Boler American - New Countertop

[Tim M]

Well - here is my new kitchen/countertop area....

I lined my old kitchen with 1/8" beech wood, stained a nice cherry color. I still need to put my trim pieces on, but you get the idea....

Again - I'm sure the question will come up -
How much does it weigh?
it's really only 1/2" MDF under all that with a 4" MDF front to it (so it makes it look thicker) - it's about 20lbs...

Where is your sink/Stove/furnace/fridge? - All removed - I'm still a tent camper at heart, and enjoy cooking outside - even in the rain - I have a 10x20' Vendor Tent, so plenty of outside space.

Working on my floor as I speak, going to be a pretty cool pattern that probably has never been done before.... more details on that soon....

[Pat R]

Looks really good. MDF is strong and pretty lite weight too. Keep the pictures coming.

[peterh]

Looks really good. MDF is strong and pretty lite weight too. Keep the pictures coming.

Very sharp! Looks like a cabinet for a well-appointed kitchen or bathroom.

We used 1/4" birch plywood for our counter tops. It's harder to work with, but stronger and lighter than MDF.

[Bobbie Mayer]

Why have counter tops if you cook outside? Why not use that space floor to ceiling for storage?

[Tim M]

Why have counter tops if you cook outside? Why not use that space floor to ceiling for storage?

Sorry - Didn't mean to sound - brusque - but sometimes you always worry what everyone will think of your changes, some people think that making serious changes to a camper is a bit risky for resale, I guess I'm a fan of making a camper adapatable to you... but again - I have $1,500 into my Boler American - - so a bit easier to do what I want and not worry about resale....

Why a countertop? Well - you need somewhere to put your drink while you're inside, and a good spot to throw snacks, or toiletry items... or that battery operated fan?

Here is the photo of the countertop from the bottom -







I'm working on the floor tonight, but will have a 2x12" / 4x12 and 6x12" random pattern tile, hopefully I'll have photos tomorrow of that.

the countertop is actually made out of thin cement - it's similiar to the front dinette that I did for a friend -

[Roy in TO]

Tim,
Can you please slow down a bit?
You are making some of us look real bad for the length of time it is taking to get our trailers up to snuff.

[Tim M]

Slow down - that's what happens when you're a little ADD/ADHD.... I can't sit still...

And, I just happen to do countertops/flooring as a side hobby - so I've been thinking about the Boler all winter long, I just had to get it going before this weekends 1st outing... I still haven't mounted my front/rear side upper cabinets yet... that is coming soon, but in the meantime, I've been concentrated on the kitchen area... Everyone I show it to thinks it's granite and tries to figure out what it's doing in a camper...

Then - I tell them the floor is/will be concrete? Then people get really confused? Why? And what about the weight? I'm laying down the tile pattern tonight, and the 2nd thin coat of concrete (yes concrete) 2 very thin thin coats... hopefully I'll have some photos of that tomorrow... maybe even a video...

if anyone is around the MSP area and wants to take a look, or on the North Shore of Lake Superior during the 4th of July - feel free to come and take a look - - maybe I'll dig up some business on the side.... would love to do another kitchen mod, I have some more ideas up my sleeve...


thanks again for the kind words, I'll be sure to post photos/vids as soon as I get them.

[Tim M]

I do have to share a store/warehouse for the local MSP people

http://www.cannonrecovery.com/Directions.html

a fantastic place to get trim and cabinet doors, and flooring - - my doors for my Boler were $5 a piece. brand new - I had to dig through many many pieces, but found 4-5 that would work for my camper - I sanded and stained and got the nice cherry color.

trim pieces were also very cheap! Normally about $.30 a foot....

if you live in the MSP area, it's worth a trip!

[Chester Taje]

Nice job. I think its great when folks can make a unit personalized to suit themselves. Keep it going.

[Tim M]

Well after messing around with my camper last night, I ditched the idea for the thin flex concrete... had plans on a really cool tile pattern for the floor.... I had high hopes... but when I got down to it, the idea of putting Laminate back in was extremely easy.... and the fact I had old laminate pieces from a previous house sitting in the garage, so at least I was able to recycle some of the old stuff for new use....

So here we are -

this is what I started with -




and here she is as of last night -





I was hoping for something different on the floor, but maybe when I find some discounted flooring in a cherry color, I'll pick it up - in the meantime - I think she is ready to camp this weekend.....

hoping my mother gets those blinds done before this weekend.... my wife is still looking for a bit of privacy...