Cost of custom molding LCD into dash?
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Forum Name: Fiberglass, Fabrication, and Interiors
Forum Discription: Fiberglass Kick Panels, Subwoofer Enclosures, Plexiglas, Fabrics, Materials, Finishes, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=29927
Printed Date: May 06, 2024 at 5:34 AM
Topic: Cost of custom molding LCD into dash?
Posted By: SiDogg
Subject: Cost of custom molding LCD into dash?
Date Posted: April 07, 2004 at 9:36 PM
I'm looking for a rough estimate (cost and time) for molding an LCD into a dash bezel. Please see the link below for a picture of what I'm talking about.
https://www.streeteffectz.com/_common/images/gallery/fiberglass/big/alexdash7.jpg
https://www.streeteffectz.com/gallery.php?cart[id]=6&cart[page]=0
Basically, it would involve molding the LCD front housing into the dash bezel, blending it, smoothing it, and optionally painting it.
I'm just trying to figure out approx how much it would cost me for JUST THE WORK, not the equipment (LCD/bezels)..
I'm guessing approx. $350?? Does that sound right?
One shop told me "at least $500" but said they'd need to see it in person to be sure..
Seems like a lot..
Replies:
Posted By: SiDogg
Date Posted: April 07, 2004 at 9:37 PM
Posted By: dangerranger96
Date Posted: April 08, 2004 at 12:40 AM
im probably betting that would cost around $500-$750 to build and install that
Posted By: SiDogg
Date Posted: April 08, 2004 at 9:35 AM
woah, are you for real??
it's just a little bit of fiberglass, some bondo, some sanding, and some painting..
I have the bezels to make the shape already. They'd just need to cover it in fiberglass (make a duplicate bezel) and then position the LCD bezel in the middle and mold them together, that's all really..
Posted By: 93accordSE
Date Posted: April 08, 2004 at 10:07 AM
Do it yourself then, if you don't like it you can always make another one. -------------
Posted By: kickerstang
Date Posted: April 08, 2004 at 11:26 AM
you could probably do it yourself for less than $50. like SiDogg said all it is fiberglass, bondo, sanding and painting. you could actually do it without fiberglass and just use bondo. might take you awhile but at least you can say that you did it. just cut out your dash bezel to the size of the front half of your tv's casing(you'll have to take the tv apart first before you mold it in, pull the actual screen out of the casing). once you have it cut out use speed grip or hot glue or cheese strap or basically anything that will dry fast and position the front half of the casing were you want it. make sure its sturdy though because you don't want it to start moving around when you start molding it in. once you secure it place use a spreader( they sell a set of them at home depot for like $5) or something flat, even cardboard works, and start filling in the gaps between the casing and the bezel with bondo. once you fill the gaps in you can concentrate on the cosmetic part and make it blend in like it was put there by the factory. let the bondo dry, sand it, repeat. do this until you fill it is pretty sturdy. sand it until you get a smooth surface and the your ready to paint. i hope this helps!! good luck!! let us know how it turns out ------------- what!?!?! you want some??
Posted By: SiDogg
Date Posted: April 08, 2004 at 9:02 PM
Well, I've actually made 3 attempts already..
I'm trying the fiberglass route because the LCD is actually just a tad larger than the double-din aftermarket bezel and so it wouldn't fit in the double-din opening when I'm done, so I have to mold in the top part, too, which houses the air vents.
I'm not too worried about the air vents, I can reroute or make some new ones (integrate smaller vent fins in)..
So what I did was took the top vent and bottom double-din pieces and temporarily taped them together really tight.
I have been experimenting laying t-shirt and other materials over the frame, and resin it to make it hard, but it's just not working.
The t-shirt wasn't hard enough. Neither was one layer of fiberglass. I'm worried if I put too many layers on, it will be too tall on the outside. I just need one really good outer layer (thin) and then I will built it up from the inside...
I thought about making a mold out of expanding foam and then pouring bondo milkshake on over the mold, but I think it would be too lumpy and I'd be sanding for months trying to get all of the dimples out because of the foam won't dry smooth enough...
Here's a pic of what I'm actually working with:
https://www.getrealmail.net/~ipvfletch/lcd/dash_bezel.jpg
And the LCD:
https://www.getrealmail.net/~ipvfletch/lcd/lilliput_vga_touch.jpg
Any more ideas?? I might experiment with a single layer of trunk carpet. I hear it's much strong when the resin cures, but it might make the piece too thick/tall on the out side..
Thanks for the input thus far!!
Posted By: SiDogg
Date Posted: April 08, 2004 at 9:03 PM
I had planned to just use the fiberglass to make the outer frame so it had the right fit and looked OEM in my car, and then I was going to mold in the LCD in the center. The LCD molding is probably the easy part.. It's the outer framing that is a PITA! :\
Posted By: extreme1
Date Posted: April 08, 2004 at 10:17 PM
Protoge I just completed
I charged the customer 400 in labour and 100 in materials for this job. That is also in Canadian funds so it might be a little cheaper ------------- Shaughn Murley
Install Manager, Dealer Services
Visions Electronics
Red Deer, Alberta
Posted By: SiDogg
Date Posted: April 08, 2004 at 10:21 PM
Wow, that looks nice!!
Did you use duramix??
It's nice when the LCD fits just right inside there w/out any special cutting to the bezel..
Posted By: extreme1
Date Posted: April 08, 2004 at 11:05 PM
lol, there was cutting to the mazda piece, the product I use was from Dominion Sure Seal called Rigid Plastic repair, it's a 2 part plastic epoxy. Then there was sanding.
-------------
Shaughn Murley
Install Manager, Dealer Services
Visions Electronics
Red Deer, Alberta
Posted By: SiDogg
Date Posted: April 09, 2004 at 12:10 AM
well, not that much cutting, from what it looks like..
My double-din (if you can call it that) is way too small, and the LCD is too tall (it's just fine width-wise though)..
I just though up a good idea though.. I might use some fiberglass cloth I have lying around.
If memory serves me, I believe it is a teensy bit stretchy which will help get the right shape by stretching it over the whole piece. It gets pretty hard with just one layer if I remember correctly.. Then I could cut out the inside areas and then edges will be rigid enough to Duramix the LCD inside the permiter and get the shape I want
Or maybe I'm just smoking crack and it's a lot harder than it seems... I guess I'll find out soon enough.. :D
Posted By: kickerstang
Date Posted: April 09, 2004 at 7:40 AM
is the screen(the actual part you watch) to big to fit the opening or is the casing that the screen sets inside to big? plus, are you wanting to mold it in like extreme1 so you can see the casing and all or do you want it like the pic you have in your original question where all you can see is the screen and buttons? not saying that extreme1's looks bad, its clean, but to me it looks a little too simple, molding it in so that all you see is the screen makes it look more custom and it seems to me that is what you are looking for. but hey, its up to you man. to me it doesn't look like the screen is to big to fit between the double DIN, it actually almost looks perfect, but its just pictures and i can't really tell. if you end up cutting into the vent area and removing them you'll have to use something like ABS to cover the big square vent holes and mold that in as well. when i get some time i'm putting a 7" widescreen in the dash of my 97 mustang, i'll put up a pic so you can see the difference between my way and extreme1's way. it might be a while though because i work 7 12's so i don't have to much extra time. let me know if you need any more help
-------------
what!?!?! you want some??
Posted By: SiDogg
Date Posted: April 09, 2004 at 9:35 AM
I'm going kind of in between I guess..
The way extreme1 did it, is he molded in the headrest shroud and then snapped in the LCD.
I was planning to mold the LCD in entirely, so it isn't removable, but still show the outer contours like extreme1 did, because I feel it looks more oem-like.
Although after seeing extreme1's, I'm thinking now I might do the same and mold the headrest shroud in and then snap the LCD into that. That will let me a) remove the screen when I have to park in an unsafe area or overnight, b) will be easier to do because I don't have to disassemble the LCD and void the warranty.
I don't really care for just putting the display behind a flat square cutout, it looks boring, but perhaps that is just because I've seen some poor jobs..
Posted By: Xclusive187
Date Posted: April 09, 2004 at 11:35 PM
I just got this done in my civic. We took out the 2 vents, stereo, and the little storage space, and molded a 7 inch tv. The guy charged me $200. and it looks awesome. I dont have any pics of it yet though.
Posted By: SiDogg
Date Posted: April 09, 2004 at 11:40 PM
Xclusive187 wrote:
I just got this done in my civic. We took out the 2 vents, stereo, and the little storage space, and molded a 7 inch tv. The guy charged me $200. and it looks awesome. I dont have any pics of it yet though.
Wow, that's cheap. Where did you go??
Did he sand it and paint it, too??
Posted By: Xclusive187
Date Posted: April 09, 2004 at 11:51 PM
SiDogg wrote:
Wow, that's cheap. Where did you go??
Did he sand it and paint it, too??
I went to 'The Next Level Customs' in Tipp City, OH. He primered, and sanded it. All my paint guy has to do it scuff it and paint.
Posted By: SiDogg
Date Posted: April 12, 2004 at 9:39 AM
It's hard to find a place around here that will do this work.. And all of them want me to come in for an estimate, which won't work, cuz I don't have the LCD yet, that is why I'm trying to get just a rough estimate...
Anyone here live in NorCal? :)
Posted By: kickerstang
Date Posted: April 12, 2004 at 12:15 PM
listen man, whenever you get the tv you can send me the tv shroud and the dash bezel and i'll mold it in for you for like $150, we can write up a contract or something so no one gets ripped off let me know what you think ------------- what!?!?! you want some??
Posted By: SiDogg
Date Posted: April 12, 2004 at 8:22 PM
OMFG, I just got back from this shop.. the guy says he guesses this project would run about 15-20 hours, at a rate of $75/hour..
He said it will probably be over $1000... SHEEESH!! COME ON!
He obviously failed to realize the simplicity of this project, probably because he was busy, but whatever..
I'm not taking this stuff for granted, I mean it is difficult, but I cannot see a skilled fabricator spending more than 6 hours on this (excluding curing time)..
The tricky part is the 1st part, which I'm struggling with as you may have noticed..
After you get the right shape, it's pretty simple to fit the piece in, sand it, and prep it for paint..
I might have to use expanding foam or short-strand marglass/everglass to make my mold/tub and then glass inside that.
Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: April 12, 2004 at 10:24 PM
A project like that would cost about $ 300-400 finished in paint and $ 200-$300 for finish in vinyl or matched to texture of dash. That amount is also canadian dollars. The materials are not the major cost, rather the time to do it.
-------------
Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA
Posted By: Wyboy
Date Posted: April 13, 2004 at 1:14 AM
Ive started mine already...check it out... www.sounddomain.com/memberpage/577633
Posted By: SiDogg
Date Posted: April 13, 2004 at 9:44 AM
Wyboy] wrote:
Ive started mine already...check it out...
https://www.sounddomain.com/memberpage/577633
Wow, it looks like you're on your way to something nice.
It's nice when the monitor basically fits right inside, as I've said before..
It sucks that I need to make a new mold for mine.. damn Nissan Maximas... LOL.. I could drop down to a 6.4" but I think it still doesn't fit, cuz it's just narrower, but still just as tall.. and the height is where I'm out of room.. *sigh*
Posted By: profuse007
Date Posted: April 14, 2004 at 6:14 PM
heres a friend's friend of mine portfolio, it also has the 3series BMW dash.... very badass!!!------------- Houston,TX
"The two most common elements in the universe are H+ and stupidity" (Ellison).
Posted By: SiDogg
Date Posted: April 14, 2004 at 8:46 PM
profuse007 wrote:
heres a friend's friend of mine portfolio, it also has the 3series BMW dash.... very badass!!!
Holy crap!! That 325 is sick!! That GTI is pretty bad-ass too... nice LCD work..
How much does it cost to get an LCD molded in like in that 325?? What about for the door panels?
Please ask your friend and let me know.. I might be calling OEM Alternative and asking them to do this for me... Very nice work..
Posted By: SiDogg
Date Posted: April 14, 2004 at 8:47 PM
I meant the 325, sorry for the repost.. :)
Posted By: profuse007
Date Posted: April 14, 2004 at 10:37 PM
do you live in texas?
if so, his name is johnny, his # should be on the site.
BTW, you didnt have to repost, just edit the post.
-------------
Houston,TX
"The two most common elements in the universe are H+ and stupidity" (Ellison).
Posted By: SiDogg
Date Posted: April 14, 2004 at 11:13 PM
I emailed him..
How do I edit my post? I don't see a button (every other BB I use has it though)
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