Custom console attempt. What do you guys think so far?
 

So I'm taking a shot at making a custom console out of round bar. I then plan on wrapping the entire thing with sheet metal and either painting it or wrapping it in leather. I know it's a lot of round bar, but I figure better safe than sorry. I still plan on adding a lid on top that opens as well. Here's some pics.

Arm rest

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000883.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000882.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000887.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000890.jpg

Front part. When it's done, the front is going to come down on more of an angle. I plan on putting a 7" LCD in it.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000881.jpg


http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000889.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000885.jpg

And the two together

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000891.jpg

There's still lots to do on it. I plan on using round bar to connect the two parts and have one solid console. What do you guys think so far? Any suggestions to make it better?

Have you tested to see how it's going to fit over the carpet and sound deadener?

Good one Scott, pad and carpet will add up to a 1/2 to 3/4 inch. I wouldn't commit to a full finished part till those are installed or mocked up with scraps under the part being made to check thickness. Hate to see you get it finished and find out it is to tight to go under dash :thumbsup:

Thanks guys. I did leave 1/2", but I think I'll cut it to have atleast 1" clearance. I don't have my carpet yet, but I think I'll also run up to one of the local upholsters and see if they have some scrap carpet I can put over the tunnel to try it out.

Tracy....if I plan on using DynaMat, do I need to put any other foam under the carpet or will the carpet go right on top of the DynaMat?

Still put pad. Always use a good jute pad. Your upholstery shop will know.

Thanks Tracy. I actually have another question for you after doing some reading up on fiberglass. I originally planned to use sheet metal to wrap the entire console. On another forum, someone suggested wrapping the entire thing in fiberglass (similar to a subwoofer enclosure) and then wrapping it in leather. That got me thinking as I could do some smoother and custom curves that would be easier than with sheetmetal. After reading about bonding fiberglass to metal, this might be an issue. Have you done much with fiberglassing over a metal skeleton? If I was to do it in fiberglass, I would do the entire console all at once so it would be one piece. I was thinking that I could then weld in a few pieces of sheetmetal and possibly rivet the fiberglass to the sheetmetal in an attempt to hold it in place better. I'd then wrap the fiberglass with leather so you won't see any of the rivets anyways. Any suggestions on this? Or am I better off just using sheet metal like I originally planned. Thanks in advance.

I am very interested in seeing more.

why do you need to bond the fiberglass to the metal? why not wrap the whole metal frame in cloth and then resin it. you could then glass over the top. you could then flip it and glass the inside sandwiching the metal between the layers of glass. i havent dont it before, but i watched it done a few times.

You would have less time in final finish work to do it in metal. You can glass it but there will be time in bondo work getting it smooth, If there isn't any foam going on it you will have to make it very smooth before covering. Again talk to your interior guy about that

Thanks Tracy. I went an upholsterer today and talked to them about the console. I also got some scrap carpet and underlay to test fit it. I think I am going to stick with wrapping in sheet metal after all. I agree that it will be easier to keep it straight with sheet metal. The upholsterer also recommended using sheet metal over fiberglass.