Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » New Aluminum Overhead Cabinets (No rot, no warp, no creaking, less weight)
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| Re: New Aluminum Overhead Cabinets [message #258318 is a reply to message #258313] |
Sat, 09 August 2014 21:47   |
glenn2726
Messages: 234
Registered: June 2014
Location: Topeka, Kansas
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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Great Job...those are going to look great in there. If you put the GMC logo on there I would think it would look great over the sink area so you would see it when you entered the camper...just an idea. Glenn
Glenn W
Topeka, KS
1974 GMC 26 ft. Color:Camel Interior:Canyon Land
Side Bath, Rear Sitting Area
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| Re: [GMCnet] New Aluminum Overhead Cabinets [message #258322 is a reply to message #258313] |
Sat, 09 August 2014 21:49 |
Guy Lopes
Messages: 499
Registered: April 2004
Location: Sacramento, CA
Karma: 3
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Senior Member |
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Kerry,
Wow! They're gorgeous (I know that sounds weird, but I like aluminum
metalwork)! Please let me know if you ever go into production.
Guy Lopes
76 Birchaven "Orion"
Sacramento, CA
W6TOL
www.GMC-Guy.com
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Kerry Pinkerton
Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2014 7:04 PM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: [GMCnet] New Aluminum Overhead Cabinets
Last year I spent a long time redoing my wooden overhead cabinets. Total
waste of time and I was never happy with them. When I took them down in
order to put in the new windows, I knew I wasn't going to put them back.
What I've decided to do is build aluminum cabinets. This is definitely NOT
a KISS product because it ain't simple at all. My plan is to build modular
cabinets with approximate 3' lengths. I shorted the front cabinets so my
seats would recline so those are not the standard 60" that came with the
coach. The process is the same.
The material is .063 (1/16") 3003 H14 aluminum, the same stuff I'm building
the car and Monique from.
Once I had the design finalized and checked by trial fit, I made some
templates then cut two blanks and bent the edges in my brake. Obviously
there is a left and right.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/aluminum-overhead-cabinets/p55523-aluminum
-cabinets-bein.html
You can see the 1 1/2" flange in the front and the 1/2" lip.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/aluminum-overhead-cabinets/p55524-aluminum
-cabinets-being-built.html
Next the back/bottom/front was cut and bent up. I have to stay on top of
myself when bending this up as some go one way and others the other way.
You can also see an aluminum 'C' channel that is 1 1/2x 1 1/2 on the front
and back. A piece of wood will go in there and the bolts will go through
the aluminum, wood, aluminum, and on into the coach ribs.
I tacked this together and took it to the coach for a trial fit. Once I was
confident it would fit it was welded up.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/aluminum-overhead-cabinets/p55525-aluminum
-cabinets-being-built.html
A close up.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/aluminum-overhead-cabinets/p55526-aluminum
-cabinets-being-built.html
All the seams were TIG welded and the welds filed down. These are two of my
VIXEN files. Vixen files were originally used for filing lead back in the
early days of car repair/construction. They work great on Aluminum. I have
about 40 different types of VIXEN files.
[urlhttp://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/aluminum-overhead-cabinets/p55527-alum
inum-cabinets-bein.html[/url]
Here is one roughed out. It will need some bondo because I did a lap joint
in the front. They will get slicked with some Epoxe primer and painted with
white urethane.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/aluminum-overhead-cabinets/p55528-aluminum
-cabinets-being-built.html
And here is the door. Nothing fancy. I thought about embossing GMC in the
front but I'm thinking it would be a bit much on all six doors.. 8o
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/aluminum-overhead-cabinets/p55530-aluminum
-cabinets-being-built.html
I thought the spring loaded hinges would be enough to hold the lid because
it barely weights anything but I'll have to go with the spring lifts. :(
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/aluminum-overhead-cabinets/p55531-aluminum
-cabinets-being-built.html
Here is the view from inside.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/aluminum-overhead-cabinets/p55532-aluminum
-cabinets-being-built.html
This is the finger grab on the bottom of the door. The door will have
plastic door edge along all the exposed edges to keep it from scratching the
paint and making metal on metal contact.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/aluminum-overhead-cabinets/p55533-aluminum
-cabinets-being-built.html
I'm pleased with how it came out. It's a slightly simpler construction in
terms of offsets and angles than the wooden ones but they were done that way
for ease of construction.
I have not decided if I will make these for sale or not. I guess it will
depend on the level of interest.
--
Kerry Pinkerton
North Alabama, near Huntsville,
77 Eleganza II, "The Lady", 403CI, Manny Brakes, 1 ton, tranny also a 76
Eleganza to be re-bodied as an Art Deco car hauler
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Guy Lopes
76 Birchaven "Orion"
Sacramento, CA
W6TOL
www.GMC-Guy.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] New Aluminum Overhead Cabinets [message #258328 is a reply to message #258313] |
Sat, 09 August 2014 22:02 |
k2gkk
Messages: 4452
Registered: November 2009
Karma: -8
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Senior Member |
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I am SO envious of your talent, Kerry!
As another reply has said, If you ever decide to go into production, I am interested!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
~~ k2gkk + hotmail dot com ~~
~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
______________
*[ ]~~~[][ ][|\
*--OO--[]---O-*
> Date: Sat, 9 Aug 2014 20:03:48 -0600
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> From: Pinkertonk@MCHSI.com
> Subject: [GMCnet] New Aluminum Overhead Cabinets
>
> Last year I spent a long time redoing my wooden overhead cabinets. Total waste of time and I was never happy with them. When I took them down in
> order to put in the new windows, I knew I wasn't going to put them back.
>
> What I've decided to do is build aluminum cabinets. This is definitely NOT a KISS product because it ain't simple at all. My plan is to build
> modular cabinets with approximate 3' lengths. I shorted the front cabinets so my seats would recline so those are not the standard 60" that came with
> the coach. The process is the same.
>
> The material is .063 (1/16") 3003 H14 aluminum, the same stuff I'm building the car and Monique from.
>
> Once I had the design finalized and checked by trial fit, I made some templates then cut two blanks and bent the edges in my brake. Obviously there
> is a left and right.
>
> (http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/aluminum-overhead-cabinets/p55523-aluminum-cabinets-bein.html)
>
> I'm pleased with how it came out. It's a slightly simpler construction in terms of offsets and angles than the wooden ones but they were done that
> way for ease of construction.
>
> I have not decided if I will make these for sale or not. I guess it will depend on the level of interest.
> --
> Kerry Pinkerton
>
> North Alabama, near Huntsville,
>
> 77 Eleganza II, "The Lady", 403CI, Manny Brakes, 1 ton, tranny also a 76 Eleganza to be re-bodied as an Art Deco car hauler
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| Re: [GMCnet] New Aluminum Overhead Cabinets [message #258329 is a reply to message #258322] |
Sat, 09 August 2014 22:05 |
<b52rule
Messages: 8
Registered: August 2014
Karma: 0
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Junior Member |
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A long time ago there was gent in Canada that built aluminum cabinets among other GMC specific products. Darren or Darrel at TZE enterprises or productions. I don't know what happened to him or his tooling but as I recall there were very nice.
Cheers,
Len and Pat
78 Kingsley, The Beast II with dash lights that work
Fallbrook, CA
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=4375
www.bdub.net/novak/
---- Guy Lopes wrote:
> Kerry,
>
> Wow! They're gorgeous (I know that sounds weird, but I like aluminum
> metalwork)! Please let me know if you ever go into production.
>
> Guy Lopes
> 76 Birchaven "Orion"
> Sacramento, CA
> W6TOL
>
> www.GMC-Guy.com
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
> [mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Kerry Pinkerton
> Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2014 7:04 PM
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> Subject: [GMCnet] New Aluminum Overhead Cabinets
>
> Last year I spent a long time redoing my wooden overhead cabinets. Total
> waste of time and I was never happy with them. When I took them down in
> order to put in the new windows, I knew I wasn't going to put them back.
>
> What I've decided to do is build aluminum cabinets. This is definitely NOT
> a KISS product because it ain't simple at all. My plan is to build modular
> cabinets with approximate 3' lengths. I shorted the front cabinets so my
> seats would recline so those are not the standard 60" that came with the
> coach. The process is the same.
>
> The material is .063 (1/16") 3003 H14 aluminum, the same stuff I'm building
> the car and Monique from.
>
> Once I had the design finalized and checked by trial fit, I made some
> templates then cut two blanks and bent the edges in my brake. Obviously
> there is a left and right.
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/aluminum-overhead-cabinets/p55523-aluminum
> -cabinets-bein.html
>
>
> You can see the 1 1/2" flange in the front and the 1/2" lip.
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/aluminum-overhead-cabinets/p55524-aluminum
> -cabinets-being-built.html
>
>
> Next the back/bottom/front was cut and bent up. I have to stay on top of
> myself when bending this up as some go one way and others the other way.
>
> You can also see an aluminum 'C' channel that is 1 1/2x 1 1/2 on the front
> and back. A piece of wood will go in there and the bolts will go through
> the aluminum, wood, aluminum, and on into the coach ribs.
>
> I tacked this together and took it to the coach for a trial fit. Once I was
> confident it would fit it was welded up.
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/aluminum-overhead-cabinets/p55525-aluminum
> -cabinets-being-built.html
>
>
> A close up.
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/aluminum-overhead-cabinets/p55526-aluminum
> -cabinets-being-built.html
>
>
> All the seams were TIG welded and the welds filed down. These are two of my
> VIXEN files. Vixen files were originally used for filing lead back in the
> early days of car repair/construction. They work great on Aluminum. I have
> about 40 different types of VIXEN files.
>
> [urlhttp://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/aluminum-overhead-cabinets/p55527-alum
> inum-cabinets-bein.html[/url]
>
>
> Here is one roughed out. It will need some bondo because I did a lap joint
> in the front. They will get slicked with some Epoxe primer and painted with
> white urethane.
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/aluminum-overhead-cabinets/p55528-aluminum
> -cabinets-being-built.html
>
>
> And here is the door. Nothing fancy. I thought about embossing GMC in the
> front but I'm thinking it would be a bit much on all six doors.. 8o
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/aluminum-overhead-cabinets/p55530-aluminum
> -cabinets-being-built.html
>
>
> I thought the spring loaded hinges would be enough to hold the lid because
> it barely weights anything but I'll have to go with the spring lifts. :(
>
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/aluminum-overhead-cabinets/p55531-aluminum
> -cabinets-being-built.html
>
>
> Here is the view from inside.
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/aluminum-overhead-cabinets/p55532-aluminum
> -cabinets-being-built.html
>
>
> This is the finger grab on the bottom of the door. The door will have
> plastic door edge along all the exposed edges to keep it from scratching the
> paint and making metal on metal contact.
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/aluminum-overhead-cabinets/p55533-aluminum
> -cabinets-being-built.html
>
>
> I'm pleased with how it came out. It's a slightly simpler construction in
> terms of offsets and angles than the wooden ones but they were done that way
> for ease of construction.
>
> I have not decided if I will make these for sale or not. I guess it will
> depend on the level of interest.
> --
> Kerry Pinkerton
>
> North Alabama, near Huntsville,
>
> 77 Eleganza II, "The Lady", 403CI, Manny Brakes, 1 ton, tranny also a 76
> Eleganza to be re-bodied as an Art Deco car hauler
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
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| Re: New Aluminum Overhead Cabinets [message #258339 is a reply to message #258313] |
Sat, 09 August 2014 23:27 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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Darren Pagent in Calgary use to make and sell those. He got out of the business for reasons I would I rather not post here. There is a definite market for them. Darren was making the cabinets that allowed you to reuse your original doors. They were of high quality and worked very well.
There is a definite market for them should you decide to make them.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] New Aluminum Overhead Cabinets [message #258342 is a reply to message #258321] |
Sat, 09 August 2014 23:55 |
dwayne jacobson[1]
Messages: 345
Registered: July 2009
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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D j eberhart also makes and sells alum cabinets.
Dwayne
77 kingsley
Sent from Samsung tabletKerry Pinkerton wrote:Robert Burkitt wrote on Sat, 09 August 2014 21:45
> ... You probably know that Darren Paget of TZE+ in Canada did something similar years ago in an effort to produce a really
> lightweight GMC,...
I assume that Darren is no longer active??? Does anyone have any info on his cabinets?
I'm not sure there is a 'Standard' cabinet configuration. Different floorplans and locations of baths and kitchens in Transmodes would make for all
sorts of different sizes. My 77 Eleganza came with only ONE overhead over the kitchen. It is 60" long. The PO added a couple more 60" ones out of a
parts coach. Those were the ones I shortened.
My brake and shear is 48" so that is pretty much the largest module I can build.
I had not thought about closing in the top of the cabinets because the original ones weren't but it would be easy to make a curved cover that could be
pop riveted in place. It would need to be added after the cabinet was installed in the coach because you wouldn't be able to see the bolt holes.
I'll noodle on this a while. Makes sense to keep any critters out. My wife has a 'thing' about mice. If we ever have any in the coach, it will
probably be the end of her staying in it. 8o 8o
--
Kerry Pinkerton
North Alabama, near Huntsville,
77 Eleganza II, "The Lady", 403CI, Manny Brakes, 1 ton, tranny also a 76 Eleganza to be re-bodied as an Art Deco car hauler
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| Re: [GMCnet] New Aluminum Overhead Cabinets [message #258357 is a reply to message #258341] |
Sun, 10 August 2014 10:28 |
powerjon
Messages: 2446
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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Kerry,
If you decide to build aluminum cabinets then they need to be the same dimension as the stock units. The big cabinet was approximately 60” and the others were aprox. 30” cabinets. A lot of people, me included took the 30” units out of the back and put them together and mounted them on the other side of the coach in the front. I later got 2 more 30” units, rebuild and remounted them in the back to add back the addition storage that I lost.
The key word here I am stressing is Standardization. You really only want to produce 1 or 2 sizes of cabinets to keep your fab and setup cost low and to stay within the capacity of your equipment. The other bonus is direct replacement in coaches without doing a whole lot of changes to get them installed. I would think that the 30” cabinet would be your standard and could be combined to make the 60” unit. The other sizes could be the specials.
To show the use of stock length cabinets, this is the layout that I used on the Kitchen side which was 3 stock length cabinets mounted along with a custom MW mount that I designed and build and did make for a few guys about 10 years ago.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/interior-restoration/p384.html
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/interior-restoration/p378.html
This shows the 60” overhead on the pass side.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/1977-interior/p37050-gedc00411.html
While I had the cabinets out during the complete restoration, replace most of the heavy particle board material with cabinet grade 3/8 & 1/2 inch plywood which took a lot of weight out of the cabinets.
Kerry, NOT trying to tell you how to do your business, but sometimes it is best to follow the KISS principle IMHO.
JR Wright
78 Buskirk Stretch
75 Avion
Michigan
On Aug 10, 2014, at 12:38 AM, Kerry Pinkerton wrote:
> Robert Burkitt wrote on Sat, 09 August 2014 21:45
>> ... You probably know that Darren Paget of TZE+ in Canada did something similar years ago in an effort to produce a really
>> lightweight GMC,...
>
>
> I assume that Darren is no longer active??? Does anyone have any info on his cabinets?
>
> I'm not sure there is a 'Standard' cabinet configuration. Different floorplans and locations of baths and kitchens in Transmodes would make for all
> sorts of different sizes. My 77 Eleganza came with only ONE overhead over the kitchen. It is 60" long. The PO added a couple more 60" ones out of a
> parts coach. Those were the ones I shortened.
>
> My brake and shear is 48" so that is pretty much the largest module I can build.
>
> I had not thought about closing in the top of the cabinets because the original ones weren't but it would be easy to make a curved cover that could be
> pop riveted in place. It would need to be added after the cabinet was installed in the coach because you wouldn't be able to see the bolt holes.
> I'll noodle on this a while. Makes sense to keep any critters out. My wife has a 'thing' about mice. If we ever have any in the coach, it will
> probably be the end of her staying in it. 8o 8o
> --
> Kerry Pinkerton
>
> North Alabama, near Huntsville,
>
> 77 Eleganza II, "The Lady", 403CI, Manny Brakes, 1 ton, tranny also a 76 Eleganza to be re-bodied as an Art Deco car hauler
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
GMC Eastern States
GMCMI
78 30' Buskirk Stretch
75 Avion Under Reconstruction
Michigan
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