Airstream End Segment Production

[@DavidLaFerney]

Look - anyone including me is going to see things they think could be done better, but the truth is these things actually do last and perform pretty good. We have one that’s 11 years old and it doesn’t leak, and we love it. It requires more or less constant maintenance of one kind or another but I expect it will last 10 more years and we’ll still love it. There are all kinds of people - that’s why there are so many different kinds of RV.

[@505stealth]

I don't understand why they don't use an epoxy before lapping the panels together and then riveting like airplane builders do. The epoxy ends spreading the load and the rivets are the back-up bonding agent once the epoxy cures.Stronger joints and longer duration of seams not ever leaking. Airstream seems to build their trailers in the opposite of tested durability and convention...tested 35,000ft in the sky.

[@DavidLaFerney]

You might notice though - these are not actually airplanes.

[@vincentmiceli2554]

My first thoughts are: there seems to be a lot of unnecessary waste in cutting the panels. Second, how long does it take for a guy to get so good as to drill the holes evenly and in a straight line, third, I am amazed there is no sealant between the overlapping pieces and last, I would think minimizing seams would minimize potential leaks or other joint problems.

[@ShieldArc200]

No wonder they leak, they don't use Vulkem in the lap seams like Avion and Silver Streak used to.

[@travismiller5548]

anyone who restores them for sure uses vulkem 😂

[@robertschulke1596]

No bonding between panels for strength and watertightness? Epoxy or butyl tape would assure longevity. This is 1930’s construction with no advancements.

[@robertsontirado4478]

People disrespecting blue collar workers, many American men and women can’t squat up and down for a full day like these men.

[@twickersruss]

Well that's a job too big for my English wheel. Best to buy one.

[@regdor8187]

Pop Rivets ???

[@mbox314]

I used to work in the sheet metal business and the only thing wrong with blind "pop" rivets is that they are more expensive than solid of semitubular rivets and there is a risk of the mandel falling out. aside from that they are fine.

[@regdor8187]

@@mbox314 : Of course when the mandrel falls out, there goes your shear force, so it is prudent to use the more expensive captured mandrel type and also the water tightness of a pop rivet is always suspect...

[@travismiller5548]

@@mbox314 did your sheet metal jobs go bouncing down the highway at speed every weekend? save the pop rivets for the internal skin, where there is no better option.

[@robertschulke1596]

No heat break between panels and frame? This completely nullifies the value of any insulation.

[@mbox314]

a narrow slice of metal might be a thermal bridge but it is a very small one compared to the entire surface of a panel. the insulation also helps absorb noise.

[@robcollins1118]

I saw everyone wearing the new lightweight clear eye protection, and ear plugs, as far as Alfred, I have no clue what he was babbling about,

[@DanFrederiksen]

complicated build. I'd be tempted to use fiberglass

[@StokesFred]

No ear or eye protection. Apparently OSHA doesn't exist in Ohio.

[@alberte.3059]

This is some aftermarket shop with a bunch of old retired guys...

[@robertsontirado4478]

Can you squat up and down for a full day? Make fun of drug pushes I dare you.

[@TheThisisliving]

Like most manufactures they follow GM's rule not to let the product last any more they want it to... Too bad for what could be such a good product.

[@takayama1638]

Watching this kind of makes me not want an Airstream.

[@idomake4429]

I had a great explanation for this written, but I forgot that the turd faces at You-Tube have disabled the "paste" function. I'm not retyping the whole thing. The long and the short of it is, precision costs money, so you use it where its really needed, everywhere else you go for efficiency. I have a 1974 model and it has held up quite nicely.

[@mksherwood3068]

until you see a finished one. The fact that so many man-hours are put into these handmade units is incredible.

[@simonchivers6995]

Great comment- you could easily over engineer the process - for example CNC 5 axis the trim except the guy with the nibble is faster!