I made a lot of good progress today, at least it was very noticable in the pictures. It was a cool morning, so I took my friend Pat’s advice and tested the heater for the van. It took a few minutes for the gasoline to get to the heater, but after that the heat was pouring out of the vent. It’s good to know that works well.
I shifted my focus to the galley. I started out by making some of the final boards for the galley. One board was needed up high on the galley to mount the drawer slides for the drawer that will go above the refrigerator. Then two more boards for the feet of the refrigerator to sit on so the refrigerator door clears the lower aluminum extrusion rail. I just glued and clamped the first board, but screwed down the ones for the refrigerator into brackets that I had installed earlier for this purpose.
With the boards installed, I was able to install the refrigerator. I was able to manhandle it into the van and into the galley fabrication by myself. It fit perfectly!! I attached a couple of brackets to the top of the fridge using a couple of the existing screws on the fridge and wood screws into the wood panels of the galley. This really solidified the refrigerator in it’s place. I connected the power and it started right up. I let it run for a while and it was working fine. I did secure the power wires on the back wall of the galley out of the way, but it’s not shown in these pictures.
Then I pulled out the countertop and attached it to the top of the galley. It fit very well. I used six wood screws to attach it to the aluminum extrusion frame of the galley. It’s very solid. I’m not sure that I like the mis-match of wood colors and textures, but it’s good enough for who it’s for.
I spent some time trying to mount the sink into the countertop. I did a test run and discovered that the brackets didn’t fit well into the grooves that I had routered into the countertop. I decided to widen all of the grooves before I tried to mount the sink. I used a router to widen the grooves, and then I stained the exposed wood with the finishing oil that I used on the rest of the counter. This takes two coats, and the first coad needs six hours to dry. So, I’ll put a second coat on tonight and try for the sink install tomorrow.
I shifted gears to the re-make of the microwave cabinet. My plan was to take two inches off the height of the cabinet, and to take three inches off the depth of the cabinet. I ordered a different plug for the outlet behind the microwave to save some additonal space and be able to take those three inches off the depth of the cabinet.
I basically had to take the microwave cabinet apart and shorten every part except the aluminum rails that went across the extrusion. I worked on them in order and reassembled the parts when they were cut down, so I better remembered how it all went back together. I tested the fit in the workshop, and I think it will work good. I had Elizabeth help me mount it back into the van and here is what it looks like now. I am very happy with this smaller cabinet as it give me a better view of the countertop below.
I’ll have to wait for that new plug to arrive before I put the microwave in. But, I was able to install the under cabinet lighting in the microwave cabinet. I decided to go with a LED strip light for this purpose. The LED strip fits well into the channel in the aluminum extrusion. I cut out some clear plastic to hold the LED strip in place. Then I drilled a hole in the aluminum extrusion to feed the wires through and installed a switch in the side of the cabinet. I hooked it up to power and am really happy with the light it give me on the countertop.
That was it for the day. I put in about 5 1/2 hours. Had to stop for the staining of that fresh cut wood on the counter top. But tomorrow I will be able to mount the sink and work on the rest of the plumbing.