[Spridgets] Bugeye side curtain some more...

[Bob Kitterer]

Lester,

This is how I  installed the felt for my windows.

Cut the felt the length of one channel and wider than what will be needed.

Use an adhesive the will not absorb into the felt and make it hard, I think I use contact cement.

Using a scrape piece of plexy, about 2x4 inches with one end sloped, press the felt into the channel leaving some felt above the channel on both sides.  Run the plexy back and forth to make sure that the felt is well fitted.

Once the adhesive is dry using the scrape piece of plexy as backing use a craft knife to cut off the extra felt above the channel.

Hope this helps.


Bob  Kitterer

1960 Austin Healey Sprite (Mk IV in disguise)
1966 Austin Healey Sprite Mk III (Trevor) - still in boxes
2013 Miata
2017 Mazda CX9

Pay it forward.
Thanks Frank

> On Feb 10, 2018, at 11:17 AM, Lester via Spridgets <spridgets at autox.team.net> wrote:
> 
> HAH!  Yes it’s true, I could buy all new from AH Spares but I am trying to refinish these.  They aren’t judged so I just want them nice not perfect.  I’ve already decided to just clean and polish what I have.  Install the new felt somehow, new plexi, and new rubber seals then live with it.
> 
> Affording a Bugeye is peanuts, try restoring an E-Type or a Formula SAAB.  ;-)
> 
> Lester
> 
> 
> 
>> On Feb 10, 2018, at 11:33 AM, sprideteer at yahoo.com [bugeye] <bugeye at yahoogroups.com> wrote:
>> 
>> You're right, Lester.   No commercial shop is going to want to restore your aluminum frames.  It's simply more work than anyone would be willing to pay for.
>> 
>> First they strip the old anodizing.  You can''t do that at home with chemicals from Wal*Mart.
>> 
>> Then they have to polish out all the scratches and corrosion pitting.You can't do that at home with with a car paint buff.
>> 
>> Then they can anodize them.  To do that you need seven or eight chemicals which are mostly unavailable to the general public. You need a 16-20 volt rectifier, tanks, heaters and a chiller.
>> 
>> Anyone who says you can do them at home is.....uh....let's just call them uninformed.
>> 
>> How do I know this?  I spent 44 years in the metal finishing business.
>> 
>> So, what can you do at home?
>> 
>> You can sand them smooth, get then as perfect as you can, the paint them with automotive quality silver paint, base/clearcoat..  The base, clear, reducer and hardener, in pint quantities will cost about $75.  Or you can just buy an aerosol can of sliver from Lowes for 6 bucks.
>> 
>> In any event they won't look like new, but maybe they will look good enough to suit you.
>> 
>> As I said, I spent my entire working life in the metal finishing business.  I *could* have refinished my side curtain frames a work, at no cost to me.  It wasn't worth the effort.  I simply bought new ones complete with felt. seals and windows.
>> 
>> I see some posts which imply that at-home anodizing is simple.  That's absolute nonsense.  And even if you could do it, you'd just have anodized old, bent, worn, scratched and dented frames.
>> 
>> You can get everything you need from AH Spares for about $400 USD.  If you can't afford that, maybe you can't afford to restore or maintain a Bugeye
> 
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> 
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