Re: Hideaway Cup Holders
I promised more info on the cup holder that I made, well here goes:
Materials you will need:
1. 1-1/4"x1/16"x3' Aluminum stock from Lowes or? (see photo).
2. J B Weld from Wal Mart (not needed if you can weld aluminum which is recommended).
Tools you will need:
1. Tin snips or aviation snips or hack saw.
2. Something to measure and mark with.
3. Vise.
4. 30p common nail.
5. File.
6. Spring clamp or clothspin.
7. Something to wrap the aluminum around to make a 3" circle. I used a pice of 2-1/2" i.d. schedule 40 pvc pipe. Other things will work or you can bend the circle by hand.
How to:
1. Measure and cut the piece for the clip. 9-1/4".
2. Using the file round the 4 edges and make them smooth.
3. Using the vise bend the aluminum to form the clip starting with the 1" part. See the picture for information. If you plan on polishing the finished holder put something in your vise jaws to keep from marking the soft aluminum, as it is hard to polish out the vise marks.
4. Make the next two bends as shown in the diagram.
5. Now comes the tricky part, bending the little circle at the top of the clip. Lay the nail on top of your vise and use it to keep the aluminum from bending too sharply. You can only bend it 90 degrees in the vise and you will have to use your pliers to make the rest of the bend. You can put it back in the vise to finish the circle by leaving the nail in the bend and clamping with the vise below the nail. Just take your time and bend a little at the time. The loop makes it possible to adust the clamping pressure of the clip.
6. Mark the dimension, 9-1/2", for the cup circle on the aluminum but don't cut it yet. Using a peice of PVC pipe, clamp one end to the pipe and bend it around in a circle. Leave a 1/2" flat on each end to attach to the clip. Cut it at your mark and touch up the bending with your hands. Make it as round as possible.
7. Position the circle just under the top loop on the clip and mark lightly. If welding go ahead and weld it up. If using J B Weld, scuff the area to be bonded.
8. Mix the J B Weld in accordance with the instuctions on the package and apply to both pieces. Clamp the pieces together using the spring clamp or the clothespin. Don't apply a lot of clamping pressure or you will sqeeze the J B Weld out of the joint and not get a secure bond. LEAVE IT ALONE FOR 24 HOURS to let it set up.
9. You can finish it anyway you choose, polish, paint or sandblast.
10. The finished holder can be used on either side of the glove box door as long as it is no bigger than the drawing.
Two words of warning: Don't drive with the glove box door open and somone in the passenger seat. It may obstruct the opening of the air bag in the event of a collision. Don't drive at night with the glove box open and the light on, it is distracting. There are numerous ways to keep the light off.
Hope this helps, it is not a very big project.
Lighthorse
Black '05 SRT6
Last edited by andrew; Nov 22, 2007 at 06:08 AM.
Reason: Added drawing