Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2022 09:49:22 -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: <25752607-2093-4CF3-B3EE-9768C7C5523E@shaw.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
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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