Icing it should only take a weekend. You could always just do the major surfaces, then carpet/line the rest.

That first layer of icing shouldn't be hard at all. But sorry to encourage/scare you off. I wish you luck with what you decide to do.

 

Well, let me ask you this; would this be easier to ice if I put a radius on all the corners? I could sand or file a radius around the edges. But I don't know if it would be easier to leave the corners sharp to have edged faces to work with or to break the edge and have to wrap around that?

 

Going around a radius is way easier than doing 90 degree corners. At that point it would just be like doing body work on a car. The only difference would be that the icing is thinner than filler.

 

So if I ice this and screw it up or just don't like the result, can I apply the carpet glue directly on the cured icing?

 

I would seal it first with some kind of polyurethane. But if you just want to carpet right over it, you should be ok. But I wouldn't because I'm a perfectionist.

 

Another idea I just had with this console was to mount a cell phone holder to it. This way the phone would be up and out of the way. I though about a mount that could screw to the side and either be flexible or have an armature with an adjustment or two in order to set the phone in a comfortable position.

It may need to be able to swing down in order for the sun visor to be moved to the side window. The only mounts that I am finding, however, are either windshield suction-cup style, the kind that fit into the A/C vents or the kind that drops into a cup-holder.

If anyone remembers the old mounts people used to put on their floor to hold a CD player you'll know the style of mount I mean. Anyone have a source for this? I know, Ebay and Amazon but my eyes are crossed looking through, literally, thousands of mounts that do me no good. If I do find a "floor mount" it's about 15-18" tall which is not what I'm looking for.

I have seen those small steel discs that be screwed to a surface and then the suction-cup style could go on those but I'm looking for a cleaner - more permanent solution.

Thanks!! Oh, I was looking those over and was asking my daughter what she thought about finishing it. She suggested I paint the center section and carpet the outside rails. While there are downsides to this like the difficulty of forming the carpet over the edges, I think this will give the best look!

So, I'm going to try my hand at "icing" tonight and see how that goes!!

I also thought it would be bad-*** to have this entire console "flip down" from the ceiling along one edge for ease of hook-up. I had something in mind like those Euro-style cabinet hinges, where the door extends away from the cabinet in order to open.

I don't see how I could make those work so I will look for some alternatives but I have a feeling this will be screwed straight-up.

 

subscribing to see how this comes out.
Trav

 

Got home from work this afternoon and thought I'd try my hand at this icing stuff. I mean, what's the worst that could happen, right? I could just destroy all this hard work!! ok, maybe that's a little extreme!!

This is the "icing"...


Here is about a 4" puddle. As bikerman pointed it, it does self-level. This comes in handy - and not handy sometimes!!

 

I decided to break the edges on the sides. This way regardless if I carpet or paint (and ice) it should make things a little easier.

This was just a sanding block and some 80 grit and a lot of elbow grease!!

 

After taping off some holes so this stuff wouldn't run down through them, it was go time...

Not having any experience with bodywork, this could definitely have gone smoother. I must have completely missed the part on the instructions when it states "only mix as much as you can work in 3 minutes"

This stuff pours and self-levels very nicely but it sure sets up quick!! I worked with some sections too long for sure!! It's like working with drywall mud after it starts to set-up. It is actually detrimental to the final finish when worked too long!!

That train wreck of a recessed area is me attempting to "freehand" a pocket using my router!! This is to clear the parts on the factory interior light. Note how the icing free-flowed right down into that pocket!!

 

Since I had most of the surface jacked-up, I had to start sanding. Fortunately this stuff sands pretty well! There are some areas on this console that are difficult to sand.

After sanding...a LOT...there are just a few small areas that are still need sanded smooth but there are other areas that are pitted up. So tomorrow (and I have a VERY busy day so hope to fit it in) I will mix up some more icing and coat the "low" areas.

That should set me up to sand it all down, right down to 320 grit and then I can start coating in primer and paint!!

 

Oh, one thing I need to consider is that once I lay down the paint, I will then need to spray glue on for the carpet. I will need to mask/tape off the painted area while I spray the glue so if anyone has any tape they would recommend (blue tape, whatever) let me know!!

The area to the right where the icing is missing is where I still need to cut out for the switches. I don't have the switch mount or I would have cut this out already.



Another thing I am considering is putting a speaker grill/cover under where the CB will be mounted to better hear the CB's downfire speaker. I have the option to add an external speaker but at least it wouldn't be muffled by the console.

 

As planned, I was able to sand the first coating of icing.






I then added a 2nd coat which went MUCH better!!! I worked in smaller sections so it didn't set before I got it the way I wanted!! Was able to get a smoother finish. I was able to use 320 grit - dry sanded - and the finish was awesome!!

I sprayed it up with primer and with a uniform color it looks GREAT!!! I can see a few areas of cavitation. I can hit those with icing in the morning, sand and primer again!!

I plan to paint this blue to match the truck, but , TBH, I LIKE the color of this gray primer!! A lot!!!

 

looks awesome so far.
Trav

 

cant wait to see it finished!