Tech Tips
 

'Bolters helping 'Bolters is a beautiful thing!


Around the 'Bolt...

Search
Search the 'Bolt - over 87,000 pages of info. Start here if you're hunting!

Discussion Forums
More than 30.100 registered Stovebolters from around the world talking old trucks, from tall tales to total restorations.

Gallery Over 2,960 old truck stories with photos from Stovebolters worldwide!

Tech Tips
Helpful tips on truck restoration, identification, preservation; project stories and Stovebolt histories.

Links
More than 920 useful sites for information, parts, services, and a "publications library."

Events
Find out who's doing what, where and when! Read some great stories and enjoy all the pictures.

The Swap Meet
FREE Classified ads for trucks, parts, truck citings, eBay / Craigslist, Hauling Board, Stovebolt Spotting Alert, Freebies! and other good stuff.

FAQs
Nothing new under the sun ... got some good Frequently Asked Questions here, and will probably have more!

Features
Sagas, Feature Stories, The "Roadkill" Commentaries, "It Ran When I Parked It" Photo Contests, Poster Contest, and some stuff we've done here and there and don't know where else to put it!

Stovebolt Hoo-ya
'Bolter wear, calendars, bling and other goodies!

Stovebolt Office
About Us, Contacting Us, Stovebolt Supporters, and other pertinent administrivia.

Home
Return to the home page

A Gathering of Bolters
It's that time of year

Plenty around!
Check for details

No parts of this site, its contents, photos or graphics may be used without permission.

Copyright © 1995-2012
Mechanicsville, Maryland
 

 

Molding Heater Knobs
By Jeff Stotlar
1942 Chevy 1/2-Ton Pickup
"stotman"
Bolter # 19717
Newbury, Ohio		   July 2009

Making your own small, plastic parts

When I was restoring old arcade games, I often had to make my own parts. Recently I needed to get some knobs for my heater. They currently are not available so I decided to make my own. The materials required for this are fairly expensive, so if knobs are available, you should probably buy them. However, if you cannot find them this is a great way to go.

This part required a two piece mold due to the shape of the part. If the knob had been flat on one side, I could have just put the part flat side down, built a lego box around it and poured the rubber over it.

All of the materials I used came from Alumilite. The starter kit runs around $70.00.

<< Click on images for larger view >>

   

Step One: make a mold for your project

Here, I have made a partial mold box out of legos. For this part the mold does not have to be very big. I have filled the box with clay.

 

Step Two: fill part to be cast with clay

Here, I have filled in the hollow part of the piece with clay as it can be solid on the new part.

 

Step Three: bury parts half way in clay

Note I have added a plastic piece. This will later become a pour hole for the resin.



   

Step Four: make clean clay lines at the edge of the piece

The cleaner the edge where the clay meets the edge of the piece the less work you will have later cleaning up the mold line.

  Step Five: fill the lego box with silicone rubber   Step Six: flip the box over and remove the clay


   
Step Seven: apply mold release   Step Eight: pour the other half of the mold   Step Nine: remove Legos and original part


 

Step Ten: tape the mold together and pour resin

Note, I have enlarged the pour hole. I also added two vents to allow air to escape as I pour the resin.

  

Step Eleven: demold part

Lightly sand the new part and paint any color you wish.

 

-30-

Be sure to check out our extensive Forums discussions -- from General Truck talk, Electrical Bay, Big Bolts, Panels and Burbs, Engine and Driveline, Paint and Body, Interiors, Tool Chest -- The Stovebolt Collective can help in your quest and walk you through the mire and magic of working with old iron!

Don't take life too seriously -- No one gets out alive.

Home | FAQ | Forum | Swap Meet | Gallery | Tech Tips | Links | Events | Features | Search | Hoo-ya Shop