Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2021 23:18:49 -0500
Reply-To: KI4TLF <ki4tlf@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: KI4TLF <ki4tlf@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Anyone make the bold caps for the arm rests.
In-Reply-To: <425178977.278413.1629852321877@mail.yahoo.com>
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I saw a "armrest bolt cover VW T4" on Makerbot Thingverse. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3875275
It could be printed on a 3D printer and if someone was knowledgeable, could modify as needed. It didn't say what year it was for. Then the issue would be finding the right color to print them from.
GregM
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Richard Koerner
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2021 7:45 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Anyone make the bold caps for the arm rests.
More fun!! Buy a Costco lasagne; cook, enjoy (I'm having one tonight). Save the black plastic dish it comes in; wash. Cut out a flat section. Use some light sandpaper to give the desired "matte" finish. Trace something about the size of a nickle; cut carefully. Apply Super Glue; install. Done. If done with reasonable care, I bet no one could hardly tell the difference. (and, Super Glue hates water....so if ever need to remove, use water as your solvent.) Tons and tons of solutions to this missing piece on your arm rest bolts.
On Tuesday, August 24, 2021, 05:24:37 PM PDT, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
Ha-ha! For that matter, I could buy the appropriate punch from McMaster-Carr. Prepare some thin black PVC plastic (with matte finish) with acrylic double-sided adhesive with a release paper. With a hammer, I could punch these out almost as fast as I could swing a hammer. Then, customer simply peels off release paper, applies, done. And Eric, if you want Bling, choose the appropriate material to your heart's content; even Super Glue would be fine for this application....it's just a cosmetic cover. (P.S. I've actually done something very similar at a "real job" for low-volume requirements.)
On Tuesday, August 24, 2021, 05:06:12 PM PDT, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
I have an 85 Vanagon. Yep, 25 years ago they kept popping off onto floor; I didn't want to lose them. So, I secured them with 5 Minute Epoxy....and they are still there. (Yes, epoxy onto where it interfaces with bolt, but also epoxy on the flange interfacing Vinyl...my feeling is the latter provides the stronger securement.) Seems like these could be readily produced in reasonable quantities on a Screw Machine (no injection molds needed) or of course 3D printing. Getting them into the hands of potential customers is a whole 'nother effort.
For cheapo....you could always cut a circle out of thin black plastic...use some epoxy and tape to secure while curing, and have the same effect.
On Tuesday, August 24, 2021, 04:22:20 PM PDT, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
Jeeze Eric,
I made some the hard way. Gave a pair to jim a.
Maybe … after holidays…
Ab
> On Aug 24, 2021, at 4:20 PM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> Anyone make the plastic caps for the 85 style arm rest bolt? I’m always looking for some and lately friends keep asking if I have a source.
>
> I think I dropped a hint to Uniwerks but didn’t hear back. They could make fun ones with VW or other images on them! Even som fancy metal ones would be fun!
>
> Some of mine were cracked and kept falling off. I found that if I taped them tight with electrical tape and put the extra inside it made a tight fix and they stopped falling off. But clearly the plastic is giving out.
>
>
> Someone must print them!
>
> And, in the department of fun un needed items. A friend showed me he had a fancy plastic bolt cap on the seatbelt bold on the driver and passenger seat floor bold. Looked slick and finished. He said vanagons came with them. I don’t believe it! But, now I might need to cover mine! I want some with bling.
>
> Eric
> Eric
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