[Whaler]

I am about to pop out to the garage to do mine now!

I have the aluminum blank, I have finally finished cutting all the holes for the gauges, switches, and warning lamps

1) Anyhow I use 1/8" hi density foam, the same used on vinyl tops for cars. As said before using a spray on contact cement( I used Elmers pro-bond contact cement)...apply a light coat to each side to be bonded....allow to get tacky, 1-5 minutes, then stick them together. Trim it flush to all the outer edges.

2) Now for the vinyl, I will do the same and I am going to cut all mine exactly to the holes, not going to try and pull over lap thru.
I will leave a 1 inch edge to fold over to the other side
After all if the stuff doesn't shrink, wheres it going to go?? I have at least 1/4 ' of overlay with the bezels on the gauges so there lots of hiding capability here.

Vinyl trimming not to be done until this baby is dry for some time too!!

The choice to pad or not with Foam is a personal one. I like the look of the gauge set in with a slight detent.

On black vinyl in a sheen and grain that matches my leather seats the gauges etc, look awesome.

wish me luck...

Tim


wow that stuff doesn't come out in the finest of sprays does it?
Thank god I had a small utility brush to even out the slight splatter. Now that stuff grabs good after its tacky...just wait till that bit of a shine is off it and its time to bond the two together.

Now she sits drying....the next step is to trim that foam flush to the outer edges because I won't be doing that once the vinyl goes on top of this stuff.


......


Okay shes dry enough to trim off the excess foam and layout for the vinyl....cut a square with plenty of overlap, will trim that after.

Once again glue to both sides and not too much on the vinyl as it does soak into the cloth backing somewhat.

Tacky then she goes together...I used small snap/spring clamps to pinch any edges together and also give it a degree of taughtness now. Later when it comes time to trim the edge and pull around to the back side it will get a little more strecth then.

I guess now she dries for the day.

See ya

Tim


Okay here's the biggest tip i can give anybody...CLOTHES PEGS!!!
Use 100's if you can get them..I used the plastic guys and basically clamped the entire perimeter, spaced about 1 inch apart.
Notch out a triangle shy of the edge at each corner and fold it over.
Worked like a charm to hold the inch plus of overhang I cut for.

Glued, clamped and drying on the back side of the blank now..

Tim