a section of the new upright which slides over the nut n bots I added a few mins ago.
And hides them
Hides the bolts nicely and it is a little bit short, which is not a problem as I have a small piece that will do nicely.
And will help to keep the extra frame work squarish
So I cut another piece of frame and screw it all together.
Sorry about the smoke, but I cannot use the saw today, so using a metal cutting disk on the grinder :) :)
And it all starts to come to shape, It just needs some shaping to the vans curves, and it slides in nice n snug.
I cut 2 lengths of threaded bar, and with washers n nuts,
I drill thru the hole lot and slide the threaded bar in place
And tightened the nuts up nice n snug.
The penny washers, like all the others sit flush with the timber, as The wood compressed a little on tightening up the nuts.
Lynne has just come home and popped her head in, after a look around and a few questions, we head in doors for a welcoming hot chocolate...
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