Step Pads

8122pbrainard wrote: Generic pads are available off the shelf to fit the Atwood frames. Available in black but can be painted white with a can of vinyl spray paint. That's what I'm running now on my X55.

Pete, what do you mean when you say "vinyl spray paint"?

What is a X55 post pics. thanks jeff

Sunapee Crow---Rick
How much and pics?
Marty Mabe

mtmabe@northstate.net

Hi Frank,

Could you make some generic step pads in white?

Woodyz '91 Excel

Riley wrote: Pete, Frank's look so good why don't you just use those?

Bruce, I think Pete's pads in question are for his Dunphy X55, not a CC.

I'd like to comment on Frank's step pads. I talked with him yesterday (Frank, thanks for the opportunity) and learned about what he has gone though to reproduce the pads. First, he's machined a mold to make them rather than pull a mold off a old pad. This is why his pads look so good with the clean crisp details. Second he has the equipment needed to cast top quality parts. This is a pressure vessel so the mold with the liquid resin is placed in it to remove the entraped air bubbles. Great work Frank!

I wasn't able to get all the chunks of my round two experiment out of my mold so I'll see if I can pull another mold off my original for Frank to work with. Since the X's pads will not be high volume, I don't want to go to the expence at this time finding some one to CNC a "hard" mold. My opportunity to have it done here at work dried up when both of our CNC operators were laid off!!

My molds are cut, not cast off of an original part due to wear. In fact I have two sets, one is the same length of the original step pads and the other is about 3% longer. I am not certain if the originals shrank but they do not go to the extents of the chrome trims. See picture in the original posting.

You might want to try bondo. Stick the original to a piece of wood cut to the same shape and size of the reveal (the thin part that goes under the trim), lube up the face of the original with vaseline and then work it in. When it dries pull it out the original and see what you have. If it looks good cut the excess away leaving about 1 inch all around and then it you have a disk or belt sander, sand down the top to achieve the reveal thickness desired. When done, prime and paint with a good glossy paint. Hopefully with a good release agent the new material can be removed from the painted mold.

I have a air scoop mold made this way but I will be casting with polyester resin and not the step pad material.

Frank
   

Do you have any molds of what you are trying to reproduce? What material are they? Perhaps I can cast some for you.

The smallest quantity of material I can buy is a two gallon kit, one each of part A & B, in addition to color pigments. The casting process is as critical as the material as it is very moisture sensitive and prone to air bubbles.

Frank
   

Frank,
Very nice! I'm sure you will get plenty of interest.

Would you mind telling me where you got the material? I've worked on making a set for my Dunphy for years and the casting material was always the set back. Ether not user friendly requiring vacuum degassing or not UV stable!

Did you use one of the urethane casting compounds for pulling the mold off the original or a hard epoxy?

I made a set of these for the 71SN and can make some more if there is any interest. Made from a aliphatic poly elastomer. I contacted the product manufacturer and they have assured me that their material is UV stable. These are white but I can make other colors as well. I would think in the $80 range for a set of four (no trims).