Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2022 07:34:36 -0700
Reply-To: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Subject: Re: Doing another rear aluminum bumper
In-Reply-To: <07A5EFCA-D1A8-4694-A1A1-92143773A609@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Eric,
It’s expensive to polish any metal. I’m not taking polishing after electro plating ( that’s not cheap either), but polishing from raw stock.
You know the drill, work up thru series of finer abrasives, and buffing compounds….
It’s tedious :-)
Ab
> On Aug 3, 2022, at 6:56 AM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> Then again, this is Aluminum so maybe rust is not a factor so drilling the needed holes is no big deal? I’m still learning! I didn’t know it was expensive to polish Aluminum rather then paint for example.
>
> Looking forward to hearing how the orange bumpers look on the bus!
>
> eRic
>
>
>> On Aug 3, 2022, at 9:49 AM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
>>
>> Bumper dreams,
>>
>> Not practical but I always loved the way the early Bay window bumpers curved around and became a step to get into the van. I wonder why that was only for a couple years.
>>
>> On the practical side. My second van has GW steel bumpers, but the front one had no holes for a from License plate.
>>
>> I’d recommend two holes in the correct place for a bracket so that they get pained and are ready. I hate drilling into a newly painted piece.
>>
>> Of course Alistair probably has a bunch of cool license brackets ready to go.
>>
>>
>> Eric
>>
>>
>>
>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 9:57 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
>>>
>>> If you want, yes :-)
>>>
>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 5:11 PM, Bruce Todd <beeceetee@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Will they come with bottle cap removers?
>>>>
>>>> BT
>>>>
>>>>> On Tuesday, August 2, 2022, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>>>>> Hey Bruce. I hope to make more bumpers, well I have to make at least 2 sets. We will see how it goes.
>>>>>
>>>>> I’m kinda slightly regretting my orange choice before seeing it. But hey, live a little .
>>>>>
>>>>> Ab
>>>>>
>>>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 1:28 PM, Bruce Todd <beeceetee@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Or one side orange and the other side brown to compliment Alistair’s best
>>>>>> in class colour scheme!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thebumper looks very nice. I could also be a beta tester - and you know
>>>>>> where my van currently lives. I decided to to go with my stock bumpers
>>>>>> and not upgrade to keep project costs somewhat in line. Anyway if you
>>>>>> begin to roll these off the Bell Industry’s assembly line - you have
>>>>>> another client…I can even pick up factory seconds directly from the factory.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Bruce
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Tuesday, August 2, 2022, David Boan <dboan@outlook.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I think you should paint one side white and the other orange, and promote
>>>>>>> it as an example of the spirit of compromise in marriage,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Dave B
>>>>>>> Boise
>>>>>>> ________________________________
>>>>>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> on behalf of Eric
>>>>>>> Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
>>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, August 2, 2022 12:40 PM
>>>>>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: Doing another rear aluminum bumper
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I would love to have my van be orange! But, white is so darn practical
>>>>>>> for heat when camping. Also, my wife is anti orange color for us. Still a
>>>>>>> orange 76 westy still fills my dreams!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The bumpers in Orange sound great to me!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Still aluminum can’t just be pretty polished? I don’t know these things
>>>>>>> but simple care is appealing.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Eric
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 1:34 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Hey Eric,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Got a line of beta testers waiting here…. But I’ll put you on the list
>>>>>>> :-)
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> It’s 1/4” 5052 aluminum. Yes it’s strong enough to stand on, that’s
>>>>>>> important to me too. And the top plate, the standing surface, is flat, not
>>>>>>> slightly angled as in the stock steel. So less chance of slipping off in
>>>>>>> the wet.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Took bumper to powdercoat today. Was going to be all black, a very
>>>>>>> slight texture . But he showed me a gloss orange that so very closely
>>>>>>> matches the orange doors I’ve got on van… so why not, encaps still black.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I can repaint if the orange looks silly
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Ab
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 9:17 AM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Hey,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Looking for a Beta tester? I’ll pay shipping and more!
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Light, strong, rust proof, and stock like look? What is not to love?
>>>>>>> And, Bell Industries reputation behind it!
>>>>>>>>> I’m happy with a not perfect version!
>>>>>>>>> I only want to know is it strong enough for one to stand on to get up
>>>>>>> on the luggage rack or rear of bus?
>>>>>>>>> My stock one on the front wants to bend if I try to step up on it.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I’m blind, but why paint? Would brushed or polished aluminum stand up
>>>>>>> without need of touch ups?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Eric Caron
>>>>>>>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 11:08 AM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Four years :-)
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Well , since I measured the stock bumper and drew first model .
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Then this spring I had bumper 3D scanned. More or less fit my measured
>>>>>>> model.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Then more computer modelling , time wasting .
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> The main part of the bumper is quite fast. Cnc router cut panels, 3,
>>>>>>> then held in curve on a jig, top and bottom plates tacked on. Then full
>>>>>>> weld. I tig welded this one, but I’d mig the next.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Router a chamfer on top weld, flap disc grind the bottom weld to blend.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> It was the endcaps that took the most time. I have I think four failed
>>>>>>> versions. Flat pattern cnc cut, then brake press to bend, then a front face
>>>>>>> and a wee little rear face welded. Grind and blend etc.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Now that the endcaps figured out, not so bad , or slow .
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> So all the hard work done. I’d say less than 4 hours to make one , not
>>>>>>> counting cnc machine cut time .
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Ab
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 7:59 AM, Stacy Schneider <vwcrewman@gmail.com>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> That is really nice, you must have 40 hours in it?
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Stacy
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> On Tue, Aug 2, 2022 at 7:54 AM Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>> Wanted something lighter than my previous and with no trailer hitch.
>>>>>>> Trying to mimic the stock steel bumper.
>>>>>>>>>>>> Got one made well enough to powder coat and use.
>>>>>>>>>>>> https://shufti.blog/2022/08/01/vanagon-making-another-
>>>>>>> aluminum-bumper/
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Alistair
>>>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>>>> 1989 Swedish Tristar with Aluminum gates and Atiwe 16" Wheels.
>>>>>>>>>>> Oldest son is an Eagle scout.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>
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