Size is 3070mm x 1320mm Thickness is 0.8 mm Couldn't tell you about the other companies as it's not my area and I just went to IDS, got what I needed and cam home. If you are thinking of giving it a go, I would say you need a plan on how to attack it and SPACE.
Here is an update of today's efforts. I decided to try the new Laminate hand trimmer (mini router), and it is a godsend. I tried it out on some scraps first and also had a practice at drilling to try and avoid chipping. As I was working mainly on the rear hatch and sliding door panels, and the trim above the curtains, I had to clamp a straight edge to the piece I was working on in order to let the roller on the router bit do its thing. I also found a normal drill bit fractured the laminate so I recommend the wood drill type with the little pointy bit. This will let you get a purchase in the laminate before you start the drill and will stop it sliding across the panel, and it also seems to cut easier. Here is the first panel and as you can see, I stained the edge to take away the 'new wood' look of the ply. It could have been a little darker but I am happy with it. Here it is fitted with new fir tree fixings. Next up was the curtain tracks. The first pic is the old finish, the second pic is the new finish and the last two are the new trims in place. To be fair these were in very good condition but if you are going to do all the furniture, you may as well do these. Next was the sliding door panel. All in all a good day though it took a little longer than I thought but this was mainly me thinking things through many times before cutting. I also trimmed the fridge cabinet lids and frame and a couple of other bits. I am pleased with the way the laminate is looking though. It is not the same as the original obviously, but when it is finished I think it will retain the same 'look' as the original.
Very nice job you're doing there, nice to see a real attempt at restoration rather than replacement (like me)
Not many pictures to show for yesterday even though I was going for nearly 10 hours ! The main job was to get the LH side panel so I can start moving laminate out of the house and into the van as it is beginning to look a bit like a workshop indoors. This panel took some time because it was in two pieces (restricted by width of ply) and it needed drilling, holes cutting with a hole saw, aperture for the control panel and a little bit of fettling. Anyhow, here is the finished article. The panel is really only for show. The gauge would work if I wired it up but in the end I could not see me using it. The little black object where the ashtray used to be is a 12v socket. I'll be putting one on the RH side panel as well. It's a bit of a tight fit and I had to bend the terminals a little to stop them getting close to the body work but to make sure there is a piece of rubber soundproofing on the metal skin and heat shrink over the terminals. I also happened to have a bit of brown joining strip I kept from an old cabinet or something many moons ago. Came in handy as you can see. The ply and laminate is a little thicker than the original panel so as with the sliding door,I had to open the top channel up a little using a cold chisel and gentle but firm leverage. It's a tight fit but then I guess it won't rattle. Finished the day with a couple of hours of cutting laminate ready to glue.
fantastic thread... ive been tinkering with my westy furniture.. the door catch looks happy in the last pic...
Just in case you thought I had been 'skiving', here is a little update. There's been a lot of fiddly stuff going on as I am working on the kitchen unit itself and gluing and trimming the edges is slow progress, especially when you are erring on the side of caution (more of that in a bit). Anyhow the first pic I'm putting up is of the hand laminate trimmer that I recommend you use if you a) have one or b) have the cash to buy one. You could use a normal router but this will become quite heavy in your hands, or if you can cut straight lines and are willing to take the risk of slipping with the knife, you could cut just over size when you cut and then finish with a file. This pic shows how I was approaching the edges. In the corners I was cutting just 1 mm oversize as the router bit would not go right into the corners, and also the drawer runners were still in place so the router did not have a clear run. I could have taken the tracks off but I was lazy plus some of the shelf supports are glued and nailed on so it was 'swings and roundabouts' whether to take them off or not. Now the reason I was being extra cautious was because of this... I did not have the trimmer straight and i caught the main panel a couple of times. I was gutted but have decided to leave as is. I may try touching in with something to try and hide it a bit, but I took the view that this is supposed to be a van we are going to use so blemishes are inevitable. At least the first one was by me so I cannot shout at anyone else when they do something Anyway, I'm going to finish off today on a brighter note with a pic of the kitchen unit so far. I have to trim the panels you can see in the picture, laminate the sink top itself and a couple of other small trim pieces, and the re-assemble. Despite the little mishap, I am very pleased with the way it is going.
Excellent job @Lofty - far neater than mine Really wish I'd got a proper hand trimmer tool for doing the edges as your edges have come up much nicer than my manual knife trimming and then filing. Am very annoyed with myself about glue too. I some of mine I used a brush on adhesive but for other bits I used a high temperature spray on. The brush on stuff is still all perfectly stuck, however some of the bits where I used the high temp spray have already started peeling off So am going to have to take lots of bits off and try and glue again
Cheers @PeaSoup I do like the way it is coming together but once it is in the van the temperatures may have the same effect on the glue as yours but I won't know until it's done and in. Not going smoothly all the time though. I have been trying to spray the metal frame for the fridge and the grilles and twice now I have had a reaction on the surface (different each time) of the paint. So I'll be rubbing down again and using another spray can.
From another Simon ! Found the trim on ebay but I also spoke with him off line and arranged different lengths to those offered. Ebay link to one of his trims http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-METRE-...Accessories&hash=item2c818be19a#ht_342wt_1181 Link to his website http://www.wudwurxjoinery.co.uk/
Glued and screwed the upstands back to the kitchen unit and put some of the new 'tadpole' trim on the end. The RR seat front panel,is pretty much done now. I just need to add the handle and new CBE sockets, and then assemble the bed and install. I have used new T Trim on the inner edge of the door and new P trim on the end but have kept the original trim for the door itself which cleaned up really well. My tip: get the trim warm as it is easier to work with and when going around inner radius, cut the back of the trim every 1/4". When going around outer radius, cut 'v' notches out. These cuts will help the trim form around the panels. I'm pleased with the look I'm getting with this project. The metal is cleaning up nice but not too shiny so overall it is looking like a well kept interior rather than brand new. More in keeping with a 40 year old van I think.
A little update. I need to take the bus away this weekend for a little camping trip so I needed to get the living area of the bus sorted. So a weekend of work on the bus plus a day off work to finish today and I've got to a position it's usable again. So here is a few pictures of before An how it looks now Very pleased with it. After the weekend trip, I'll be looking to get the headbanger and rear locker out in order to finish it, hopefully in time for the Battlesbridge show.
