Began today with setting up a rough pattern out of MDF before moving onto a final paint job of the walls before laying the vinyl flooring and starting to cut the bulk head and seat.
Wasn’t of much help today COVID had me with head spins, 02 level still low effecting concentration at 95% under load.
Been in hospital for the past 3 days with COVID. It didn’t really hit me like I thought it would. Slight tiredness and a dry cough.. One of the guys here came down positive and the hospital said I should come in for a checkup and I came back positive aswell. They were more worried about me getting rejection or pneumonia and pumped me full of Remdesivir. Still a little tired and unsteady on my feet. My mate has been hard at work installing the walls with backing insulation and installing the ceiling. This was the last place Id ever thought I would catch it. Not much between here and Antarctica. From what I was told being a transplant patient I would have ended up on a respirator. Wouldn’t let them put me on oxygen unless I dropped to under 90% oxygen level and refused a wheel chair. After 12 years on nasal prongs and 4 in a chair they were going to have trouble convincing me. Took me a little effort to keep my level above 92% but managed it.
Still having a little trouble concentrating but back into work tomorrow. I was going nuts inside a small room for the three days.
The next two days I will be doing the top coat of the wall panels. I choose the color Immersion, an off black to make the hardwood ply stand out.
I was sitting around the fire watching varnish dry after the umpteenth time of sanding and rolling with two beers in me and saw the anvil and hammers for the first time out of context.
We dry fitted the walls after undercoating to drill the holes ready for installation. Ill be doing the topcoat all weekend. I have also sanded and varnished the door panels to an extent that it must have been 9 times per panel. I’m done with varnish.
Have the solar mounted, Maxair fitted, wall panels sanded and undercoated first 80 grit then 120 then 240 grit in-between coats . The same with the hardwood ply panels. Start the top coat tomorrow and dry fitting to cut the holes for the wiring. Have also started fitting the insulation to the back of the timber panels. Much easier than connecting to the steel and if the panels ever require removing everything peals away with one section.
Today was fitting the solar panels, puttying the walls ready to paint, threading wiring through the walls and varnishing the hard wood panels. Had change of mind with the color arrangement. Instead of the black on timber look, may go for a hardwood varnished look on a beige wall concept. Had never realized there were so-many types of ply wood since visiting Tasmania.
Been a long day. Shoulder played up after feeding wire all day. Between the two of us almost half a bottle of whiskey gone. Been over doing it. Not all fun and games building a van. Between the back injuries, leg injuries, reduced lung capacity. I’m feeling it but after 12 years on an oxygen bottle and four years in a wheel chair, loving every minute of it though. Good catching up with a mate too. If I’m not doing something I feel disabled, at-least working I feel like I’m accomplishing something F*k the pain.
The job for the past two days are making stencils to replace the two rear door cover plates. Before making the door covers out of hard wood ply and painting.
The smaller covers will fit better, but will have to have other blocks made for the door mechanisms. Going to head off shortly and watch my mates wife sing in a band at the local pub (Blue Chili). Haven’t had a beer in a long while, looking forward to a schnitzel parmigiana before finishing off the roof racks and door panels cut outs.
The hot spiced cider around the burn barrels got the best of me, knock off time for work today. Spending the rest of the afternoon keeping my mate company in the workshop while he finishes off a Myrtle Burl knife handle sipping whiskey by the fire.
Today we got stuck into the van. My mate has almost caught up on his projects. He just has to finish a handle on a custom blade he’s been working on. Laminated with Damascus copper with a burl epoxy handle. Managed stage 3 insulation under the floor, laid the floor. Still have to trim the front door edge. Started the stage 3 insulation on the doors and have almost finished mounting the roof racks to hold the solar panels.
Started the second stage insulation today. 10mm foam with backing. Sticks much easier than the stuff that was sold years ago. Great products from Car Builders. Will probably have 24 sheets of sound deadener left and a full box of 10mm foam.
Not a bad effort for a guy with a f*ked knee, two fu*&d shoulders and a Fu&ed back. However Im back on the heavy meds at the end of the day.
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