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Colin Birch
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What a CF should NOT look like

As the weather forcast is good for the next few days I decided it's time to decide the fate of my CF. I decided to remove part of the coachbuilt side panel. What I found didn't suprise me but did turn out to be worse than I expected. Okay, I knew the frame was 'past it's best' but there was worse to come. The floor under the water tank is totally rotten. Next move is to rip out the tank and see just how bad the floor is. If it's too bad then the old girl will be off to the camp site in the sky. If that's the case then this might turn out to be a very short blog!

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Colin Birch - CF-UK Admin
Pontypridd, S.Wales
The Bedford CF Web Site
http://www.cf-uk.co.uk

Tue 16 Jul 2013 @ 19:01 View Colin Birch   Email Colin Birch   Colin Birch Home Page   Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
bluebedouin
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Nice little restoration project there.Shouldn't take too long to bring it up to scratch!

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Tue 16 Jul 2013 @ 20:27 View bluebedouin   Email bluebedouin   Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Colin Birch
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I've just taken the water tank out. Floor is really spongy below it. I've tacked the side panel back on for the night. I've been called into work for a few hours tomorrow but hopefully I can give the rest of the floor a good look over tomorrow and make my decision.

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Colin Birch - CF-UK Admin
Pontypridd, S.Wales
The Bedford CF Web Site
http://www.cf-uk.co.uk

Tue 16 Jul 2013 @ 20:29 View Colin Birch   Email Colin Birch   Colin Birch Home Page   Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Gethin
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Why not buy a new camper section and graft it onto your Beddy .
plenty of written off campers out there that's been hit at the front.

Tue 16 Jul 2013 @ 20:31 View Gethin   Email Gethin   Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Judging by the design of the construction framework, it isn't exactly high tech. As for plywood, cut out the bad, do a half lap on the remaining sound plywood and epoxy glue new plywood in to make sound. Epoxy the cut edges of all plywood to prevent water ingress. Plywood rots from the edge not the face as there is always end grain showing on an edge. Seal the edge, no more rot!

Martin
Tue 16 Jul 2013 @ 22:53 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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wow

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Tue 16 Jul 2013 @ 23:03 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Colin Birch
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Gethin wrote:
Why not buy a new camper section and graft it onto your Beddy .

Not really an option due to lack of space/time etc

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Colin Birch - CF-UK Admin
Pontypridd, S.Wales
The Bedford CF Web Site
http://www.cf-uk.co.uk

Wed 17 Jul 2013 @ 04:11 View Colin Birch   Email Colin Birch   Colin Birch Home Page   Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Colin Birch
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leatherwalnut wrote:
Judging by the design of the construction framework, it isn't exactly high tech. As for plywood, cut out the bad, do a half lap on the remaining sound plywood and epoxy glue new plywood in to make sound. Epoxy the cut edges of all plywood to prevent water ingress. Plywood rots from the edge not the face as there is always end grain showing on an edge. Seal the edge, no more rot!

I'll take a good look tommorrow to see how much, if any, good wood there is left. Half lap? I'm assuming split the ply to half thickness on both good old wood and new, overlap the two at the join? Overlap by how much ? What would you recomend for the epoxy and where can I get it?

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Colin Birch - CF-UK Admin
Pontypridd, S.Wales
The Bedford CF Web Site
http://www.cf-uk.co.uk

Wed 17 Jul 2013 @ 04:16 View Colin Birch   Email Colin Birch   Colin Birch Home Page   Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Not so clued up on the best epoxy, but I thoroughly recommend Sikaflex 221 for sealing panels and seams. I have been using it to re-waterproof my Bedouin before I sell her, and the stuff is marvelous. Much better than any other sealant I have used, it is like a bloody strong adhesive AND sealant in one. cut all the wood out above the cab and replaced it, also the nearside wall from cab - habitation area. The seal is much better than the original.
Wed 17 Jul 2013 @ 09:51 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Hi Colin, if you can find some sound plywood, a half lap of between 1" and 1.5" should be sufficient. Use West System epoxy with a sprinkling of silica in the mix ( also part of the West System range ) otherwise the epoxy will run out of the joints like water. You need a consistency of mayonnaise then it will ooze out of the joint, filling any gaps in the joint. To protect the edges of the plywood, paint on the Epoxy with only a small amount of silica in the mix. When Epoxy dries it is 100% waterproof, unlike polyester resin ( GRP ) which isn't.

Axminster Power Tools supply West System Epoxy by mail order, they are a good firm that I have dealt with for years. Just do a Web search. Kits come in various sizes, it just depends on how much you need to do.

I have used West System Epoxy for over 30 years, building and repairing boats, both of timber and GRP it is a very versatile product.
Martin
Wed 17 Jul 2013 @ 23:48 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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I reckon about 20% of the wooden frame I stripped out wasn't rotten but there were no whole pieces in tact (aside from the bits touching the top of the cab as they are out of the weather. I would surprised if any untouched cf motorhome would be free from wood rot.
Sun 21 Jul 2013 @ 03:15 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Of the three CF`s I`ve owned, none of them were free from rot. It seems that cost was the driving force and no preservative was used for the timber. Do any of you think of protection when restoring? My misses used to enjoy the smell of creosote on all the soft furnishings and bedding (NOT), so that may be the answer to no paint etc on the timber. By the way Colin,---- make the bed before any more pics please.

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Thu 01 Aug 2013 @ 18:05 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Yes, that is correct. All new timber used in rebuilding or repairing coachbuilt motor homes should either be Tanalised (pressure treated with preservative) or given a good dose of clear wood preservative like Cuprinol.

Obviously, in the original construction process the manufacturers never dreamt that their creations would still be about some thirty or more years later!

Martin
Thu 01 Aug 2013 @ 22:39 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
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