The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors door panel retainer clips

For making door panels,would the retainers in the link work ok? Plan on making the panels out of the abs like I was reading on here
and drilling the holes where the retainers will go, and I noticed the retainers have 2 heads.

Could I just cut the top head of the retainer off and push the retainer thru the panel and glue it in place....then cover the panels with whatever fabric?

Or maybe someone could share an idea of what to use so that there are no screws or anything visible.

http://www.clipsandfasteners.com/Door_Panel_Retainers_Clips_GMC_p/pas1716-100.htm

Doesn't the top head compress onto the bottom head as you push in the clip?

That top head is designed to screw in to a hole. This way the the panel is sandwiched between the two "heads". If you ABS is 1/8" thick or so, the clips should work just fine. Get a scrap piece of ABS and drill a progressively bigger hole until the clip fits/works. Then, with all your holes drilled in your panel, place the panel on the door and mark / drill the corresponding holes which will be a slightly smaller diameter than your barbed shaft. Every 8-10" should work and the corners. Maybe even some in the middle of the panel in strategic places. After you cover your panel in fabric, you'll have no visible clips. And, if they break, they are easy and cheap to replace. It does help to have the specific fork tool to help remove the panel when you need to.

Thanks MNSmith....great info

....another idea would be to use Vel-Cro