MDF Dash

OK I think, with the other thread we have the bottom of the dash sorted, But how do you plan to do the top to the scuttle.


Does the Dash go behind the lip on the scuttle? Infront of the Lip on the scuttle?. Or a mcahined/routed slot into the side of the MDF.

If the Dash is infront of the Scuttle how do you seal the dash to the scuttle.?

If the Dash is behind the lip on the scuttle (recessed) How do you finish the lip of it looks good?

I most of these questions are valid for an alloy dash etc.

On the MK Indy I believe the dashboard goes in front of the scuttle. Though, as with all things "Kit" it's down to individual preference. I understand your concerns regarding the thickness with MDF, but I'm sure with Aluminium or Plastic it does have to be finished off well to be neat. However, the scuttle would too even though it is facing down..

I've made the dash from MDF also & going to fit it behind the scuttle flange with a trim piece on the outer face of the flange. Both pieces will be covered in black expanded vinyl (p/n 25 from Woolies Trim). The dash is held in place with c/sk screws fitted through the scuttle flange with nuts on the inside to give blind fixings, the screw heads will be covered by the trim piece. The gap between the dash and trim will be filled with matching piping.
I will put couple of pictures in the archive tomorrow showing both pieces in place, the white finish is a sealing coat before covering.

Just pipped by wicket, I used aluminium cobered with foam, then vinyl, used rivnuts into the scuttle and M6 cross head screws. I sandwiched piping between the dash and the scuttle.

See Dash Picture

Lost the big wheel and pudin stick now tho'.

Cheers,

Colin

We made an MDF dash, good for prototyping gauge positions etc + you can fill holes - use the router to radius bottom lip etc. Instruments were housed in some machine turned ally, then covered with Acrylic which is easily removed after test. The dash was covered and is attached to the car using woodscrews and washers through the lip into the MDF.

Pictures: In Progress
With Instruments
Covering Using Vinyl Cloth
Final Result

These pics are in the Build Record with others below.

Cheers

Seabass,

Have you done away with the column mounted switchgear?

Only reason i ask is that i like how you have made use of the space available by removing the steering column coweling.

How did you cut the holes for the speedo and rev counter, by hand or with hole saw?

[Edited on 11/11/03 by colmaccoll]

Piping ------ Bloody Piping. Of course never thought of that!!!!

Cheers.

Onward ......

Colmacoll,

Still using a modified version of the Sierra Indicator/Flash Main/Swith Main stalk with the hazard switch lopped off the top and the casing trimmed. Ditched the other stalk! Space is pretty tight...

The holes were cut with a trepanning bit, sometimes known as a tank cutter. This can easily be set to the right size. Holesaws in my experience whilst being fine for woods, tend to vibrate with sheet in aluminium and results are poor. This is however using cheap holesaws not the TCT variety which may well be better...

My only concern with using MDF would be the weight as it isn't the lightest of materials. Do those of you who have gone this route feel as though it is a greta penalty or not. I appreciate it is easy(ish) stuff to work with, especially if you own a router (knew I bought it for some reason).
P.S. To those thinking of using it, don't forget to use respiratory protection, the dust given off when machining MDF is very harmful.

maybe i've missed something here but ..... doesn't MDF react badly to water ?

Most people cover it in vinyl.... so it's not very likely to get wet !

I have posted some comments in the sva column re how to fit a dash etc


steve

We sealed our MDF by painting and flatting back several times to prevent water ingress. Don't count on the vinyl to protect against the water, damp from the atmosphere will make it swell fairly rapidly. Or use exterior grade, usually green (with even nastier dust due the resins used in manufacture)...

Cheers

SeaBass is quite right, MDF sucks up water, even water vapour like a sponge and will swell like hell in no time at all.
I suggest you seal it with a watered down PVA Glue solution and then when dry - under coat, then a couple of coats of good quality gloss paint.
Seems like overkill but I wouldn't want to replace mine after cutting all those holes and faffing about to fit it.
Do wear a mask though, or you'll cough for a week.

It's official...today I have Pneumonia! (not from cutting MDF though)

my experiance for what its worth.

Cut my boot liner from MDF a good 8 weeks ago, left some off cuts of the 10mm in the garden uncovered, cleared them up yesterday and they didnt look swolen at all..........cue vernier......


10.6mm max size, either i got lucky or it doesnt swell as much as folks think under heavy soiling!

under padding and vinyl it wolld go un noticed

I have 10mm MDF around my bath of all places... I sealed it with PVA as already stated and it's not budged in the 11 years it's been there! (Though I do always shower! ) No serious, it seems fine, but I agree about the over-weight issue, it is incredably heavy!

As sea bass said you can buy exterior grade MDF which would solve the problem but I think painting or sealing with MDF would crack it its not like your building a boat out of it is it !!
If your after a decent quality holesaw go to www.whdirect.co.uk they do an 18 piece set sized from 22 thru to 127 mill for less than a tenner,if youve got a JTF warehouse close to you and you have a card for em the same set can be had from them for about a fiver plus VAT. We use em at work for cutting out patch panels and they are spot on.
Cheers,
Bob

If MDF sucks up the water some one better tell these guys as they build their locusts out of the stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.locustenthusiastsclub.fsnet.co.uk/index.htm

Painting or sealing would crack it?? Better tell all those rubbish DIY shows that are constantly painting it then Bob...

As for locusts, never did like the sound of a wooden car anyway...

Cheers

Oooo thread back from the dead

quote:

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Originally posted by mangogrooveworkshop
If MDF sucks up the water some one better tell these guys as they build their locusts out of the stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.locustenthusiastsclub.fsnet.co.uk/index.htm

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quote:

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Originally posted by SeaBass
As for locusts, never did like the sound of a wooden car anyway...

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The Locust woman we spoke to at Donny used aluminium skinned marine ply, which should do the trick, but also weigh Quite A Lot.

There's an offcut of untreated 19mm MDF in the garden which has been there months and it's still flat and 19mm. It has increased in weight quite a bit though. My wife builds dollhouses from MDF and they are painted, varnished and wallpapered with no ill effects. I routered some to make a desktop (proper mask and everything outside) and find it a very easy medium to work.

yours, Pete.