What, no magic machine that does it all in minutes?  

        Paint sounds good to me compared to that polishing description!

Eric 

> On Aug 3, 2022, at 10:34 AM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
> 
> Eric,
> 
> It’s expensive to polish any metal.  I’m not taking polishing after electro plating ( that’s not cheap either), but polishing from raw stock.
> 
> You know the drill, work up thru series of finer abrasives, and buffing compounds….
> It’s tedious :-)
> 
> Ab
> 
>> On Aug 3, 2022, at 6:56 AM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
>> 
>> Then again, this is Aluminum so maybe rust is not a factor so drilling the needed holes is no big deal?  I’m still learning!  I didn’t know it was expensive to polish Aluminum rather then paint for example.
>> 
>> Looking forward to hearing how the orange bumpers look on the bus!
>> 
>> eRic 
>> 
>> 
>>> On Aug 3, 2022, at 9:49 AM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Bumper dreams,
>>> 
>>> Not practical but I  always loved the way the early Bay window bumpers curved around and became a step to get into the van.  I wonder why that was only for a couple years.
>>> 
>>> On the practical side.  My second van has GW steel bumpers, but the front one had no holes for a from License plate. 
>>> 
>>> I’d recommend two holes in the correct place for a bracket so that they get pained and are ready. I hate drilling into a newly painted piece.
>>> 
>>> Of course Alistair probably has a bunch of cool license brackets ready to go.  
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Eric 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 9:57 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> If you want, yes :-)
>>>> 
>>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 5:11 PM, Bruce Todd <beeceetee@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> Will they come with bottle cap removers?
>>>>> 
>>>>> BT
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Tuesday, August 2, 2022, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>>>>>> Hey Bruce. I hope to make more bumpers, well I have to make at least 2 sets. We will see how it goes.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> I’m kinda slightly regretting my orange choice before seeing it. But hey, live a little .
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Ab
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 1:28 PM, Bruce Todd <beeceetee@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Or one side orange and the other side brown to compliment Alistair’s best
>>>>>>> in class colour scheme!
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Thebumper looks very nice.  I could also be a beta tester - and you know
>>>>>>> where my van currently lives.   I decided to to go with my stock bumpers
>>>>>>> and not upgrade to keep project costs somewhat in line.  Anyway if you
>>>>>>> begin to roll these off the Bell Industry’s assembly line - you have
>>>>>>> another client…I can even pick up factory seconds directly from the factory.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Bruce
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> On Tuesday, August 2, 2022, David Boan <dboan@outlook.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> I think you should paint one side white and the other orange, and promote
>>>>>>>> it as an example of the spirit of compromise in marriage,
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Dave B
>>>>>>>> Boise
>>>>>>>> ________________________________
>>>>>>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> on behalf of Eric
>>>>>>>> Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
>>>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, August 2, 2022 12:40 PM
>>>>>>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: Doing another rear aluminum bumper
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> I would love to have my van be orange!  But, white is so darn practical
>>>>>>>> for heat when camping.  Also, my wife is anti orange color for us.  Still a
>>>>>>>> orange 76 westy still fills my dreams!
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> The bumpers in Orange sound great to me!
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Still aluminum can’t just be pretty polished?  I don’t know these things
>>>>>>>> but simple care is appealing.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Eric
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 1:34 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Hey Eric,
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Got a line of beta testers waiting here…. But I’ll put you on the list
>>>>>>>> :-)
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> It’s 1/4” 5052 aluminum. Yes it’s strong enough to stand on, that’s
>>>>>>>> important to me too. And the top plate, the standing surface, is flat, not
>>>>>>>> slightly angled as in the stock steel. So less chance of slipping off in
>>>>>>>> the wet.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Took bumper to powdercoat today. Was going to be all black, a very
>>>>>>>> slight texture . But he showed me a gloss orange that so very closely
>>>>>>>> matches the orange doors I’ve got on van… so why not, encaps still black.
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> I can repaint if the orange looks silly
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Ab
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 9:17 AM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> Hey,
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> Looking for a Beta tester?  I’ll pay shipping and more!
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> Light, strong, rust proof, and stock like look?  What is not to love?
>>>>>>>> And, Bell Industries reputation behind it!
>>>>>>>>>> I’m happy with a not perfect version!
>>>>>>>>>> I only want to know is it strong enough for one  to stand on to get up
>>>>>>>> on the luggage rack or rear of bus?
>>>>>>>>>> My stock one on the front wants to bend if I try to step up on it.
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> I’m blind, but why paint?  Would brushed or polished aluminum stand up
>>>>>>>> without need of touch ups?
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> Eric Caron
>>>>>>>>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 11:08 AM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Four years :-)
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Well , since I measured the stock bumper and drew first model .
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Then this spring I had bumper 3D scanned. More or less fit my measured
>>>>>>>> model.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Then more computer modelling , time wasting .
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> The main part of the bumper is quite fast. Cnc router cut panels, 3,
>>>>>>>> then held in curve on a jig, top and bottom plates tacked on. Then full
>>>>>>>> weld. I tig welded this one, but I’d mig the next.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Router a chamfer on top weld, flap disc grind the bottom weld to blend.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> It was the endcaps that took the most time. I have I think four failed
>>>>>>>> versions. Flat pattern cnc cut, then brake press to bend, then a front face
>>>>>>>> and a wee little rear face welded. Grind and blend etc.
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Now that the endcaps figured out, not so bad , or slow .
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> So all the hard work done. I’d say less than 4 hours to make one , not
>>>>>>>> counting cnc machine cut time .
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>> Ab
>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 7:59 AM, Stacy Schneider <vwcrewman@gmail.com>
>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> That is really nice, you must have 40 hours in it?
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>                   Stacy
>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> On Tue, Aug 2, 2022 at 7:54 AM Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Wanted something lighter than my previous and with no trailer hitch.
>>>>>>>> Trying to mimic the stock steel bumper.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Got one made well enough to powder coat and use.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> https://shufti.blog/2022/08/01/vanagon-making-another-
>>>>>>>> aluminum-bumper/
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Alistair
>>>>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>>>>> 1989 Swedish Tristar with Aluminum gates and Atiwe 16" Wheels.
>>>>>>>>>>>> Oldest son is an Eagle scout.
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>