My $10 Custom Dash Mat
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 4:25 pm
Since I recently replaced my cracked dash, I wanted to make sure this one doesn't crack. My cluster hood is wrapped in carbon-fibre, so i didn't want to cover that up, and all the dash mats you buy cover the hood. I was not going to pay $60 odd for one & then take to it with a stanley knife. I really dislike carpet style dash mats anyway. So I decided to make my own. Here's how I did it.
First i got hold of some strong clear plastic sheet to make a pattern. Since I still had my old dash I used that as it was out of the car, hence better access. I taped it to the dash and cut a rough pattern leaving a bit of overhang for trimming.
Now I have to make it exact, so I used my hot glue gun & with a blob every 150mm or so, held the pattern in place on the dash so I could trim it with a very sharp stanley knife.
Then it was off that sheila's shop (Spotlight) to get some Vinyl. I managed ti pick up a piece of textured black vinyl, 1350 x 400mm for $10. I was stoked. Once home, I laid the vinyl face side down on my bench then placed the pattern UPSIDE DOWN and smoothed it out & holding it still with tape. I traced the outline and vent holes with marking pen. These lines are NOT the cut lines. They are the fold lines. Then with the pattern still held in place by tape, I cut the shape about 20mm outside the pattern edge. This allows it to be folded over and glued or stitched. For the vent holes, I just made a single cut up the middle of the hole.
Now it's time to glue & fold all the edges. As there are very few straight lines on an MX5 dash, there was a lot of notches to be cut. It's not difficult, just tedious. I used a sharp stanley knife, as this gives a cleaner cut and is quicker.
I used the hot glue gun for all the edges as well. A flat piece of aluminium or stainless is good to use to press the surfaces together for a nice sharp edge.
Finally this is how the finished product looks. It's all held in place by some small bits of Velcro.
All up, $10 ( I already had the plastic sheet, glue gun, & Velcro) and about 3 hrs of my time.
If anyone wants the pattern, I'll put it in the post for you at my expense, on one condition..............you do the same for someone else when your finished, & post up pics your work.
First i got hold of some strong clear plastic sheet to make a pattern. Since I still had my old dash I used that as it was out of the car, hence better access. I taped it to the dash and cut a rough pattern leaving a bit of overhang for trimming.
Now I have to make it exact, so I used my hot glue gun & with a blob every 150mm or so, held the pattern in place on the dash so I could trim it with a very sharp stanley knife.
Then it was off that sheila's shop (Spotlight) to get some Vinyl. I managed ti pick up a piece of textured black vinyl, 1350 x 400mm for $10. I was stoked. Once home, I laid the vinyl face side down on my bench then placed the pattern UPSIDE DOWN and smoothed it out & holding it still with tape. I traced the outline and vent holes with marking pen. These lines are NOT the cut lines. They are the fold lines. Then with the pattern still held in place by tape, I cut the shape about 20mm outside the pattern edge. This allows it to be folded over and glued or stitched. For the vent holes, I just made a single cut up the middle of the hole.
Now it's time to glue & fold all the edges. As there are very few straight lines on an MX5 dash, there was a lot of notches to be cut. It's not difficult, just tedious. I used a sharp stanley knife, as this gives a cleaner cut and is quicker.
I used the hot glue gun for all the edges as well. A flat piece of aluminium or stainless is good to use to press the surfaces together for a nice sharp edge.
Finally this is how the finished product looks. It's all held in place by some small bits of Velcro.
All up, $10 ( I already had the plastic sheet, glue gun, & Velcro) and about 3 hrs of my time.
If anyone wants the pattern, I'll put it in the post for you at my expense, on one condition..............you do the same for someone else when your finished, & post up pics your work.
