www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

I did some work on a campervan for a freind a while ago, the small table at the back, he wanted pine.
Okay, no problem, he got a timberboard panel, and eventually i got round to making it, we screwed and glued 3 battens on the underside, from memory, they were 18x69, running virtually full width, 600mm iirc.

He mentioned today that it has warped somewhat. A rough guess, about 20mm up in the middle with the two sides down. Although i havnt seen it yet.

I have never had a problem with them before once reinforced

I wondered about pulling off the wood and clamping it back slowly whilst keeping it indoors to dry out a little more. Then replace with new pieces underneath?

Either that, or i fold up a metal top hat section and screw it back to that.

Thoughts?

If it warped with battens of that size I'm assuming you either fixed the long edge flat down, or the top has come away from the battens. 18mm isn't really enough to keep a jointed timberboard in check so refit 2-3" x 1" battens on edge under the top which should straighten back out. Make sure both sides of the top are sealed as well.

Thickness is critical though, it cant have that much under it beceause of the way ita folded up.


Battens were fitted flat down.

in that case i would knock up a metal section to straighten it out hitch, easy enough for a man of your talents and will provide far more strength for a given thickness than a timber batten

The panel isnt that long either btw, its only about 750mm

you may find the only way to sort it is to cut grooves full thicness on the stave joins then cut slithers to fit

the reason it happens is wood dosent move along it length where as accross 3 to 5 % is common unless the wood is fully sealed then much less

i suggest you dont work on the wood now but when its average [half way between hot and cold april/may perhaps!!] then fully seal

Sounds like hard work for a bit of old timberboard, i think i will go with the metalwork, screws should happily pull it back, or will that cause it to split eventually?

bloody wood

is it cupped or bowed on top!!!!!

if its expanding on the opposit side to the battons then it wont split as i t will be under compression when flat

9 or12mm ply rebated into 2x1"edging would have been more stable lighter

you wont see any wide wood in a caravan for this very reason

Good advice big-all.

Thanks BA
I will get round to having a look at some point.



I think the more wood the better they will burn