Date:         Fri, 3 Oct 2003 11:40:21 EDT
Reply-To:     THX0001@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         George Goff <THX0001@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: After market rear bumpers?
Comments: To: dosteven@SYR.EDU
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 10/3/03 9:36:50 AM, dosteven@SYR.EDU writes:

<< . . . goto Home Depot buy 2 10ft lengths of 2" rigid electrical conduit, 4
90' bends . . . >>

Bad idea for many reasons.  First, will you guys please get your heads out of
Home Depot every time you need something made of metal?  There are better
places to find anything.  Home depot doesn't even have good plywood.

Now, Dan my man, rigid conduit is a horrible choice of material for a bumper
because it is made for bending.  And, the sweep of a 2" ell is at least a
foot, so the endos won't exactly hug the body.  Anyway, if you like the longhorn
steer look, why not simply bend the rigid?

Then there's the hot-dipped galvanized coating with which to deal.  It will
not hold paint very well and no matter how much you polish it, it's not going
to look like chrome.  While painted rigid might still be available, I've never
seen it offered for sell in my lifetime.

Here's the constructive (officious?) end of my criticism: Seek out a fab shop
in the dinghy part of town or out where the corn grows high and either buy
some light gauge structural stock from them or have the grimy hands at the shop
fab a bumper for you.  You'll find these guys to be honest and they'll not
overcharge you.  They work hard for a living, so they know the value of a buck.
If you act like a decent kinda guy, they'll treat you as one and you'll get
none of that value-added, internet bullshit from them.

George