so, im about ready to get to work on a custom center console. and i know im gonna build it out of MDF for the sides and all that...

but i've got a couple questions before i go out and start buying materials.

1.) the top of the console is gonna have some curves to make it looks all nice and smooth... how the F am i gonna make curves??? haha, i was thinking like.. bendable plywood or something, but strength of the piece might be an issue? i dont know, little help here would be great.

2.) how would i secure this thing down? i mean i guess i could just design the sides so they fit snugly over the sides of the tranny hump.. but what's stopping from moving back and forth on accel & decel?

3.) what on earth am i gonna cover this thing in, upholstery wise? heres a pic of my interior, i was thinking... like... possibly carpet? but taht might be a little much.



thanks for the help guys.

 

fiberglass it

 

fiberglass

It may seem like it will be hard and it will if you have never used fiberglass before. But take the time and practice with it. Then you will be able to paint it what ever color you want, will be able to have what ever kind of curves you want, and the weight will be a lot less than MDF

 

1. just cut out the curves you want and sand,, and dont let people sit on it,, thats why its no longer in my truck,,

2. wasnt secured, the seats held it there,,

3. mine is mdf coverd with vinyl and felt,, could do paint, or w/e you want,,

 

Heres mine

 

those look sweet, but they're not what im looking for... if it works, im looking to build one that will be similar to the explorer center console, so i dont mind cutting out the bench, but the whole primary purpose of the console is so that i dont have to buy a whole new set of door panels for my power windows this summer. haha

but anyway, back to the 'glass, i saw some thread that a guy linked to an s10 forum, and he used.. like, spandex... is that what you were thinking?

i dunno, weight doesn't really bother me all that much, cause then i suppose it'll stay in place better

i dont particularly like the idea of painting it because i think it'll stick out too much in my interior. i'd like to upholster it, in maybe some black tweed or something, i havent quite settled on that part yet.

 

Sean (strider0o0) used Luan (on his sub box with curved tops), the stuff cheapo doors are made of, and you can get it from most hardware/lumber stores. It comes in thin sheets that can be bent, but you can't just throw it on there and start nailing, you have to do it slowly, so it doesn't crack or break.

You could cover it with black tweed or some car audio grade carpet, too.

 

You can screw it to the floor as long as you don't mind a whole or to there.

Use the fabric that cover your speaker box to cover the console.

 

thanks channing, that sounds like pretty much exactly what im after.

and ill keep everyone posted on the progress also if anyone cares, haha