Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2022 14:23:17 -0400
Reply-To: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Doing another rear aluminum bumper
In-Reply-To: <C45C9836-72F6-4DDF-8391-0DE2E209DEF1@shaw.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
What, no magic machine that does it all in minutes?
Paint sounds good to me compared to that polishing description!
Eric
> On Aug 3, 2022, at 10:34 AM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
>
> Eric,
>
> It’s expensive to polish any metal. I’m not taking polishing after electro plating ( that’s not cheap either), but polishing from raw stock.
>
> You know the drill, work up thru series of finer abrasives, and buffing compounds….
> It’s tedious :-)
>
> Ab
>
>> On Aug 3, 2022, at 6:56 AM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>> Then again, this is Aluminum so maybe rust is not a factor so drilling the needed holes is no big deal? I’m still learning! I didn’t know it was expensive to polish Aluminum rather then paint for example.
>>
>> Looking forward to hearing how the orange bumpers look on the bus!
>>
>> eRic
>>
>>
>>> On Aug 3, 2022, at 9:49 AM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
>>>
>>> Bumper dreams,
>>>
>>> Not practical but I always loved the way the early Bay window bumpers curved around and became a step to get into the van. I wonder why that was only for a couple years.
>>>
>>> On the practical side. My second van has GW steel bumpers, but the front one had no holes for a from License plate.
>>>
>>> I’d recommend two holes in the correct place for a bracket so that they get pained and are ready. I hate drilling into a newly painted piece.
>>>
>>> Of course Alistair probably has a bunch of cool license brackets ready to go.
>>>
>>>
>>> Eric
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 9:57 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> If you want, yes :-)
>>>>
>>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 5:11 PM, Bruce Todd <beeceetee@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Will they come with bottle cap removers?
>>>>>
>>>>> BT
>>>>>
>>>>>> On Tuesday, August 2, 2022, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>>>>>> Hey Bruce. I hope to make more bumpers, well I have to make at least 2 sets. We will see how it goes.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I’m kinda slightly regretting my orange choice before seeing it. But hey, live a little .
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Ab
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 1:28 PM, Bruce Todd <beeceetee@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Or one side orange and the other side brown to compliment Alistair’s best
>>>>>>> in class colour scheme!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thebumper looks very nice. I could also be a beta tester - and you know
>>>>>>> where my van currently lives. I decided to to go with my stock bumpers
>>>>>>> and not upgrade to keep project costs somewhat in line. Anyway if you
>>>>>>> begin to roll these off the Bell Industry’s assembly line - you have
>>>>>>> another client…I can even pick up factory seconds directly from the factory.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Bruce
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Tuesday, August 2, 2022, David Boan <dboan@outlook.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I think you should paint one side white and the other orange, and promote
>>>>>>>> it as an example of the spirit of compromise in marriage,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Dave B
>>>>>>>> Boise
>>>>>>>> ________________________________
>>>>>>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> on behalf of Eric
>>>>>>>> Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
>>>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, August 2, 2022 12:40 PM
>>>>>>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: Doing another rear aluminum bumper
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I would love to have my van be orange! But, white is so darn practical
>>>>>>>> for heat when camping. Also, my wife is anti orange color for us. Still a
>>>>>>>> orange 76 westy still fills my dreams!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> The bumpers in Orange sound great to me!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Still aluminum can’t just be pretty polished? I don’t know these things
>>>>>>>> but simple care is appealing.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Eric
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 1:34 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Hey Eric,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Got a line of beta testers waiting here…. But I’ll put you on the list
>>>>>>>> :-)
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> It’s 1/4” 5052 aluminum. Yes it’s strong enough to stand on, that’s
>>>>>>>> important to me too. And the top plate, the standing surface, is flat, not
>>>>>>>> slightly angled as in the stock steel. So less chance of slipping off in
>>>>>>>> the wet.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Took bumper to powdercoat today. Was going to be all black, a very
>>>>>>>> slight texture . But he showed me a gloss orange that so very closely
>>>>>>>> matches the orange doors I’ve got on van… so why not, encaps still black.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I can repaint if the orange looks silly
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Ab
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 9:17 AM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Hey,
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Looking for a Beta tester? I’ll pay shipping and more!
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Light, strong, rust proof, and stock like look? What is not to love?
>>>>>>>> And, Bell Industries reputation behind it!
>>>>>>>>>> I’m happy with a not perfect version!
>>>>>>>>>> I only want to know is it strong enough for one to stand on to get up
>>>>>>>> on the luggage rack or rear of bus?
>>>>>>>>>> My stock one on the front wants to bend if I try to step up on it.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> I’m blind, but why paint? Would brushed or polished aluminum stand up
>>>>>>>> without need of touch ups?
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Eric Caron
>>>>>>>>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 11:08 AM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Four years :-)
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Well , since I measured the stock bumper and drew first model .
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Then this spring I had bumper 3D scanned. More or less fit my measured
>>>>>>>> model.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Then more computer modelling , time wasting .
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> The main part of the bumper is quite fast. Cnc router cut panels, 3,
>>>>>>>> then held in curve on a jig, top and bottom plates tacked on. Then full
>>>>>>>> weld. I tig welded this one, but I’d mig the next.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Router a chamfer on top weld, flap disc grind the bottom weld to blend.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> It was the endcaps that took the most time. I have I think four failed
>>>>>>>> versions. Flat pattern cnc cut, then brake press to bend, then a front face
>>>>>>>> and a wee little rear face welded. Grind and blend etc.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Now that the endcaps figured out, not so bad , or slow .
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> So all the hard work done. I’d say less than 4 hours to make one , not
>>>>>>>> counting cnc machine cut time .
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Ab
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 7:59 AM, Stacy Schneider <vwcrewman@gmail.com>
>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> That is really nice, you must have 40 hours in it?
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Stacy
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> On Tue, Aug 2, 2022 at 7:54 AM Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Wanted something lighter than my previous and with no trailer hitch.
>>>>>>>> Trying to mimic the stock steel bumper.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Got one made well enough to powder coat and use.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> https://shufti.blog/2022/08/01/vanagon-making-another-
>>>>>>>> aluminum-bumper/
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Alistair
>>>>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>>>>> 1989 Swedish Tristar with Aluminum gates and Atiwe 16" Wheels.
>>>>>>>>>>>> Oldest son is an Eagle scout.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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