Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2022 09:56:12 -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: <FE29B9AF-9E20-4DFF-9700-42F526E1609A@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
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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