w123 cup holders with closely matching Zebrano - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Chad300tdt · #1 10-14-2008, 07:29 PM

I finished making my cup holder console tray insert and I'm very happy with how it came out. I came up with a very close color match to the unfaded portions of the wood in both my w123's. I'll have to eventually refinish the wood around the shifter portion as that's the most faded.

If anyone else wants one, I'm asking for $35 plus shipping. At that price it's covering my materials and still keeping it pretty cheap for forum members. If I sell these on Ebay I'll be asking $50 plus shipping.

It will also take a few weeks for me to make them due to the curing times for the MANY layers of varnish required to match the look of the wood in the car.

I decided against doing an additional cutout for a cell phone or iPod. The map pockets on the door or the glove box work fine for that stuff and too many holes were making the cup holder look over-done.

Let me know what you think and PM me if you want one.

lutzTD · #2 10-14-2008, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad300tdt

I finished making my cup holder console tray insert and I'm very happy with how it came out. I came up with a very close color match to the unfaded portions of the wood in both my w123's. I'll have to eventually refinish the wood around the shifter portion as that's the most faded.

If anyone else wants one, I'm asking for $35 plus shipping. At that price it's covering my materials and still keeping it pretty cheap for forum members. If I sell these on Ebay I'll be asking $50 plus shipping.

It will also take a few weeks for me to make them due to the curing times for the MANY layers of varnish required to match the look of the wood in the car.

I decided against doing an additional cutout for a cell phone or iPod. The map pockets on the door or the glove box work fine for that stuff and too many holes were making the cup holder look over-done.

Let me know what you think and PM me if you want one.

I want one, since you are matching the height of the shifter portion can you also make that piece for me too, or make one piece long enough to cover both?

BoomInTheTrunk · #3 10-14-2008, 08:22 PM

dude two thumbs up that came out great.

lowriderdog37 · #4 10-14-2008, 08:30 PM

Looks great! I would also be interested in the 1-piece insert to cover the shifter portion. If you are interested in that, would you do a custom one? I can draw a stencil.

Chad300tdt · #5 10-14-2008, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lutzTD

I want one, since you are matching the height of the shifter portion can you also make that piece for me too, or make one piece long enough to cover both?

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowriderdog37

Looks great! I would also be interested in the 1-piece insert to cover the shifter portion. If you are interested in that, would you do a custom one? I can draw a stencil.

Let me look into how I can make this work. If I can use masonite or luan, it might work. I need to make sure I can keep it thin enough for the switches to fit, but strong enough to last.

If I can figure it out I'll do one for myself and eliminate the fader switch since mine is bypassed anyway.

This would, of course, cost more than the cup holder I already did.

Monstercraftsman already posted about a single piece cup holder/shifter console made from aluminum. He's selling them with a polished finish, black or sunburst paint. I can't attach wood veneer to metal in a way that would last or I'd partner with him.

If you don't care about the zebra wood, you could get one from him.
Here's his thread:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=227861

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoomInTheTrunk

dude two thumbs up that came out great.

Thanks!

lutzTD · #6 10-14-2008, 09:22 PM

I saw the aluminum one, but I planned to do it out of wood myself. until I saw yours. I was planning to route out pockets from the back in the switch areas so the rest could be thick. I too would leave out the fader and also the mirror switch

Chad300tdt · #7 10-14-2008, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lutzTD

I saw the aluminum one, but I planned to do it out of wood myself. until I saw yours. I was planning to route out pockets from the back in the switch areas so the rest could be thick. I too would leave out the fader

That's a good thought, I'll have to remove my console wood and take a closer look at what I'm dealing with underneath and with the switches.

I'd rather use thicker wood too.

remotemark · #8 10-14-2008, 09:29 PM

Dude, that's excellent. Sign me up for one. If you think the iteration including the shifter piece might come to be soon, I'll hold out for that. Otherwise, I'll take the console piece. I'm spilling way too much coffee!

Chad300tdt · #9 10-14-2008, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by remotemark

Dude, that's excellent. Sign me up for one. If you think the iteration including the shifter piece might come to be soon, I'll hold out for that. Otherwise, I'll take the console piece. I'm spilling way too much coffee!

Thanks Mark.

I'm going to start digging into it by this weekend. Hold on and let me figure out how I'm going to execute this so I can come up with a price. I also need to make sure I can get more zebra wood veneer at a decent price if I'm going to be making the larger pieces.

I'm now thinking that I'll make the base piece out of MDF and bond the veneer to that. If I use the wood I did for my cup holder, I'd be worried about it twisting or warping over time on such a long and narrow piece.

I'm going to have to try and find a w124 and a w126 at a junkyard to see what would be involved in making it for them too.

Dee8go · #10 10-14-2008, 09:52 PM

Nice work, Chad. maybe I should just get one of yours that includes the console piece. Mine looks bad enough as it is. I wouldn't want to put your cup holder next to it. It would really look bad then. If you decide to make an all-in-one version, let me know how much you'd want for that.