Need help finding a hidden fastener...

[tlmartin84]

I am building a console, sides will be MDF and cloth covered.

The center is going to be a steel inlay painted to match the paint. I need to access the screws to mount the console to the floor, then "snap" the inlay in place.

I could use some button head screws but would brefer a push pin / snap that I could weld to the metal prior to painting. Something that could be popped in and out.

Thanks!

 

[cvairwerks]

Magnets

 

[slodat]

I use N52 rare earth magnets for upholstery panel inserts.

 

[rlitman]

Magnets

+1 I'd suggest round countersunk neodymium magnets. You can countersink them into recesses in the base with a forstner bit (if the base is wood), and use a flat head screw to hold them into place.

If the base is steel, you could drill and tap a machine screw, or just epoxy the magnets into place. I've had bad luck with magnets pulling out of wood until I found the ones with the countersunk hole.

Oh, and with neodymium magnets, you do not need the magnet to be actually in contact with the steel. There may be sufficient holding force even if it's recessed ever so slightly.

 

[slodat]

I align magnet to magnet on my inserts.

 

[tlmartin84]

Magnet to magnet....how would you attach the magnet on the steel to still maintain a flush top with no screw heads? I could weld a stud on it, but then Id have to have a nut holding it.

Next question is how did these guys get this "crinkle" finish on the MDF? Is that some kind of wrap/fabric?

 

[rlitman]

Steel sticks to magnets. Hint hint.

I think that MDF is wrapped in vinyl.

 

[alfazer]

Magnet to magnet....how would you attach the magnet on the steel to still maintain a flush top with no screw heads? I could weld a stud on it, but then Id have to have a nut holding it.

Next question is how did these guys get this "crinkle" finish on the MDF? Is that some kind of wrap/fabric?

To my eyes, that just looks like crinkle finish or leather-look vinyl. Probably stuck on with contact adhesive. Looks well done around the corners.

 

[tlmartin84]

And....

Is there a go to place that carries inserts for cups, trays, etc? I have found cup inserts on ebay, but some trays would be nice...….

 

[tlmartin84]

Steel sticks to magnets. Hint hint.

I think that MDF is wrapped in vinyl.

LOL I know that, but I was referring to SLODAT's comment. Maybe he was referring to something non magnetic like aluminum etc. I guess they could be epoxied on.....

 

[tlmartin84]

To my eyes, that just looks like crinkle finish or leather-look vinyl. Probably stuck on with contact adhesive. Looks well done around the corners.

It almost looks like modern "plastic" interior....

 

[slodat]

I use acrylic and pvc foam board for things like consoles and armrests. Pocket for the magnet in each mating surface. Parts snap together.

This is an example in mdf. I use mdf to mock things up. Much cheaper for something that will end up in the trash. I almost never put mdf into a car.




Another example showing a speaker grill and cover on a side armrest:

 

[mc4life27]

Yes the consol is mdf that looks like some covered it with resin to seal it and make it stronger but the texture comes from the vinyl wrap that glued on with some spray adhesive. As far as cup holders look at boat stores, car stereo shops, eBay, custom car shops Amazon. They are all over the trick if finding what they are listened under.


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[tlmartin84]

Is there not a company that caters specifically with upholstery?

 

[slodat]

There are lots of them. This stuff is more custom fabrication than something you buy off the shelf. I buy the N52 rare earth magnets by the thousand and design my parts to use them where appropriate. There are lots of methods to conceal attachment. They all require being considered in the design phase.

 

[mc4life27]

Is there not a company that caters specifically with upholstery?

Yeah there are tons of the and a lot of them will require a dealer buy in and or paying stupid high pricing for them. Items that are in the same fabrication category like magnets, cup holds, custom shape stencils, fiberglass stuff, CA glue and accelerator, led lights, components to build custom harness you know all the parts and glues and pieces that create cool custom things come from many different place and they are items thy don’t have a huge sticker prices but big margins for business to be able to make profits on jobs take some work to find exactly whAt you want. The same style of items have many different names and applications. But most of the time people who are buying the raw goods are also using them to build creations and build things that can then be resold at retail don’t want their raw items to be easily found because that’s how the person makes a living and is able to pay their bills. Plus some many people use the same items for completely different finial products so doing searches for them can be kinda impossible because say it was first for the boating industry but someone then used it to build a new item for say the construction industry so the item could have some many different uses it would be impossible to have it as a key word to search for them. Plus people looking for boat parts could care pass about and part that’s used in houses. Sorry not sure of this is
Making sense but unless you want to pay high prices and may end up with something that’s not just exactly what you wanted, you have to do the leg work and make the calls and ask around for it. It not stuff that is just handed out there for the world because if that was the case the items would not be made because the market would be flooded and impossible for a business to make any more and more worth the time to make them in the end. Call and car stereo shop and ask them where they get their Install parts from. You could call or look up mobile solutions, scosche ind, metrA, Haines (out of New York) or depending where you live you could take a trip down to say LA wholesale district. You could find maybe 12 stores in a one mile stretch of road that all have a version of what your looking for with prices for a few bucks to hounds of dollars. Or find examples of the exact itEms you want and then go around asking people if they have any ideas. It’s like calling Milwaukee and asking for a impact trigger. I’m sure they have 3-4 maybe more suppliers for the same part or for different versions of the same part. But they did the work to find what triggers they wanted to use
And made a note on its application. Make sense.


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[tlmartin84]

I use acrylic and pvc foam board for things like consoles and armrests. Pocket for the magnet in each mating surface. Parts snap together.

This is an example in mdf. I use mdf to mock things up. Much cheaper for something that will end up in the trash. I almost never put mdf into a car.




Another example showing a speaker grill and cover on a side armrest:

Slodat,

Do you use any ADS? If you use this, what type of glue do you use?

Also, when gluing PVC board together, as you did the PDF above, What type of Glue do you like to use?

Any special fasteners? Or just coarse thread wood screws?

 

[slodat]

ADS? PDF? Help me help you. Is that an autocorrect thing going on?

I never use wood screws in a car. Literally never.. I also don't put wood in cars. A lot of times, in the era these photos were taken I would make a test piece out of MDF. It's cheap and helped me finalize the design.

For fasteners a lot of 6-32 machine screws for small stuff, 10-24 for bigger stuff. Design the panels and parts with removable inserts (typically held with magnets or tight press fit) to hide the fasteners.

Adhesives.. DAP Weldwood Top and Trim adhesive for general purpose upholstery stuff. Needs to be sprayed. CA glue can be used for a lot of materials.

For PVC, ABS, and acrylic I use these:

 

[tlmartin84]

ADS? PDF? Help me help you. Is that an autocorrect thing going on?

I never use wood screws in a car. Literally never.. I also don't put wood in cars. A lot of times, in the era these photos were taken I would make a test piece out of MDF. It's cheap and helped me finalize the design.

For fasteners a lot of 6-32 machine screws for small stuff, 10-24 for bigger stuff. Design the panels and parts with removable inserts (typically held with magnets or tight press fit) to hide the fasteners.

Adhesives.. DAP Weldwood Top and Trim adhesive for general purpose upholstery stuff. Needs to be sprayed. CA glue can be used for a lot of materials.

For PVC, ABS, and acrylic I use these:

Thank you!

Yes, that was a typo supposed to be MDF and ABS respectively.

I work with a lot of plastic pipes, so I guess it auto corrected to ADS... same for the PDF.



Console, left and right side what/how do you space the panels apart if you are not using wood blocking? I was using the video below as a guide.

 

[slodat]

Lots of ways to do it. Personally, I would use 3/4 PVC sheet most likely. Really depends on the console.

 

[tlmartin84]

Lots of ways to do it. Personally, I would use 3/4 PVC sheet most likely. Really depends on the console.

Got another one...have you seen these anywhere?

Or do you know what they are called? It looks like they are solid and you squeeze them to get them in/out. BUT these are old and brittle.



Also, what type of glue would you use to glue vinyl fabric together? Face to face.

I'm trying to repair my kids go kart seat lol

 

[slodat]

Those seat parts are going to be hard, if not impossible, to find. Maybe you get lucky with the manufacturer? Looks like a great candidate for a 3d printer.

Typically, vinyl is not glued face to face. It's not going to stick well. As I said above, DAP Weldwood HHR Top and Trim Adhesive is what I recommend. Literally NOTHING else. Unless you want it to fall apart..

 

[tlmartin84]

Those seat parts are going to be hard, if not impossible, to find. Maybe you get lucky with the manufacturer? Looks like a great candidate for a 3d printer.

Typically, vinyl is not glued face to face. It's not going to stick well. As I said above, DAP Weldwood HHR Top and Trim Adhesive is what I recommend. Literally NOTHING else. Unless you want it to fall apart..

I can order the entire seat but it will just be more junk. I wanted to reweld and brace this frame.

The original cover looks like the Chinese factory ran out of velcro and just glued the old cover together.

I can use any type of pass through for the shoulder straps, it doesn't have to be exactly those...I'm just not sure what the terminology is to search for?

 

[slodat]

I've never seen parts like that with any of the distributors. You'll want to check seat manufacturers. I would 3d them.

 

[tlmartin84]

I've never seen parts like that with any of the distributors. You'll want to check seat manufacturers. I would 3d them.

Found them....


Seatbelt Harness Grommet

 

[tester19]

That is a very good suggestion as I am constantly looking at boat and airplane stuff. Interesting what you can find. I like the offshore boat stuff as it's mostly stainless steel.

If you have not seen Aircraft Spruce take a look!
Aircraft Spruce Company

Just a fascinating bunch of products too. Paint, glue, chemicals, CF, Fiberglass and various resins and most of all neat tools! I am not an airplane guy but love looking at that stuff!
.
.
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[tlmartin84]

Lots of ways to do it. Personally, I would use 3/4 PVC sheet most likely. Really depends on the console.

Ever used the DAP on closed cell foam?

 

[Willie Makeit]

Next question is how did these guys get this "crinkle" finish on the MDF? Is that some kind of wrap/fabric?

We use Rustoleum Bed Liner in an aerosol can to duplicate textured looks on interior parts. Spray it and then let it cure, then topcoat with color of your choice.

 

[493mike]

I fabbed a simple console from 18ga sheet metal-the skeleton and used 1/8" masonite for the upholstery substrate. Attached the finished panels to the skeleton with old style door panel clips. Not finished yet but, I think it will look good.
Mike

 

[slodat]

Ever used the DAP on closed cell foam?

Absolutely. On closed cell you need to rough up the surface. There's a "skin" on it. That has to come off for adhesive to bond.

Remember it is DAP Weldwood Contact Adhesive Top & Trim Adhesive. NOT the stuff you buy at Home Depot..

 

[slodat]

I fabbed a simple console from 18ga sheet metal-the skeleton and used 1/8" masonite for the upholstery substrate. Attached the finished panels to the skeleton with old style door panel clips. Not finished yet but, I think it will look good.
Mike

You're off to a great start! Masonite, MDF, wood in general will fail in the presence of moisture, including humidity. Expanded PVC foam board is readily available and will last as long as your car. I highly recommend not using wood products in car interiors. I use MDF to prototype parts and then make the final parts out of composites.