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J_Westy Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2008 Posts: 43
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Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 5:59 pm Post subject: Gray cabinet building tips |
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I'd like to build a closet something like this one behind the driver's seat in this picture for our '02 EVWK.
Does anyone have any good tips? Steve at eurocampers.com advised that the camper books say to build it in place which seems like a good idea.
So far I've seen this gray / grey laminate and T-molding from GoWesty.
The laminate is pretty $pendy which is unappealing. Anybody know a source for a cheaper T-molding?
I found this latch via this EVC'ers site showing his modifications: http://homepage.mac.com/msiminoff/PhotoAlbum38.html
Southco M1-82 (anybody know a source?)
I came across this iron-on melamine. Anybody have an idea about toughness/durability? The price is certainly better than GoWesty's laminate.
Thanks in advance for any ideas.
Jeff |
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izzydog Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005 Posts: 665
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Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 8:54 pm Post subject: |
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There was a thread recently about the color # for the Westy laminate. Someone had posted the exact matching color and gotten it from a countertop place. Search for "laminate" and see what comes up. |
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J_Westy Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2008 Posts: 43
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Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 4:40 am Post subject: |
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izzydog wrote: |
There was a thread recently about the color # for the Westy laminate. Someone had posted the exact matching color and gotten it from a countertop place. Search for "laminate" and see what comes up. |
Thanks for the tip, but I'm not finding it... anybody have it bookmarked or something? |
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otiswesty Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2006 Posts: 1729 Location: Portland
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J_Westy Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2008 Posts: 43
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Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 9:27 am Post subject: |
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Thanks! Called around and you can get that Pionite brand in 3', 4', 5' widths and 8', 10', 12' lengths.
The dark grey stuff from Reimo looks like what I was wanting... I'll have to see if a colleague from Germany could get some for me, or maybe try Steve at eurocampers.com
Some of the handles look interesting too:
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timiskander Samba Member
Joined: June 25, 2007 Posts: 6 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 9:31 am Post subject: |
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I don't know what prices you have for t molding, but www.t-molding.com has quite a selection. They come from video game land, but its still t-molding
cheers
/Tim _________________ I didn’t do it. No one saw me do it. No one can prove anything. -- Bart Simpson |
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Sir Sam Samba Member
Joined: July 19, 2009 Posts: 1669 Location: Fort Collins Colorado!
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Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 11:06 am Post subject: |
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[quote="J_Westy"]
otiswesty wrote: |
Some of the handles look interesting too:
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Awesome! That handle looks like a direct replacement for the handles we have.
I am down a couple and haven't found a replacement source for them yet. _________________ '91 Carat Westy
87' Syncro + '87 Westy conversion coming soon |
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markz2004 Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2007 Posts: 944 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 11:28 am Post subject: |
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Can you give us a link to your handle source?
thanks,
Mark _________________ 87 Westy, 250k GW 2.4 - 2.0 , 16" wheels |
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J_Westy Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2008 Posts: 43
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Howesight Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2008 Posts: 3260 Location: Vancouver, B.C.
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Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 12:32 pm Post subject: Westfalia laminates |
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See my earlier post set out below regarding the greyish laminate used in the '87 to '91 Westfalias. I don't know what was used in the Eurovans, but I found this to be an exact match and it cost me only $79.00 CAD at a local plywood and laminate specialty store for a 4 x 8 foot sheet.
Good luck with your project!!
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3...;start=100 |
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J_Westy Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2008 Posts: 43
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Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 12:43 pm Post subject: Re: Westfalia laminates |
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Howesight wrote: |
Good luck with your project!!
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Thanks!
I'm not bent on any exact match since I don't have any cabinetry in the EVWK (other than the bottom of the bed).
I need to find myself a sample of Formica 927-58 "Folkstone" |
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SyncroChrick Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2005 Posts: 1010 Location: San Francisco, CA
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RCB Samba Member
Joined: September 05, 2005 Posts: 4143 Location: San Francisco-Bay Area
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Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 2:21 pm Post subject: |
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I might suggest going to a cabinet shop and looking at the sample display board that the PLam companies give them.
Hundreds and hundreds of samples to choose from and you can get a small pre-cut sample piece from the cabinet shop to compare to the color on the cabinets.
"T" molding is also another item the cabinet shop would have since the "T" molding can be used on the front of a shelf or the front edge of a cabinet or even the edge of a Westy Table.
Lumber yards for the do-it-yer-selfers would also have a decent selection as well.
Remember that to ship a sheet of PLam (plastic laminate) , it has to be rolled up for shipping.
While being shipped the PLam can split or crack and its a bitch to try and cut around the break or to try and repair the break.
Shipping can be expensive too.
Bypass any huge markup by GW and find some locally.
Some of the water based cements work quite well but the solvent based cements are a little better. |
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Microbusdeluxe Samba Member
Joined: July 26, 2003 Posts: 977 Location: Bellingham, WA
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Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 2:31 pm Post subject: |
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If you use a water based adhesive be sure it is fresh. If you use a solvent based one wear a respirator with the proper cartridge (NOT a dust mask!) Do not smoke, strike a match, set off a spark... I had a friend get some nasty burns on his face from a flash fire from laminate solvent.
Get a library book on kitchen cabinet building or laminating, Tauton Press (Fine Homebuilding/Fine Woodworking) has a number of excellent books, follow directions, use a j roller to set it, it's easier than dropping your fuel tank! _________________ '69 Squareback RIP
'65 21 window deluxe sold before the price spike, damn it.
'70 rhd bay now a taxi in South Sudan
'81 Westy sold
'89 hightop Westy Joker syncro 16" now with Bostig! |
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sc-surfer Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2005 Posts: 865 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 10:09 pm Post subject: |
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I took a drawer front down to my local lumber yard and found an almost exact match. I think I paid about $40 for enough to cover the entire upper rear cabinet with enough extra for a couple of other projects. The GW stuff isn't some magic westy item...just regular laminate in a color match. As for the Reimo trim...I want to order some too...If anyone else wants to go in on an order to save shipping costs I'm in! _________________ '89 Syncro Westy
Catalog of Vans at SDM 2010
Westfalia, Syncro & Tristar Reproduction decals here.
* * * Coming Soon: Washable seat covers for westy bench seat...keep the pets off the upholstery! * * * |
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RCB Samba Member
Joined: September 05, 2005 Posts: 4143 Location: San Francisco-Bay Area
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Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 9:30 am Post subject: |
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Keep in mind that when installing the "T" molding it will be difficult to attach around the tight radius of the doors.
You will have to trim off the verticle part of the "T" to get it to follow the outside profile of the door....that will take some experimenting, so order up an extra legnth .
Also it will be a benefit to heat up the "T" molding with a heat gun or a hair drier to assist in installing it to the radius.
When routing the groove for the "T" molding, use a slotting bit.
Get one thats a bit shy of the thickness of the molding but DONT get one that cuts to thin otherwise when you tap the molding into the groove, the piece (the door...or table top) your attaching it to will split......thats not good.
If I was to do a job like this.....I would make a sacrificial door from scrap MDF or Plywood. Route the slot in the edge....cut,trim and heat up the "T" molding to fit the radius .....dry fit it.
Put a band clamp on it and let it set a day or so.
When you proceed with the "real deal" apply some glue into the radius slot to help secure the "T" molding. |
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surfdubaroo Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2018 Posts: 9 Location: VA BEACH VA
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pbrown Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2008 Posts: 443 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:31 pm Post subject: Re: Gray cabinet building tips |
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Wow.. old thread.
Any of the big box stores like The Home Depot or Lowe’s Home Improvement will be able to source Formica or Wilsonart in any color or pattern. It is easy to work with and would probably work well as a cabinet laminate for custom built cabinets. _________________ Patrick Brown
1986 Westy Syncro EJ25
Flickr --> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmQNUXEF |
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Sodo Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007 Posts: 9517 Location: Western WA
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2019 3:02 pm Post subject: Re: Gray cabinet building tips |
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For the gray westfalia, the Formica color is "Folkstone" in matte finish.
Formica product Number 927-58.
I bought a 30"X96" sheet at HomeDepot for $40. 30x96 can yield up to 9 pcs for the Truckfridge TF49.
15x20 is about 1/2"x1/2" bigger than the TF49.
I don't know the TF65 size.
If anyone in the Seattle area needs a Truckfridge sheet -- send a PM. _________________
'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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