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Syncronoid Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2012 Posts: 1111 Location: Stanford, CA and Bend, OR
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Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 8:17 pm Post subject: Slick Aluminum Step Protector |
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Not sure if anyone's done this.... I was running out of things to do when I noticed the plastic protector covering the step from the middle of the Westy cabin to the driver/passenger seats had worn through due to it being a high traffic area. I had been eyeballing it for a while, so when I discovered a spare piece of right-angled aluminum stock, I got a hair and knocked it out in about 45 minutes. I may add a couple screws on the top for extra stability.
_________________ '90 Syncro Westy w/GW2.5L |
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ragnarhairybreeks Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2009 Posts: 1890 Location: Sidney B.C. Canada
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Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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It kills me, my blindness that is. I have a ratty stock protector and tons of scrap aluminum angle and I didn't make the connection until I saw this.
Good work and thanks!.
alistair _________________ '86 7 passenger syncro, converted to westy pop top, project still in progress
'82 westy, diesel converted to gas in '94, now gone...
https://shufti.blog/
Old address still works...
http://shufti.wordpress.com |
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joseph928 Samba Member
Joined: September 22, 2011 Posts: 2114 Location: flagstaff az.
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Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 8:34 pm Post subject: center guard |
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Cool, I'll take one! _________________ 1987 syncro westy tin top sun roof , GW2.3, rear locker, decoupler, Gary Lee tire rack & winch mount, lift, south african grill, big brakes , rhein alloy ,15 BFG AT, Fiamma 10 foot awning ,140 watt rear 85 watt front solar , mppt, truckfridge, automatic fire extinguishing system, tencent oil cooler, And a RMW SS exhaust! - 1971 bug convertible 1776 engine- 2010 Subaru turbo - 1993 Toyota 4x4 truck - 1999 Harley 95 CI, big bore, Andrews cams . Also 80-84- vans. Stock 65 sunroof bug. |
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PDXWesty Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006 Posts: 6243 Location: Portland OR
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Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 9:24 am Post subject: |
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That serves a purpose, but I see a very sharp hard corner that could take out a knee or crack a little ones head if they fall down against it. Something with a protected edge or rounded corner would be better. You'll notice Wesfalia avoided any sharp edges in their build and have protected all edges with rubber. Just a thought. _________________ 89 Westy 2.1 Auto |
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redlinedave Samba Member
Joined: August 09, 2012 Posts: 149 Location: dirty Oshawa
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Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 12:17 pm Post subject: |
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a wee file job could fix that _________________ 1985 Country Homes VW van 1.9L |
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randywebb Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2005 Posts: 3815 Location: Greater Metropolitan Nimrod, Orygun
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Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 12:37 pm Post subject: |
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it would still be hard metal -- also metal is no fun for bare feet; use rubber _________________ 1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans. |
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Racerrojo Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2006 Posts: 827 Location: ALBUQUERQUE 87120
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Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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I'm sure you can fin it in plastic, or glue some thick foam _________________ Tight is tight... too tight is expensive!!!!
Too many vans and mostly all projects |
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15144 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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Whirrrrrl whirrrrrllll whrrrrrrrrrlll
wow the safety police strike fast..
better pad that front table mount too for when the wee little ones are drinking in the back.
maybe some of these will be needed to make everyone's environments safe.
Of course I'm not really joking to some here's personal safety and comfort level concerns. you can pad your van anyways you like. _________________
Abscate wrote: |
These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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Syncronoid Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2012 Posts: 1111 Location: Stanford, CA and Bend, OR
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Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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I find it kind of humorous. We're all driving around in airbag-less, rear-engine vehicles with our bodies a few inches from the impact zone of a head-on accident. I'm not too concerned about a somewhat sharp edge 3" off the floor. _________________ '90 Syncro Westy w/GW2.5L |
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berkeleyjack Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2012 Posts: 175 Location: Northern California
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Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 9:12 pm Post subject: Re: Slick Aluminum Step Protector |
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What flooring pads are those?
Pretty slick! _________________ All-grain homebrewer with a 1990 Vanagon Carat. |
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Syncronoid Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2012 Posts: 1111 Location: Stanford, CA and Bend, OR
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Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 9:46 pm Post subject: Re: Slick Aluminum Step Protector |
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berkeleyjack wrote: |
What flooring pads are those?
Pretty slick! |
GW rubber mat kit. ...or do you mean the cheap dime-store door mat? _________________ '90 Syncro Westy w/GW2.5L |
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IdahoDoug Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10248 Location: N. Idaho
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Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 11:00 pm Post subject: |
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3M makes a nice 90 degree rubber molding for bathtub edges that would perfectly address the edge. Look for it at big box stores sold in rolls for bathtubs and such. Designed for a humid and wet environment, and you'll have about 10 feet left over.
DougM _________________ 1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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BenT Syncro Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2005 Posts: 1085 Location: San Francisco
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Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 9:18 am Post subject: |
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Great ideas! The rubber version would be easier to work with for most people except Alistair.
My Doka already has a metal edge there but had a rounded edge from the factory. _________________ BenT |
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insyncro Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 15086 Location: New York
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Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 9:36 am Post subject: Re: Slick Aluminum Step Protector |
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Syncronoid wrote: |
berkeleyjack wrote: |
What flooring pads are those?
Pretty slick! |
GW rubber mat kit. ...or do you mean the cheap dime-store door mat? |
Not GW,
Lloyd Mats |
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ragnarhairybreeks Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2009 Posts: 1890 Location: Sidney B.C. Canada
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Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 11:08 am Post subject: |
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I dug into my scrap pile and pulled up some candidates
Safety police might like the polyethylene angle, I lean more towards the aluminum - either cutting down the large curved angle piece or rounding over the smaller hard angle examples.
We're a obsessed bunch of folk here on the Samba, eh?
alistair _________________ '86 7 passenger syncro, converted to westy pop top, project still in progress
'82 westy, diesel converted to gas in '94, now gone...
https://shufti.blog/
Old address still works...
http://shufti.wordpress.com |
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BenT Syncro Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2005 Posts: 1085 Location: San Francisco
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Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 11:31 am Post subject: |
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Alistair,
Whichever material to chose to use, don't neglect to route some channels to make it the look of a proper threshold. Step the router to about 12mm from each edge to give it that professorial built appearance.
_________________ BenT |
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tam_shops Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2012 Posts: 1530 Location: Vancouver BC
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Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 11:41 am Post subject: |
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IdahoDoug wrote: |
3M makes a nice 90 degree rubber molding for bathtub edges that would perfectly address the edge. Look for it at big box stores sold in rolls for bathtubs and such. Designed for a humid and wet environment, and you'll have about 10 feet left over.
DougM |
Great to know and something I can do. Not sure how my threshold one looks, but the strip behind my passenger seat needs something, it's torn and irritates me! LOL
tam _________________ 1987 Vanagon Westfalia GL Automatic
Making it special:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=545885 |
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BenT Syncro Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2005 Posts: 1085 Location: San Francisco
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Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 11:52 am Post subject: |
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Hey, what about the same edging on the part of the carpet that folds over the battery box? It's same vinyl cr@p and mine is torn. Obviously, a piece of angled metal won't work since you have to get to your battery under the seat. I can't wait to see someone create something which works like a piano hinge. AB?! _________________ BenT |
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berkeleyjack Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2012 Posts: 175 Location: Northern California
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Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 4:58 pm Post subject: Re: Slick Aluminum Step Protector |
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insyncro wrote: |
Syncronoid wrote: |
GW rubber mat kit. ...or do you mean the cheap dime-store door mat? |
Not GW,
Lloyd Mats |
I meant the rubber ones.
Sucks that GW only sells them for Westies.
I'd like something like that for my Carat/Weekender, but it won't be big enough for my center space.
Might look into buying rubber garage flooring tiles and seeing if I can do something with those. _________________ All-grain homebrewer with a 1990 Vanagon Carat. |
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climberjohn Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2005 Posts: 1840 Location: Portland Orygun
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Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 5:17 pm Post subject: |
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Good idea!
I did this a few years ago, using something that was little more rounded and less heavy-duty.
I generally agree with PDXWesty. I think I would injure my foot on that sharp 90° edge, as I am often barefoot in the van.
The material I used was some sort of stair tread protector I got from Home Despot. I painted it with some POR 15 and is still looking pretty good.
_________________ '86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often. |
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