Thread: Building a console

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I am building a console for my daughter's Christmas present which is an 86 Ranger and yes I realize Christmas is tomorrow and it will not be done. Anyway, I used cardboard to design the console and was planning on using wood to build it. I don't want to carpet the console but would rather put some type of fiborglass or bondo or whatever that I could sand smooth and then paint. The problem is that I do not know what to put over the wood of if I can even do that. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Originally Posted by pastor bubba

I am building a console for my daughter's Christmas present which is an 86 Ranger and yes I realize Christmas is tomorrow and it will not be done. Anyway, I used cardboard to design the console and was planning on using wood to build it. I don't want to carpet the console but would rather put some type of fiborglass or bondo or whatever that I could sand smooth and then paint. The problem is that I do not know what to put over the wood of if I can even do that. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Here is a link to get you started. My old computer has a better set up but for now this should help you.

http://www.louish.com/imports.console.html

Another link a little more info.

http://www.explorerforum.com/fibergl...erglassing.htm

Richard

Bubba,
I have not done this, but the custom shows on TV all seem to use a basic frame made with MDF fiberboard, covered with fleece to define a shape, soaked with resin to firm it up, and then strengthened with fiberglass mat and smoothed with a soupy body filler before paint or covering with vinyl/leather. If you Google "fiberglass enclosures" you'll get a bunch of how-to's on custom speaker & amp enclosures - the concept should apply to your console. Here's one -
http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/...TID~74519~PN~1
Hope your daughter enjoys her truck - maybe she can help you decide on how the console needs to look!

Thanks for the info guys and she will get to give input because she is going to help finish it, she just doesn't know it yet. She will learn to change plugs, oil and air cleaner before she can start driving it. this smiley is me when I tell her and one of these smileys will be her.

You can coat it with fiberglass resin then sand smooth,Light coat of bondo to even out.Should be ready to cover

Just to confuse you even further,you could lay up a sheet of fibreglass,about 2-3mm thick,and transfer the cardboard patterns onto it,cut out your sections,and glass it together,first,from the inside,then carefully sand the outer joints back a bit,so they arent too sharp,and glass over them..A little bit of filler,bondo,whatever you want to call it,and you are done.If you lay up the glass on a piece of glass,or a similar flat shiny surface,you will get a good smooth surface for the outside..Does all that make sense?Easier to tell it than write it...
Failing that,fold one up out of 18g panel steel,and weld it together..
Good idea to teach her how to do simple maintenance,my wifes late father taught her to do likewise,thing is,she has me to do it now...