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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Any interest in Aluminum Door skins?
Posted by: rick 918-S Jun 22 2013, 08:52 PM
I'm fabricating a aluminum door skin this weekend as a skills builder. I have been away from fabrication too long. Sometime you just need to get back to doing something fun.
I'm rather enjoying it and thought I would fly a trial balloon by you guys to see if there is any interest out there. If I were to fab these I may need to do the install on your shell or have a core sent back as part of the deal.
What do you think? 
Here's the start. I'll post when I finish.
Posted by: PanelBilly Jun 22 2013, 09:03 PM
What about making a frame and fabricate a new light weight door?
Posted by: effutuo101 Jun 22 2013, 09:20 PM
I'm fabricating a aluminum door skin this weekend as a skills builder. I have been away from fabrication too long. Sometime you just need to get back to doing something fun.
I'm rather enjoying it and thought I would fly a trial balloon by you guys to see if there is any interest out there. If I were to fab these I may need to do the install on your shell or have a core sent back as part of the deal.
What do you think?
Here's the start. I'll post when I finish.
Just for fun? You have mad skills my friend!
Posted by: McMark Jun 22 2013, 09:47 PM
Hmmm, I need a good aluminum fabricator. 
Looks great. Did you wrap the edge?
Posted by: rick 918-S Jun 22 2013, 10:18 PM
Hmmm, I need a good aluminum fabricator.
Looks great. Did you wrap the edge?
Not yet but I'm close now. I'm trimming the salvage edges now. I plan on using door skin glue along with the edge wrap.
Posted by: The Metal Surgeon Jun 22 2013, 10:48 PM
Hmmm, I need a good aluminum fabricator.
Looks great. Did you wrap the edge?
Not yet but I'm close now. I'm trimming the salvage edges now. I plan on using door skin glue along with the edge wrap.
Colorado is closer and we do aluminum from scratch too!
Posted by: rick 918-S Jun 28 2013, 10:15 PM
Hmmm, I need a good aluminum fabricator.
Looks great. Did you wrap the edge?
Not yet but I'm close now. I'm trimming the salvage edges now. I plan on using door skin glue along with the edge wrap.
Colorado is closer and we do aluminum from scratch too!
Mark has been trying to get me to move to Nor-Cal for years now.
Who knows what will happen.
Posted by: rick 918-S Jun 28 2013, 10:18 PM
What about making a frame and fabricate a new light weight door?
Would be possible but not wise for a street car unless you have a cage and door opening bar. Mercedes 280 SL's have all aluminum doors but the inner is a heavy casting.
Posted by: rick 918-S Jun 28 2013, 10:37 PM
Oh I suppose I should up date this as long as I bumped it. I sent the shell out to get sand blasted. I should have the skin on in a week or so. I decided to do two doors and save them for a future project. I have some cool parts laying around I have been collecting for a euro hot rod project. That is if I ever finish this Mercedes.
Attached image(s)
Posted by: balljoint Jun 28 2013, 10:39 PM
Would an aluminium doorskin take and show paint the same way as the rest of the car?
Posted by: rick 918-S Jun 28 2013, 11:12 PM
Would an aluminium doorskin take and show paint the same way as the rest of the car?
Sure. But polished would be outrageous!
Posted by: watsonrx13 Jun 29 2013, 04:01 AM
Looks great Rick. Any photo documentation showing the steps you took to create it?
--- Rob
Posted by: rick 918-S Jun 29 2013, 07:17 AM
Looks great Rick. Any photo documentation showing the steps you took to create it?
--- Rob
I'll post more when I get the first shell back from the sandblaster.
Posted by: balljoint Jun 29 2013, 08:33 AM
Would an aluminium doorskin take and show paint the same way as the rest of the car?
Sure. But polished would be outrageous!
Then you'll have to reskin the entire car.
Posted by: rick 918-S Jun 29 2013, 08:46 AM
Would an aluminium doorskin take and show paint the same way as the rest of the car?
Sure. But polished would be outrageous!
Then you'll have to reskin the entire car.
Posted by: Randal Jun 29 2013, 09:15 AM
Sure looks pretty and LIGHT. Nice work. 
So what does the door frame along with the aluminum skin weigh?
Also I have cut down frames, so do that cause you issues when doing the aluminum bits?
Posted by: boogie_man Jun 29 2013, 01:22 PM
Awesome work !!! 
Posted by: Dr Evil Jun 29 2013, 01:39 PM
Neeto ![popcorn[1].gif](style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)
Posted by: Woody Jun 29 2013, 04:55 PM
The aluminum is way cool but I think it would be a tough market. Glass would be cheaper and maybe lighter as well. Although if you get the fitment right and they'll still accept glass they may sell.
Posted by: Rand Jun 29 2013, 06:29 PM
I think it's super cool you are doing this.
Just not sure of the market for more.
An all-aluminum door has some intrigue. A skin on a steel door, not so much.
An all-fiberglass super lightweight door already exists (as well as carbon fiber if you want to pay the price), but only makes sense in certain applications.
This hybrid thing, just seems to be a cool novelty. Am I wrong? But please, I hope nobody will misunderstand my questions... I LOVE this metalwork! Just have to ask.
Is the skin bonded with adhesive?
I tend to want to go all the way strong or all the way light. I don't see this as either. But if I had one, I would brag about it at car shows. 
Posted by: rick 918-S Jun 29 2013, 10:29 PM
I do things I like. Often it's not conventional. I have done proto typing in fabre glas on a Porsche 928 Spyder. The results were,, well, Cheap looking. I have bonded lots of parts on wrecked Corvettes. 
It may not be the lightest. But for me it's all about the cool factor. You said it. If I had aluminum door skins I would brag about it at all the shows. 
Cool factor.
Posted by: r_towle Jun 29 2013, 10:41 PM
Whole car....
Posted by: rick 918-S Jun 30 2013, 05:02 AM
Whole car....
That was mentioned. Ever since I have been thinking about it.
Seriously. Hey, You know that project you and I talked about that you wanted me to do for you?
Posted by: Rand Jun 30 2013, 07:39 PM
I do things I like. Often it's not conventional. I have done proto typing in fabre glas on a Porsche 928 Spyder. The results were,, well, Cheap looking. I have bonded lots of parts on wrecked Corvettes.
It may not be the lightest. But for me it's all about the cool factor. You said it. If I had aluminum door skins I would brag about it at all the shows. Cool factor.
I love this about you.
Posted by: r_towle Jun 30 2013, 09:25 PM
Whole car....
That was mentioned. Ever since I have been thinking about it.
Seriously. Hey, You know that project you and I talked about that you wanted me to do for you?
It should be aluminum....my project I mean.
Btw, door pockets that I know won't lose things...aluminum.
I would buy those...
Put a few cool beads in them too....
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