The trailer resists - Or how I managed to break my nose building the rear hatch

 Time for another trailer status update.  The   project is coming along pretty well.  The last bit that needs installed is the rear hatch.  To say the least - it's been a bitch.

I built the first rear hatch and was unsatisfied with its fit and flimsiness, so I tore it apart in a beer fueled rage on Friday evening.  I started the hatch you see to your left that same night.

This time, I decided not to screw around.  Side supports are 3/4" plywood.  The support spars are 2.5" wide instead of 1.5" like the previous piece of crap hatch.

Additionally, I found that the biggest problem with the last hatch was that it didn't support the skins well.  So this time, I placed 3" for the sole purpose of gluing the hatch skins to.

Awesome, huh?  Looks like I learned something.

The trailer Gods must have been unpleased with my latest attempt however......

 At right is a picture of my nose after the trailer gods decided to reward  me with a 1x3 launched out of the table saw at mach speed.

It fracking hurt.  I took this picture after I managed to stop the bleeding and get a good look at it.  There's some pretty good swelling right now, and I still have a headache, but I had plenty of beer in the fridge to soothe my suffering.

An inch higher and I would probably would have lost an eyeball.  Just sayin'.

 Like the Honey Badger, I didn't give a F*** about the nose and continued working through the evening.  I kept some paper napkins and a greasy old towel nearby to prevent me from ruining the finish of the trailer with my bleeding nose.  I finished the frame for the hatch and test fit it.

It was a beautiful site.

Once again - My Pandora station of choice is Ozzy Osbourne.  I think Pantera was raging about something when the table saw when all intercontinental ballistic missile on me.

Here's another shot of the rear hatch frame.  Judging by all of the pictures, I must be proud of it or something.

 Here's a shot of me skinning the hatch with some tempered board.  There is probably a full tube of adhesive holding that thing down.  While the glue sets, it is mostly kept in place with brads from the brad nailer.  The c-claps were used to help some areas that wanted to come up.

Beer can for scale.

Here's a shot of the hatch with lights and trim installed.  Ready for install.  Didn't get to put the aluminum on the front side since everyone was closed for the Memorial Day weekend.  You are looking at the interior side of the hatch, which sports a light maple hue for you folks keeping score at home.