Project Choose Your Own Adventure

[ScottyB]

Its only because i know you're a perfectionist and exceptional craftsman that i won't call shenanigans about you pointing out the flaws.  This is incredible man and every point was clearly researched, thought out and executed. Love following this build!

thanks bud.  i can't emphasize enough how apprehensive i was about this going in.  this project was leagues above my head a year or two ago.  i basically sat in front of build threads and youtube channels for months on end before i felt like i had a rough idea what i was doing.  most of my technique and parts selection is taken from the guys that went ahead of me. i'm still essentially learning most of this as i go, but that's part of the fun when i'm on nobody's schedule but my own.

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next item in question is a "power panel" i'm putting in the cabin, which will live above our heads on a little stow-away shelf.  i have a voltmeter, USB port, and Cig lighter port, along with switches to turn any of them off to prevent battery draw when not in use.  i'll be able to glance at our juice level as well as plug in stuff like our phones, weather radio, LED lantern, or even a travel hairdryer.  first step is creating the panel itself.  i grabbed an ordinary old 4x4 cedar post that was left over from making my wife a potting bench years ago and was destined for the trash.  i was pretty happy to come across it though, because the cedar would match the accent on the bulkhead wall.  i ripped it down on the table saw and planed it to thickness.  in doing so i found out that it had wonderful grain structure and color hiding inside.  a quick spray of Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane and the color really jumped out, as you can see compared to the uncoated piece to the right.


the unfortunate thing about planing softwoods like cedar is that they tend to chip/tear-out easily, no matter how little material you try to take off. you can see the chip marks in the lighting. not the end of the world, just a shame on an otherwise beautiful piece of wood.

now for wiring.... i haven't soldered up anything remotely complicated since high school.  quickly found out my old Weller 40W soldering iron was junk and grabbed a new 100W unit to get the job done (something something you should double your budget for stuff like this at the start blah blah blah).  money well spent.  

the switch on the right turns the voltmeter on/off, and the left one controls the 2 receptacles.  they'll definitely need to be shut off at night because they're brighter than you'd expect and would probably light up the whole cabin.  i may consider replacing the USB port at a later time with an unlit version so i can leave it on at night and not light the cabin up like a disco.

a quick jerry-rig up to the fuse panel and thar she blows...er, glows!  i'll attach this panel with screws so it can be removed as necessary to swap out or service the switch and/or receptacles.