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sake
Samba Member
Joined: June 23, 2016
Posts: 15
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 Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2024 11:04 am Post subject: Freshening up Westy cabinets - What to do with cabinet hinges? |
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I recently bought a Westfalia camper interior to replace our weekender setup (have a kind of love-hate relationship with the weekender layout). The new camper cabinets are in reasonably good condition but need some work to get them looking nice again. Unfortunately the metal parts are a bit rusty, planning to galvanize all the metal parts. And also want to replace the textured vinyl. Also the cabinet/door hinges contain rust. Anyone know how I can remove these? And are these also for sale new? Or should I restore them, if so how?
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djkeev
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Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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sake
Samba Member
Joined: June 23, 2016
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2024 9:27 am Post subject: Re: Fresh up Westfalia cabinets what to do with cabinet hinges |
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| djkeev wrote: |
Yes, new hinges are available, there are some in Canada and in Europe.
I just purchased some but forget the Vendor, I'll try to find it.
The hinges are left and right.
You will need to pull the rubber on the door to get them off.
Why not just wire brush and paint them? |
Thanks. I prefer to use the original but they seem quite small to me to clamp in the bench vise and wire brush. |
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dabaron
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Joined: June 21, 2018
Posts: 2561
Location: Philly, mang
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| Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2024 1:35 pm Post subject: Re: Fresh up Westfalia cabinets what to do with cabinet hinges |
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| sake wrote: |
Thanks. I prefer to use the original but they seem quite small to me to clamp in the bench vise and wire brush. |
i did a few by donning leather gloves and holding them against the wire wheel on the bench grinder. the powder coating pops off in chunks.
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Andymon
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Joined: February 24, 2015
Posts: 314
Location: Medford, OR
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| Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2024 3:08 pm Post subject: Re: Fresh up Westfalia cabinets what to do with cabinet hinges |
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Why not sandblast them and have them powder coated brown?
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Jeffrey Lee
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Joined: February 04, 2014
Posts: 1488
Location: Wisconsin
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| Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2024 3:40 pm Post subject: Re: Fresh up Westfalia cabinets what to do with cabinet hinges |
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If you have less time than patience, you might consider chemically stripping the powder coated parts before refinishing. Here are a few potential chemical strippers:
https://www.tomburn.com/case-study/61e6a63862791/What-will-remove-powder-coating
As for the galvanized parts, you might consider simply cleaning and polishing them rather than stripping. Use a wire brush to carefully remove any rust down to clean metal, then apply a heavy car wax or clear acrylic spray to protect them before reinstalling.
Stripping the galvanized coating is relatively easy using muriatic acid or even household vinegar; but then you need to either paint or powder coat them again. Depending on their overall condition, you may find that it's best to preserve what you have than to attempt to refinish them.
https://tangoofthegeeks.blogspot.com/2020/10/remove-galvanized-coating-with-vinegar.html
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sake
Samba Member
Joined: June 23, 2016
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2024 1:11 pm Post subject: Re: Fresh up Westfalia cabinets what to do with cabinet hinges |
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Didn't know it was that easy. Sounds great.
| Quote: |
As for the galvanized parts, you might consider simply cleaning and polishing them rather than stripping. Use a wire brush to carefully remove any rust down to clean metal, then apply a heavy car wax or clear acrylic spray to protect them before reinstalling.
Stripping the galvanized coating is relatively easy using muriatic acid or even household vinegar; but then you need to either paint or powder coat them again. Depending on their overall condition, you may find that it's best to preserve what you have than to attempt to refinish them.
https://tangoofthegeeks.blogspot.com/2020/10/remove-galvanized-coating-with-vinegar.html |
Great. So instead of removing the galvanized coating and galvanize again you suggest remove the rust and protect the clean metal with was or acrylic spray? That sounds like a (cheaper) way too. |
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danielheff
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Joined: January 22, 2016
Posts: 136
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2024 4:00 pm Post subject: Re: Freshening up Westfalia cabinets what to do with cabinet hinges |
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I bought some hinges from here to complete my add-a-door to my closet.
https://vanagonwestfaliaparts.com/products/westfal...&_ss=r
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sake
Samba Member
Joined: June 23, 2016
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2024 12:38 pm Post subject: Re: Freshening up Westfalia cabinets what to do with cabinet hinges |
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They are looking good. But they are not like the original ones that are secured in the door with 1 pop rivet? What do you think? |
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snuf
Samba Member
Joined: April 15, 2008
Posts: 237
Location: TN
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| Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2024 5:32 pm Post subject: Re: Freshening up Westy cabinets - What to do with cabinet hinges? |
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| djkeev wrote: |
Pop rivets?
Can you provide a photo? |
Is this the pop rivet in question?
Taken from sake's post at the top of page 1.
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MsTaboo
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Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 4098
Location: East Kootenay, British Columbia
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| Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2024 10:29 pm Post subject: Re: Freshening up Westy cabinets - What to do with cabinet hinges? |
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| snuf wrote: |
Is this the pop rivet in question?
Taken from sake's post at the top of page 1. |
Just FYI, that hinge part is a real pain to remove because of the hidden portion of the pop-rivet. After you drill out the head of the rivet the hidden portion hangs up.
I ran into this little pig while cutting down my fridge door and relocating the hinge.
I would not try to remove unless you really need to.
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