I'm about ready to start covering some of my interior parts in vinyl. Thanks to the great information in so many posts and tutorials on this forum I feel pretty comfortable with the flat panels, but some of the pieces like the armrests and the dash pad seem a little tricky. Any tips or advice for covering the small ends and tight corners of these parts? I don't have a sewing machine, so if sewing is needed I'll have to add it to the parts for the trim shop - seats, etc.
there is cordura landau top sculpting foam available..
heck.. since you have already done the foam work. how about calling a thermal vacuu forming company in your area.. or even calling the people in the video to see if they could just do the thermal vacuum forming since you have prepped them already.
as mentioned a heat gun will do wonders but you need the right vinyl that will stretch both ways
you have the advantage of no inside shapes and you can easily staple fabric to the back
you might want to wrap them with foam first, vinyl on hard substrate will cut very easy: a fingernail or ring will cut it
try a gluing vinyl on a similar shape to test your method of attack
Thanks for great advice guys. It seems that heat is the common theme here. The thermal vacuum forming looks really cool, but I'm a budget minded DIY kinda guy.
To Ogre's point, I do have some tight inside corners to deal with on the dash pad which I'll need to work around slowly and deliberately to keep the wrinkles out. I'm planning on using closed cell foam on the door panels, console, armrests and dash pad.
mount your stuff on a pedestal.. mount your vinyl in a frame put some towels around the base of your pedestal. with a multiple small hole opening drilled in the base and your shop vacuum turns on.. you only need a good heat gun.. and those are cheap to warm your vinyl..
the towel on or around the pedestal base prevents the vinyl from closing off the suction. nothing is impossible..
back in 87... we had dashes done at just dashes... it was my suggestion to my boss to tell them to do vacuum forming to do a better product.. want to be amazed.. ask them if a guy named jerry or irve mentioned to do it.
heck... you might want to call them up.. see how much they charge to just vinyl wrap your finished items.. if they don't have to prep them other than putting them on a pedestal.. it might be much cheaper.. especially if you will finish the tucking and folding..
its just an idea. we are HOT RODDERS... the impossible is only a thought away.. or should it be a forum post away..
You've piqued my interest in the vacuum forming waynep... lots of info online about them. Do these guys have both vinyl and part sprayed with landau adhesive before they wrap the parts?
waynep - I've been reading and watching about vacuum forming and wrapping. Why do JustDashes and you recommend the towels under and around the item being wrapped? Does the "breathability" do something? It looks like most people just let the material suck right down to the table. Don't the towels prevent a strong/full vacuum from forming? Seems counterproductive... Thanks for your help.
the towels prevent the vinyl from being sucked down too close to the part and distorting or overstretching the vinyl ... without them.. the vinyl might suck right up tight around the bottom of the part.. it might be a good idea..
that gives me a good idea . i will have to share with just dashes.. it the dash supports are on hydraulic or bimba cylinders... as soon as the vinyl comes down and fully drapes over the part... the part drops several inches and the draped vinyl can be pulled up under the skirts of the dash making much easier to trim as its already folded over the edge of the part. that would probably work better on the production line with foam inserts.. that could be removed..
i shop at allelectronics which i have to drive past just dashes either coming or going.. i guess i will have to stop in..
towels would not be to the edge of the drilled panel.
You might get the armrests covered in on piece if you use a four way stretch vinyl like Morbern Allsport or Enduratex Rapper, Rapper Extreme, and Slip Stop. There are very few choices of color. The console needs to be tailored and sewn together to fit correctly.
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