Car Interior + Sugru = Awesome?
by timm.tanner in Workshop > Cars
6618 Views, 14 Favorites, 0 Comments
Car Interior + Sugru = Awesome?
One minor issues with the interior of my 2001 Chrysler van is a crack in the leather (vinyl?) armrest on the front passenger seat. It is irritating, and it keeps getting bigger every time I look at it. My brother has offered several times to get out the duct tape and "git-'er-done", but I am it he mood for something a little less "klassy".
This is my first venture with Sugru, so this may go well or not, but with a spirit of adventure and a camera in hand, I cautiously venture forth.
This is my first venture with Sugru, so this may go well or not, but with a spirit of adventure and a camera in hand, I cautiously venture forth.
Vinyl Armrest Repair
To start with, as the crack is expanding up the armrest, the vinyl seems to be spreading out a little bit and not laying as flat as I would like, it looks like there is pressure from the foam underneath holding it apart. I took a needle and thread and made a few small stitches to hold things together a little better.
The interior of my van is gray, so I grabbed one packet of black and one of white. I started with the small lump of the white, thinking it would be easier to add bits of black until it was dark enough, rather than the other way around.
The interior of my van is gray, so I grabbed one packet of black and one of white. I started with the small lump of the white, thinking it would be easier to add bits of black until it was dark enough, rather than the other way around.
After I got a color I was happy with, I just formed it around the crack and pressed the Sugru in place. I was a little unhappy with the texture, so I smoothed it out a little with my fingers.
Lastly, I used a small pair of pliers to put a small detail line in the Sugru to match the existing form. There is texture on the arm that was not confident I could reproduce, so I stuck with just smoothing it out. I'm not perfectly happy with the color or texture, but certainly this repair is an overall improvement.
Lastly, I used a small pair of pliers to put a small detail line in the Sugru to match the existing form. There is texture on the arm that was not confident I could reproduce, so I stuck with just smoothing it out. I'm not perfectly happy with the color or texture, but certainly this repair is an overall improvement.