My last post, in retrospect, might have been a little optimistic. Once I had got the wagon under the sheltering expanse of the barn I was able to give it a careful once over. I was aware that the job might well involve a little more than a paintbrush but one thing seemed to lead to another. “the more you stir the more it stinks” is a saying often applied to the repair of old wooden structures, boats in particular, so I was reasonably open to the potential. My weapons of inspection were, in order of use, eye, finger, point of knife. My knife kept emerging from my pocket. Above is what came to light once I had removed the cill above one of the windows. In my opinion the man who owned the Van before me and replaced the roof, did not allow enough overhang. This has allowed rain to get under it with consequences. When building structures that must resist weather there are 2 main lines of defence. Design first and material second. A good design will shed water, resist wind and cope with the considerable attritional power of sunlight (UV). Inevitably compromises in the design and belligerence of climate will take their toll and thats where durable materials help and in this case rain water was met by untreated softwood and iron fixings.
Here is a selection showing the well known process of oxidation. I will use brass screws and at least galvanised pins/nails or better if I can find them. A galvanised nail has the advantage of gripping better while a brass pin lasts even better. Never seen a brass nail and shan’t go to the extent of copper ones.
The lower half of the stable door has some history and has led a similar life to the apocryphal broom which was still going strong after 5 replacement heads and 7 shafts. The replaced replacement and re-scarf jointed boards were well on their way out so I decided to replace the whole. Luckily I had some boards milled up and dry from last year.
I planed these all round and tongue and grooved the face boards.
Then screwed and plugged the ledges and brace. By carefully using the old door as a template I hoped (where I have failed before) to get a precise enough fit not to have to adjust further on site. I am using oak here which is a very durable wood and the door will probably be used elsewhere long after the Van has crumbled away but at least I will not be called to replace it again.
In keeping with a sympathetic repair I will keep as many of the hinges and bolts as I can.
Here it is, held in place by wedges, fitting perfectly enough not to need altering.
So far so good.
Last time I painted the Wagon, about 5 years ago, I had to replace the bottoms of some of the exterior boards. This time around there was this one piece and the board by the window. The rest, without getting over thorough are sound. A few might need a close look next time. A bit like my molars.
This piece, instead of scarf jointing like the adjacent board, has been cut at an angle back from the front so any water will tend outwards.
Once the rotten wood was removed and sound wood found underneath it was a matter of dimensioning up some replacements. The photo above, like life itself, is multilayered. Although unintentional I am pretty excited by it and imagine it would have been hard to conjure it up on purpose with its dizzying array of views and reflexions.
These are the replacement sills to go above the 2 windows and the door. They are made from some leftover Iroko and should go the distance. They protrude a little more than their forebears giving better weather protection. They will be the “wing mirrors”, so to speak, which may have influenced width conscious waggoners of old but not me.
Note the tin of wood preserver which will be applied to the exposed frame and anywhere suspect to help stave off the dreaded.
The back of the car has become my toolbox with the advantage of being self propelled. I hope the added weight is not affecting my MPG as we are told it does. This is our “other car” which my son has had for the last year. It lacks the luxuries of the other golf such as the much coveted leather covered handbrake, ability to play with the hifi from the steering wheel and more importantly the trip computer which monitors fuel consumption so I will never know.
That’s quite enough for now on the wagon and anyway thats as far as I have got. Much more interesting is the finished barleysugar, which like the door is likely to outlast its host structure. I will be delivering it shortly and given the chance may go and photograph the collapsing original.
Early October is tractor spares day so I nipped off for a quick look. It had rained more or less continuously the previous night but although the ground was sodden the sun came out and the aroma of cheap burgers and oily rust was intoxicating enough to have me poring over a medley parts I did not need and watching toothless farmers of a bygone age doing the same. I know that business was done as I walked away with a lovely steel bucked stamped with the royal crest and 1957 for a well haggled £6 and saw others barrowing off with other assorted items. The event itself is organised by a vintage tractor dealer who charges at the gate for both buyers and sellers as well as attracting a crowd to his own outfit across the road. Not a bad model for 3 way profit!
Anyway there was something for everyone, cheaper than the cinema and I daresay I will be back for the next one in spring.
As for the wagon, I hope to get the paintbrush out by next time.