im working on my 27 interior, i have looked threw the archives and cant find much on my problem. what i have is a 4 door body cut down to a rpu cab. using the ft seat back from original seat ,as the back of the cab. im trying to figure out what to to do to upohlster the back body panel. im putting mg buckets in it. getting into the curve is my problem. i have 1/4 inch plywood,but i think its going to be a ***** to make the curve. im trying to cover this piece in vinyl. the flat panels are easy , its that dam curve, trying to make it work and not take up alot of space. i have short curves , and then it goes to a flat panel behind the seat. if anybody can tell me what they used and any pics would be great. thanks
If you have access to a table saw set the blade so it is up about 1/16th of an inch, and then run your panel over it about every inch or so making a cut into the back of the panel, but not through it. That will create reliefs so that the panel will then be able to bend around the curve much easier and it should stay tighter to the metal panel. The cuts should be made in the plywood vertically, up and down the curve, not across it. There are variations of this method where the cuts are shaped like a fan, narrow at the bottom and wide at the top if you have a larger curve at the top of the panel than at the bottom. Hope this helps. Gordon
On my Track T we just used regular panel board for these pieces. The upholstery material wraps over the top of the body and is fastened with snaps to the outside. I think it looks rather old timey this way and keeps the elements from getting into the padding, etc. Pictures in my build album found on my public profile.
Here is a past post that uses Luan and it bends fairly easily: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=115914&highlight=upholstery+tech
1/4 ply is fairly thick. You could easily go down to 1/8 and it would make life a lot easier. There is also a bendable ply available that is made for this kind of thing. Can't remember the name of it.
Ive seen the thin sheet metal bent over paint buckets and barrels and had the paddi g a d vinyl glued to it and put in with screws
Bendable plywood is called wiggle board. I use it all the time when i need curved shapes, but is not going to be found at one of the home centers. You need a proper lumberyard for this stuff and it come in a few thicknesses .
I used 1/8" masonite, soaked with water and clamped over night around a 4 inch tube. It takes a little planing and measuring, but once it is dry the curve is there. The sheet metal, I would use aluminum, is also a good idea. Sorry no pictures.
Wiggle Board is sold at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. under the name of Luan Plywood. I am using it in my 26T and it bends easily.
I'm going to use 1/8" ABS sheet plastic, with a little heat from a heat gun it can be formed to any shape you need and it will always be waterproof too. It will work as good or better than other materials such as masonite which is destroyed when it gets wet.
Out here in ca, luan is different from wiggle board. Yes you can get large radius bends using luan, and depot sells a nice 1/4 "moisture resistant sheet for about $ 11 but to truly bend it, you'll have to soak/steam. The true wiggle board is a ply sheet that is glued up with the grain all running the same direction. This lets you take a sheet and roll it into a cylinder right off the bat. It is perfect if you are wrapping the inside of the bun panels and backrest in one piece. Wiggle board runs about twice the price but saves hours of steaming, bending and clamping, 12 dollars extra well spent.
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