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Post by magikbus on Oct 4, 2019 18:36:17 GMT -8
OK so I looked up the price of new front kick panels. I then picked myself up off the floor after who knows how long I was out. Mine were allowed to warp significantly out of shape by a combination of probable heat and moisture over the last decade or so. I have turned my mind toward reshaping them into the correct curve to allow them to be reinstalled properly as they appear to be quite new. They are presently in a form that would bring joy to Antoni Gaudi who's Sagrada Familia is a weird and wonderful thing that one can stand there and admire for hours and still not see it all, but totally unusable for VW Van front kick panels. I was wondering if I could steam them and flatten them out, but they are too big to build a steam box for. I also wonder if putting them out in the rain for a couple of hours would ruin them, or make them more malleable. Any suggestions? Stan  |
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Post by tony on Oct 5, 2019 14:53:00 GMT -8
Call Antoni Gaudi RIP lol  |
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Post by Volktales on Oct 5, 2019 20:28:59 GMT -8
I bought some hardboard from Home Depot, and some black vinyl from a fabric shop and made my own. Don would probably know how to make the old ones return to the correct shape...
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Post by magikbus on Oct 6, 2019 10:26:44 GMT -8
OK Russ, thanks for the reply. A good idea, I"ll call it my plan "B". The carpet stuff that's glued to the stock hardboard backing is still in like new condition so I'd rather use that, but all I have to do is figure out a way to soften the hardboard so I can press them flat and let them dry flat without destroying the stock hardboard. I guess no one out there has ever tried it so I'll first contact Don and if he doesn't know I'll start experimenting. I know the repo ones come flat so it isn't a matter of bending them to a specific shape, as they will most likely spring into that shape once they are fitted onto the clips.. One thing I know is I won't be buying $150 ones from cip.
Stan
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Post by Brenticon on Oct 6, 2019 13:22:55 GMT -8
Carpet stuff?
Hmmmmmmmmm ?!?!?!?
I've replaced many with wood panel.
Stain, varathane or paint.
I imaging there's sticky vinyl shit you could use too.
I just used the old ones for a template
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Post by magikbus on Oct 6, 2019 19:04:16 GMT -8
Wood panel? Do you mean 1/8th Lauan? I'd guess that'd be the only stuff that would bend enough.
Stan
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Post by Volktales on Oct 6, 2019 19:36:50 GMT -8
Orange shag. You know it is the right thing to do...
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Post by Brenticon on Oct 6, 2019 19:47:04 GMT -8
Door panel or the birch stuff we use for interior panels
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Post by tony on Oct 6, 2019 20:07:53 GMT -8
Just go into that small bedroom you don't use in your single wide and rip that thin plywood off the wall and use that |
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Post by PICTUP on Oct 6, 2019 21:26:55 GMT -8
Windsor Plywood used to sell that nice Baltic Birch in half sheets(5'x5' (?)). I used that for Jay's headliner.
Getting the OG hardboard back into shape might be tough. Add enough heat in steam form(would have to build an appropriate size steam box) and they could just crumble, or delaminate at the very least. Soaking would I think yield the same results, only take longer to do so. Maybe "spot" soaking and a heat gun with guiding hand pressure? Some people on the samba are making them out of ABS panels, but they are kinda ugly IMO. I must have some panels around I can experiment on as it would be good to find a way if possible. Maybe that Bus at Reagh's has some....
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