Arm rest replacement. - MK1

[petesmr2]

My current armrest is OK. I've found the appropriate material to recover it. But my main problem with the armrest is that it's made of steel. For security reasons, I have to replace it.

So what other kind of non-metallic, thin-as-steel, but though-as-steel, material can I use?

I guess plastic would be the first thought, but it would likely crack once someone leans on it. It has to be somewhat pliable, so that I can bend its sides to wrap around the console. Make one out of fibreglass?

Any other suggestions?

[immorality]

Some plexiglass or similar material. Heat it to take the shape of the current armrest and trim to size.

[Dustin]

What are the security reasons? That's weird

[petesmr2]

What are the security reasons? That's weird

I guess you don't have a motion detector in your two yet?

[Dustin]

Nope

How's that work? It just seems odd, because most of the car is made of steel

[petesmr2]

It's actually more effective in the Summertime. If you want to go into a 7-11 lets say or you're parked somewhere that you're not too far from the car, and you want to keep the windows/sunroof/T-Tops open. Then it sets off the alarm if someone even puts their hand inside. You can adjust it to be so sensitve that a flying leaf can set it off. In the Wintertime it can ward off people leaning up against the windows.

But unfortunately, like Superman (in a way), the sensor can't see through steel (I know...Superman couldn't see through lead). So now, my problem. I need something non-metalic to replace my armrest.

[immorality]

Can it see through aluminum? Fiberglass might be a good bet. There is some plastic shell-like thing that piece sits on so you could make some kind of bracket for strength that the new piece would sit on.

[Narfy]

carbon fibre... i'd use carbon fibre if someone u know could make that...

[immorality]

Fiberglass and a CF layer on top.

[petesmr2]

Aluminum is out, it's conductive (not a great conductor, but still...)
CF is questionable, I know that it's also conductive, I'd have check out it's electrical properties.

Once you put anything metallic over the sensor, the "shield" masks any of the signals emitted from the sensor, making it useless. I did have the sensor further back on the console but it would only work for movement over the sunroof. The seats were blocking the view of the windows.

I might try a small sheet of plexiglass or luan, I could heat it up to bend it into shape. A piece that small isn't very expensive. If it does crack with people leaning on it, then I'll try fibreglass.

[Narfy]

cut a hole in a sheet of steel...

[immorality]

hmm, maybe this is something I can look into this week. I need to fix mine up too. It's been recovered, but it doesn't stay attached to the rest of the console.

[immorality]

So, what better time than now since I have some free time. ok, this is what I've come up with.

http://www.pbase.com/immorality/arm_rest_replacement

[immorality]

It would have been better if I had a heat gun instead of the stove.

[petesmr2]

So, what better time than now since I have some free time. ok, this is what I've come up with.

http://www.pbase.com/immorality/arm_rest_replacement

What did you use as a mold for your armrest?