Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2022 07:27:51 -0700
Reply-To: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Subject: Re: Doing another rear aluminum bumper
In-Reply-To: <991637825.231634.1659533078168@mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Dave,
- no rubber strip. Don’t really want one, if I did I don’t know what I’d use
- how well will it hold up if hit? How long is a piece of string :-)
Depends how hard you hit or be hit
-1/4” aluminum
- haven’t weighed yet. I will when it’s back from painting.
Ab
> On Aug 3, 2022, at 6:24 AM, ddbjorkman@verizon.net wrote:
>
>
> From the lack of mounting holes, can I assume you are not planning on using the rubber strip? How well do you think the aluminum will hold up when hit? How thick is the aluminum and what is the weight difference? On vacation and I may not have seen previous posts. Hope I am not asking the same question as others.
>
> Dave B.
> the Boston one
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Sent: Tue, Aug 2, 2022 8:05 pm
> Subject: Re: [VANAGON] Doing another rear aluminum bumper
>
> 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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