Date:         Thu, 11 May 2000 13:45:59 EDT
Reply-To:     ThingGuy@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steve Lashley <ThingGuy@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Mouldings / Overheating
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 5/11/0 5:30:17 PM, kanas@QUALITY.QADAS.COM wrote:

<<Hi everybody,

I've been following the threads on shrinking interior mouldings in
Westfalias.  Many years ago, a friend who restores 30's vintage Buicks
suggested that with heat the mouldings can be 'stretched'.  Turns out, he
was absolutely right.>>

I recently assembled a new kitchen cabinet kit for my EuroVan MV that I
purchased in Germany..  The kit included new gray moulding that was rolled up
and taped together.  The moulding had some kinks and creases in it that made
it difficult to install.

To straighten it out, I put the moulding in a pillow case, tied the end shut
and tossed it in the dryer for a few minutes.  When I took the moulding out,
it was very pliable and I was able to straighten it out before it cooled.

If you try to install it while it's still hot, it won't go into the slot on
your cabinets.  The instructions with my kit also recommended using glue
inside the plywood groove.  I'm hoping this will keep the moulding from
shrinking.

The new mouldings seem to be made of PVC.  This material seems to have a
memory, and will likely try to return to it's original state if stretched.
The fit into the plywood slot was so tight, that  I had to use a hard rubber
mallet to seat it all the way in.

Steve Lashley
'66 Westy
'74 Campmobile
'93 EV MV
<A HREF="http://eurocampers.com/">http://EuroCampers.com</A>
314-614-0750
Importing German Side Tents, Carver Propane Heaters and other Accessories for
Bus, Vanagon and EuroVan