7 replies to this topic

[tom]

I reckon that £50+ is a bit steep for a center console, so I was gonna knock one up meself.

Does anyone have an existing template that they can post up here on the board, or a console that they don't mind dismantling to make a template? :tongue:


Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Mini1275]

I was reading a topic about dash and console templates on this site today, I will see if I can find it again

[tom]

:saywhat: I must have missed that. :$

Cheers, mate.

[Mini1275]

it was an old topic and I can't find it! that always happens! I find a topic, go looking for it again and can't find it. Maybe someone else knows what I'm talking about

[Mini1275]

found it!
http://www.theminifo...p?showtopic=445
its in the FAQ section

[tom]

Good find. Nice one.

Only prob is that apparently the console template is *******. :sad:

[Pavel]

Get some corrugated cardboard and some solid kitchen scissors. There's your template.

Go down to your mini and trim the sides of the console as you wish so it fits your mini and doesnt interfere with your clutch foor or heater or flying monkey or whatever else you may have there.

Then go home, take the corners of your recently cut work of art (which probably doesn't have the straightest edges in the world), and trace them on some thicker cardboard, plywood or mdf (depending on how bullet proof/thick/thin/bendy you want your console sides), and connect the points with straight lines or as good a curve as you can where it goes along the floor.

Then cut it out, and repeat this side once again on another layer of said material. The centre bit is very easy to do. You can get the width of it from the templates to which there is a link above, or simply measure it as you wish.

I suggest using L shaped brackets to connect the sides to the front, and if you use nice shiny stainless bolts/screws this will look very nice. If you do this, you'll have to upholster the sides and front before you put it all together (so you can see the bolts). Simply put a layer of foam, and then tightly wrap leather or whatever you want around the wood/card/mdf panels and staple them at the back, or glue down the whole thing (make sure to use a layer of foam, and if possible use a roller to avoid wrinkles in the leather from the glue).

If you don't want the screws to be seen, it's a bit trickier. You have to staple/stick the material at the back on one side, then use countersunk bolts/screws to connect all the console together, and then finish wrapping the leather/foam over it, covering the screw heads. This of course means you can't disassemble the console without stripping the leather.

Basically a centre console is one of those things that it's BY far best to measure to each car specifically, especially since many people have preferences with what to put there (e.g. switches, radio, flying monkey?), many people have problems with the console getting in the way of the left foot when clutching (you can trim that bit out when making yours). You can make yours extend further back to the handbrake, or just cover the front part, whatever you wish. Also if you make it tailored to your car, there's less chance of it being not straight or rattling or squeaking etc.

Finally if you do it yourself, you'll feel proud

[tom]

Good man, Pavel.

Now my Flying Monkey finally has a safe seat in my car.

:grin: