Metal switch panel
 

I thought I'd show you guys my little project.

This is the problem.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...-05-09_549.jpg

Not only does it look bad, but it doesn't even hold the CD player anymore. So, I decided to make another one out of metal.

This isn't ideal but I think it'll work. I really don't know what happened here because the rest of the interior is in beautiful shape. Must just be the poor design and the weight of the CD player.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...-37-43_158.jpg

My plan was to just trace out the old panel onto the sheet metal which means everything has to come off. I have never seen so many wires for 3 switches.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...-14-33_825.jpg

Now, I am the most unorganized guy in the world and I have no doubt that there would be no chance that I'd get it all back together correctly.

Fortunately, my wife actually enjoys this kind of thing. I sat back and drank a beer while she labeled wires.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...-38-42_183.jpg

After that, the water/air temp gages has to come off.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...-06-34_306.jpg

BTW, that tan square sticking up is the temp adjustment. Pretty easy to get to.

Don't loose these.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...-07-37_769.jpg

I just taped the pieces down and traced it out. Yes, I'm showing off my folding workbench a little :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...-25-23_415.jpg


Then grab a beer and your favorite tin snips and go to town.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...-35-44_212.jpg

And here's my stopping point for the night. I used my angle grinder and cut out the CD box. I'm not going to add the CD holder, so that'll just be a good place for a decal or something.

One thing I'm not sure about is what to use to cut out the switch holes. Angle grinder is too big. Maybe a jig saw with a metal blade?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...-20-08_710.jpg

When it's all cut out, I'm going going paint it with a hammered finish black paint. I think it'll look nice.

Finished product tomorrow!

Re: Metal switch panel
 

Looks good so far! Nice job.

Re: Metal switch panel
 

One of our other members did a very similar project a while back and now sells those panels on ebay. I do like the fact though that you've given us a bit of a 'How To'....

:wink_thumbup:

Re: Metal switch panel
 

Dang! I hate looking at other folks projects because now I want to do mine:D... I did these back in my car stereo installation days. I would use 3/8 - 1/2" Lexan (plexiglass) backed by aluminum plate. Basically after you shape the lexan, you would peel the paper off one side only and paint it (usually black) and install with painted side against the aluminum plate. Once you peel the paper off the non painted side you would have a rich deep glossy black finish that you could reach into. It was kind of fun.

Now I want to do mine since I am seeing signs of stress cracks from the radio and I dont need the CD holder anymore (who listens to CD's anyway?).

Well way to go:wink_thumbup:. Cant wait to see the finished product.

Re: Metal switch panel
 

All done! It took me all freaking day! Mostly because I was using a dremel and an angle grinder. Had I had the right tools, it would have gone much faster, like a water jet :) I was so afraid of making a mistake and having to start over, so I really took my time.

Here she is! Brew, next time that is what I'm going to do! That would look so much better than a painted piece of metal, but for $10, I can't complain. Tomorrow I'm going to make a simple bracket to attach from the middle of the panel to the rear of the CD player to help support it.

JB weld some screws for the water/air temp.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...-25-55_746.jpg

Painted with a black glossy hammered finish.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...-12-28_546.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...-16-48_237.jpg


Can you guess what the small switch is? If you guessed for blue LED underwater lights, you were right! Those will be installed on Monday. I've got family coming into town this weekend, otherwise I'd do it tomorrow.

Overall I'm very happy with the panel, although I can't help but to stare at my mistakes. The big one is the rectangle for the water/air temp display. I had no good way to make a perfect rectangle. That's something that's going to bug me, but I'm sure someday I'll redo it with lexan like brew suggested.


Now that I have that open space where the CD holder used to be, it looks like it's missing something. Any suggestions?

Re: Metal switch panel
 

Try an "EJECT" Switch...(family coming over right?):yes_grin:

But really she looks good. The nice part is that you can overlay Lexan right over that and use the plate you made to support everything as you intended. Lexan is really easy to work with even if you only have a left handed crescent wrench...

Re: Metal switch panel
 

If you move the switches around some, you might be able to make room for a nice GPS/Fishfinder in there

Re: Metal switch panel
 

Looks like an iPod nano might fit there.

I mounted an open pocket there for storing STUFF. And then mounted an iPhone/iPod on the lower left open area. It plugs in easy that way.

Looks great! Nice work

Re: Metal switch panel
 

All done! I made a quick metal bracket to help support the rear of the CD player. It works great, really solid.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...-04-13_192.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...-28-31_705.jpg

Re: Metal switch panel
 

You know what I think would looks good? A white "Mariah" sticker. Where can I get one?

Actually, what I really want is to have someone with a water jet cut out "Mariah" in cursive and then I'd back light it with blue LED's, but that's not happening.

Re: Metal switch panel
 

If you do the plexiglass thing, stencil "Mariah" in white, then do the background in black..... then if you backlight it, the blue should show through the white, but not the black :)

Re: Metal switch panel
 

I know a local guy by me that can do that!!! Im sure if you google your home town you can probably find someone there also but here is his website. http://artisticengraving.biz/main.ht...ndex2.html#1,0

I have had employees retirement lamps engraved by him using sand blast method and they came out awesome. He can engrave anything you have. He does need whatever you want engraved or etched in an "EPS" file format.

Now I totally want to do mine... Thanks Steve!!!

Re: Metal switch panel
 

That would be so bad ass. I can't wait to see what you guys end up doing. I'm done for a while, I spent enough time on this thing as it is. :)

Re: Metal switch panel
 

i'm in the process of doing something like this. i'm engraving a piece of plexi on the backside with Shabah and i'm going to backlight it with blue led's. then i'm going to use some nightshade spray tint to make it look black during the day. hopefully i'll have it done by this weekend. :)