65sporty
Old Man with a Hat
You mentioned the birch plywood, me kid uses it for sub boxes. His 2 past boxes were birch and the current build is birch also.
‘68 Polara Bench Seat console Christmas break build
- Thread starter HWYCRZR
- Start date
A couple ideas that may help: For the base you could use roof flashing which would allow the contour you need. Join 2 pieces with aluminum bar stock which is also bendable. Underneath the box for non skid and scratch protection could use carpet non-slip For non-skid/slide underlay. I used this all by itself on my seat to keep things like phone and wallet from sliding to the other side of the world. Also house trim molding comes in very flexible plastic. That and the aluminum might be an alternative to plywood spines. For the phone holder you might need to build you own, but some things that might come close.
4" PVC or drain pipe stretched into a rectangle with a heat gun. Same roof flashing bent into a rectangle. Oval desk grommets. Plastic hollow tube end caps. I found these just be searching for 2 X 3"on amazon. Also search for similar but convert to mm. I also found craft bead boxes that might get close and are gluable. Downspouts and connectors are similar size and cheap. And of course regular ABS plastic sheets. Heat formable and gluable. For that matter check you broken car trim pieces for plastic you could use. And of course use what's in your hand...beer cans. Not very stiff but might be an option. I made wheel center caps from coor lite cans for an old honda. Anything of thin metal that could be bent into a square. Cookie cutters might be an option. Drinking cups? Seems like you leave one in the dishwasher and it becomes rectangle all by itself.
You also might consider a USB port to prevent charging wires coming from your dash. I see you already found marine products. There are a bunch of good ideas sitting on marine sites. And lastly I was wondering if you should anchor it down using the center seat belt? You might need this when u r drifting
4" PVC or drain pipe stretched into a rectangle with a heat gun. Same roof flashing bent into a rectangle. Oval desk grommets. Plastic hollow tube end caps. I found these just be searching for 2 X 3"on amazon. Also search for similar but convert to mm. I also found craft bead boxes that might get close and are gluable. Downspouts and connectors are similar size and cheap. And of course regular ABS plastic sheets. Heat formable and gluable. For that matter check you broken car trim pieces for plastic you could use. And of course use what's in your hand...beer cans. Not very stiff but might be an option. I made wheel center caps from coor lite cans for an old honda. Anything of thin metal that could be bent into a square. Cookie cutters might be an option. Drinking cups? Seems like you leave one in the dishwasher and it becomes rectangle all by itself.
You also might consider a USB port to prevent charging wires coming from your dash. I see you already found marine products. There are a bunch of good ideas sitting on marine sites. And lastly I was wondering if you should anchor it down using the center seat belt? You might need this when u r drifting
I may look in a couple of my vehicles and see what removable trays they have. If I find one that fits I can either order one or find something in a junk yard. I may have to experiment.
I got my main pieces cut and mad a jig. I haven’t used my router table for about 4-5 years likely.
The jig is slotted to help hold the sides in the right orientation for glueup. I almost have my radius figured out. I also need to figure out how to keep it closed (magnet?) and a slot to lift the lid.
The jig is slotted to help hold the sides in the right orientation for glueup. I almost have my radius figured out. I also need to figure out how to keep it closed (magnet?) and a slot to lift the lid.
live4theking
Old Man with a Hat
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Is coming along nicely.
LocuMob
Fluid Technician with a hat
Nice work Marty, but I'm sticking with the dash shelf for my phone. 
Reading your threads makes me realize how much time I don't spend on my cars. Hope to see the finished product next June.
Reading your threads makes me realize how much time I don't spend on my cars. Hope to see the finished product next June.
Nice work Marty, but I'm sticking with the dash shelf for my phone.
Yes the lower dash cell phone holder works great on these ‘68s. W wish modern vehicles had such a shelf. I use my phone for navigation all the time, some vehicles are more friendly for this than others. When I take on a project I do tend to get a little carried away with perfection. But when I am building stuff like this or detailing a part nobody sees, I like the creative exercise of figuring out how it may have been done originally or how it should have been done ti look professional. Best therapy in the world for me.
My challenge on the box will be how to hide the staples on the vinyl whether the box is installed or laying on it’s side in the trunk. I have some ideas to experiment with.
Will see how far I get today.
First up is seeing if I can get through this blizzard to Fleet Farm to get a new garbage disposal before Christmas. Mine started leaking like crazy through the motor last night.
Making some progress. I also created templates in case a wanted to do another. I just have to double sided tape them to the wood and use my router table to cut out.
I figured out my top, I cut small strips to to follow the radius and then used my topside template to create a negative to use to clamp while gluing. Also drilled my cup holes. Now it is almost time to figure out the covering before final glue up.
I figured out my top, I cut small strips to to follow the radius and then used my topside template to create a negative to use to clamp while gluing. Also drilled my cup holes. Now it is almost time to figure out the covering before final glue up.
Nice work
3175375
Senior Member
Excellent project! IIRC, you are covering this with vinyl, correct? How nice it might look if it were stained and clear coated with possibly an emblem on each side?
Staining would be an option with the Baltic Birch with just the top padded and covered in matching vinyl. Since I don’t have any wood trim in my car, am not sure I will introduce any wood grain.
I think I am going to cover the top and sides with vinyl, but may do the cup holder top and front pocket with undercoating to give it a rubbery feeling. I may paint the undercoating the same Aztec maroon suede as my dash. I can work with black, argent, or burgundy to match the current dash.
I think I am going to cover the top and sides with vinyl, but may do the cup holder top and front pocket with undercoating to give it a rubbery feeling. I may paint the undercoating the same Aztec maroon suede as my dash. I can work with black, argent, or burgundy to match the current dash.
I think I have the wrapping figured out. But I do have some options.
The given is that the top armrest will be padded and covered with the same vinyl as my seat.
Original internet is to cover the sides as well and the top face of the cup holder and pockets will be black. I am liking the look and texture of the undercoating, plus it should be easy to clean.
I have two different vinyls. The main grain that is in my seating area and the center and front section vinyl. Most arm rests used the center section vinyl so will Likely do that on the top pad. For the sides I am not sure if I will do the same vinyl as the top or use the main seat vinyl.
The given is that the top armrest will be padded and covered with the same vinyl as my seat.
Original internet is to cover the sides as well and the top face of the cup holder and pockets will be black. I am liking the look and texture of the undercoating, plus it should be easy to clean.
I have two different vinyls. The main grain that is in my seating area and the center and front section vinyl. Most arm rests used the center section vinyl so will Likely do that on the top pad. For the sides I am not sure if I will do the same vinyl as the top or use the main seat vinyl.
Glue up complete and padding installed. Now on to upholstery. With the rounded corners I don’t want to just pull it around and have tucks in the vinyl. I think a little sewing is in order to make it like a glove around the edges. Now my dilemma is to decide if I want to incorporate cording into the seams. On the seat all the seams are corded, so maybe I will follow.
I have it all covered. I see why they charge around $130-$150 for the simple ones. There was a a lot of time involved.
Next I need to go to plan B for the box hinges. I had a small piano hinge, but needs a little more spacing with the padding.
I am liking the way it turned out. Now for the final touches.
Next I need to go to plan B for the box hinges. I had a small piano hinge, but needs a little more spacing with the padding.
I am liking the way it turned out. Now for the final touches.
LocuMob
Fluid Technician with a hat
Nice work Marty! I like how you incorporated the seat pattern into the lid, big improvement on a very good design.
looks very "natural". nice upholstery work.
65sporty
Old Man with a Hat
Are you going to start taking orders now? I bet a few other guy's would want one. It turned out great.
LocuMob
Fluid Technician with a hat
That same thought went through my head.
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