Thanks guys! Started off making my center template tonight but ran out of material. I deliver to my customer tomorrow that sheered it for me so guess I'll get him to make me a couple of more pieces. Figured out how to heat up the templates to an even temp needed, I'll just put them in boiling water. Since water boils at 212 deg ( I need 150-240 deg) should work fine and doesn't matter if templates are wet. Just need to find a tank that will fit templates 4'x2'x3" and I can heat up the tank with my turbo torch. Was thinking the old fuel tanks from behind the seat of trucks, will have to go digging at dads! I can go into more detail of how I made the templates if you guys like, just in case you want to tackle down the road? Think this will also work to emboss emblems/script etc in vinyl, just have to do text in reverse so your not reading backwards.

 

-- Edited by hawkeye5766 on Friday 12th of February 2016 01:56:44 AM

Either way you definitely have a work of art there.

Thanks guys. Mark,don't you have a couple........dozen 66's. Progress with a bit of a setback tonight. The dang templates cool down so fast because of being 1/16 strips, kinda like a rad fin, also the larger the area the harder to make an impression in the vinyl/foamcore. My jigs came in handy because I had to heat/press more than once. Another problem was the vinyl being wrapped around to the back side, this caused the panel to angle when being compressed because the template was over the wrapped and non wrapped section at the same time. Turned out OK in the end but will do a couple of modes for the next impression. Started laying out the outer templates when I realized I need to work from the middle outwards, this will give me an even distance all the way around  the center inlay to all the way around the center template (get my drift?). Boy,sure a lot of work for a couple of door panels!!

Jig for holding door panel and template. Low enough so I still have room to compress.

Holds template and door panel in place if I need to press more than once

 

Firebox for heating template to 212 deg

Now we're cooking!

After second pressing, would like a little more defined.

 

 

 

 

WOW.

And now your phone is going to start ringing.....

Do I have to supply my own material when you come to do mine?? NICE job. 

You should have that thing out cruisin this spring. 

 

Greaser wrote:

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For Jim impossible isn't in his vocabulary.

You continue to amaze Jim..........awesome outcome........

When's the instruction book coming out...I wanna copy.

 

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 Instructions: A crap load of work!

Simply Amazing! And you make it look and sound so easy when clearly it isn't . Great job my friend. Now this will be something I won't be afraid to tackle in the future if needed.

Don't forget to match up the rear panels buddy,your not done yet.lol

Did some embossing last night. Works the same as embossing the door panels so if you want to dress them up the options are endless,door panels/headrests/package tray etc. Couldn't believe the detail that came through. The "Canso" was pressed from the backside of the vinyl.

 

jmont64 wrote:

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Wow, just takes one hot emblem I guess. Again, well done.

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 Yup, 170 deg and some foam core.