Hi All

I have decided to have a go at retrimming the mini myself. I will start with the door cards and hoodlining and was after any good advice you may have. I need to know the right way to do it rather than stuffing it up half a dozen times.

Regards

Smarty

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68 Mini
70 Moke

Unfortunately, stuffing something up can be the best way to learn.
I suggest you just go for it but on a smaller scale, like say on one-sixth of a door card.
When you get it right, go for the big one.

no faux fur fabric please

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Inconspicuously Conspicuous
Appreciation without Depreciation
forever chasing clearer skies...

what i did (might not be right but looks the treet)

my door cards were all warped and what not.

with a paint scraper i unstuck the padding and vinyl from the card, making sure to take of a slither of the card with the glued on parts. (this happenned naturally and helped out int he end)

then i used the card and squashed it onto a piece of ply wood and traced it. as well as all the little holes for handles and door openers and what not.

then i cut it all out.

made sure it fit, and i mean put it right up and ion and tried putting handles on.

then i sanded down bits like around the door handle lock part, the top edge and generally a little bit around all the edges.

made sure it fit again.

then i painted it with a oil based paint (didn't matter what colour cause you don't see it anyway unless you got glass doors.)

made sure it fit again.

re attache the middle parts of the vinyle and padding, only applying a silicon glue to the bits where the card had stayed stuck to the padding and vinyl.

then i attached the outer tabs and the ones around the handle pulled tightly.

then i fitted it in the door put all the handles back on and made sure all the locks still worked (and they did thank god)

at first it looked a bit lose and mottaly but over about a week and a bit it got tighter and now it looks brand new but dirty.

anyone know of any really good vinyl cleaners? please ?

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Sunday Morning Mini Sprint http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtGuzqBQ32Q my "rendezvous"

http://www.waxit.com.au/proddetail.asp? ... 0001&cat=9
I have heard good stuff about the vinylex.
I personally have never used it.

I can personally vouch for Pinnacle Leather and Vinyl Cleaner.
http://www.waxit.com.au/proddetail.asp? ... N250&cat=9

good stuff and smells nice too!
You might also want to get a dressing (protectent) for the vinal also.. Poor boys is good and its not shiny, as is once again pinnacles which I use also.

andbat they are fantastic instructions ....... you are a champ

oh by the way ... don't goto an upholsterer for vinyl ... goto spotlight about $8 cheaper a metre over upholsterer prices

okay a bit more info.

Old door card vinyl is cactus. Throw away. Cardboard is in not bad nick though so will try to reuse these if I can.

Bought some red and black vinyl today at spotlight and also some thread. Will try and highjack the wifes sewing machine on sat arvo and have a play around.

I am going to try for black door cards wiht a red stripe or two. Should I glue thin foam onto the board first or onto the back of the vinyl?? Also what stitch should I use on the machine?

What sort of glue should I use and should I apply it all over the vinyl or just around the edges on the back of the card?

Any ideas or has anyone already done this?

Cheers
Smarty

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68 Mini
70 Moke

Glue it to both the card and then the vinyl. Bad things happen if you don't when you got to fit them to the doors.

Buy the best contact adhesive. Cheap stuff will make you cry when it all peels away come summer.

Can reccomend the 3M stuff in a spray can, it makes application very easy, or thin out a can of contact adhesive with turps (I think?) to make it easy to spread. Spilt contact adhesive will dissolve in turps so is easy to clean.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

the vinyl from spotlight is clothing vinyl and is not as tough as upholsterer vinyl