Polished Aluminum Console w/ cup holders - Page 5 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

dieselkid · #61 08-10-2008, 03:42 PM

I have the primary prototypes finished in .125 6061 aluminum, but I have a better design that will use .0625 steel finished with either black wrinkle paint or black wrinkle powder coat. Almost done guys. I want this products absolutely perfect before I sell it and final price it. Some will think it's way too expensive and others will think, "Man, what a deal!"

Can't please everyone.

-jon

omegabenz · #62 08-11-2008, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieselkid

I'll be selling these soon...
This is 6060 polished aluminum that is clear coated. I could paint it black or make flamed maple starburst like an o.e.m. les paul.

That is awesome! Great job. I thought of doing that, but I sold my w123s. Now work your way up, do the ashtray with gauges and cig lighter, etc.

Maybe make 10 at a time and recover your costs.

I always wanted to do this, but mimic the swirl (machine finishing) like was done on the 2002 SL500/600 Silver arrow.

______________________________________________________________

A solid piece of Zebranowood would be nearly impossible to find, and if you did find it, it would be way out of most w123 owners price range. Plus it is really hard to match the grain. You would have to redo all the pieces probably. A nice over lay is probably the best solution. 2x8x20" That is like 2 board feet, solid, plus you'd have to have it be clear without imperfections to machine it.

When I have time and money, I'm going to redo the whole dash wood in my 500E out of desert iron wood, or some other crazy wood. Desert iron wood requires carbide/diamond blades to cut, and the dust is a really bad for the respiratory system because of the very very fine dust. I would expect this project to be about $3k if I do it. This is like a dreaming project.

Mark DiSilvestro · #63 08-11-2008, 12:33 PM

One of those, covered in matching black plastic or wrinkle finish woud probably look better than the chipped & distressed wood surrounding the shifter on my 'loaded' automatic 240D.
I'm a bit leery about longterm use of a wood cupholder.

A PO installed folding cupholders on the front doors of my stickshift 240D. They're covered in matching vinyl so they have a nice 'factory' look, but one of them is broken and removing them will leave a rectangular dimple and four ugly screw holes in each door panel. I did pick up some decent, un-holed & matching front-door panels on a recent trip to the Virginia Beach Pick-n-Pull.

Purists may wince, but for my Euro 300TD, I bought a set of four round black-plastic door-hanger cupholders at Wal-Mart for a couple bucks. They interfered with the manual windows on my car, so I cut the hanger off one of them flush with the rim, then drilled a hole for a #10 x 1" stainless pan-head philips screw in the bottom.
I fastened it in the front part of my center tray, still leaving plenty of room in the tray for odds n' ends. I decided the single screw-hole in the tray would be neater & more reliable than glue or velcro, and easier to clean-up & hide if I decided to remove the cupholder later. And the stainless screw won't leave rust stains. I'm planning the same cupholder installation for my 240Ds.

Happy Motoring, Mark

dieselkid · #64 08-24-2008, 11:29 AM

Here's the final product.

I'm pretty much ready to take orders. Send me an email if you are interested.

jon@monstercraftsman.com

Mark DiSilvestro · #65 08-24-2008, 12:35 PM

Looks perfect, and I'm sure it's much sturdier than the flimsy black plastic panel used in the less-deluxe W123 models.

Happy Motoring, Mark

Cr from Texas · #66 08-24-2008, 06:13 PM

How does it attach?
Do you remove the wood cover and substitute this one?
Held by the clamp in the ash tray?
One piece?
If you drop something into the tray under the cup holders, how hard to retrieve?
Powder coat or spray finsh.
Final price?

resago · #67 08-24-2008, 07:12 PM

looks awesome, you definitely need to add the ashtray panel and a 12v accessory hole or 2.

dieselkid · #68 08-25-2008, 05:39 AM

This replaces the original. It is a perfect fit so no bolts are necessary. You can get stuff under the cup holders. In fact, it's a good place to hide stuff.

p.s. Right now they are black wrinkle paint which is really strong paint, but I'm going to start powder coating them immediately.

jon

ichbineinekrous · #69 08-25-2008, 09:04 AM

I'd like one made to custom dimensions, I have alot of hardware to mount for a special project I've been working on. I'll pm you with details, here are a few pics to help you get an idea. May need an entire aluminum dash. Cost is no object.

CoyoteStarfish · #70 08-25-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ichbineinekrous

I'd like one made to custom dimensions, I have alot of hardware to mount for a special project I've been working on. I'll pm you with details, here are a few pics to help you get an idea. May need an entire aluminum dash. Cost is no object.

1.21 Gigawatts?! Please tell me this is going in a DeLorean and not a Mercedes-Benz

CoyoteStarfish · #71 08-25-2008, 12:37 PM

Okay I don't know if this has been suggested enough yet so let me suggest it "louder"

*** RADIO CROSS-FADER DELETE

Or I guess I can just relocate my sunroof to this location.

dieselkid · #72 08-25-2008, 07:59 PM

i'll make that adjustment on yours as soon as you are serious.

-jon

a2t · #73 08-26-2008, 10:56 PM

looks killer.

how many beans are we talkin?

Barike · #74 10-02-2008, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyL

.... The aluminum would be fine in a different kind of car. These are not aluminum or carbon fiber candidates. Certain W124's might be OK if everything was done in the same material, but a whole lot of wood and one glaring piece of polished aluminum gives a very cheesy look. Not due to the craftsmanship of the console piece, but because of the unmatched look it would give the cockpit....

Maybe it's just me, but if all the wood was replaced with carbon fiber (subdued colors) wouldn't it look decent(my 300SD has the dark blue seats)? At least that's the thought I had. Does anyone know of someone who does good Carbon Fiber work, preferably cheaply? (sorry if I'm totally off topic, should I start a new thread?)

turbobenz · #75 10-02-2008, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barike

Maybe it's just me, but if all the wood was replaced with carbon fiber (subdued colors) wouldn't it look decent(my 300SD has the dark blue seats)? At least that's the thought I had. Does anyone know of someone who does good Carbon Fiber work, preferably cheaply? (sorry if I'm totally off topic, should I start a new thread?)

but carbon fiber doesnt go well in a 20+ year old car, especially a slow one