If the design of your standard dashboard does not provide for a tachometer, this shortcoming is easy to fix. To build a solid and beautiful tachometer case, you need a little perseverance, simple tools and simple materials at hand.
Necessary
- - tachometer of a suitable model
- - a tin can of a suitable diameter
- - scissors for metal
- - epoxy adhesive
- - polyurethane foam
- - fiberglass
- - dye
- - sandpaper
- - clerical or any other sharp knife
- - awl or chisel
- - putty
- - double-sided car tape
- - household hair dryer
- - small rubber spatula
Instructions
Step 1
Make a shell blank. To do this, you will need to insert the tachometer into a tin can of a suitable size, and then cut off the excess tin evenly and accurately with metal scissors. Try to make the cut even, without chipping and burrs, otherwise then you will either have to spend a lot of time and effort grinding the edge of the part, or make a new workpiece.
Step 2
Fill the bottom of the can with polyurethane foam. This will adjust the "fit" of your tachometer in the body and additionally strengthen the part. In addition, apply a layer of polyurethane foam to the outside of the case where the tachometer is supposed to be attached to the dashboard.
Step 3
Form the future corps. After you have allowed the foam to dry (it is best to let go for this process for twenty-four hours), cut off the excess foam with a knife. Inside, you should have enough space for the tachometer to fit. Outside, the foam should be trimmed to form a "leg" which we will later glue to the dashboard. Do not forget to cut a hole for the tachometer wires as well.
The hardest part is over. Let's move on to finishing work.
Step 4
Sand the workpiece. Use sandpaper to smooth out unevenness and roughness on the surface of the foam, and also remove the glossy paint layer from the tin.
Step 5
Reinforce the workpiece body. To do this, you will need to cover the future tachometer body with fiberglass, which should then be treated with epoxy glue. To completely dry the glue, the workpiece should be left in a well-ventilated area for twenty-four hours.
Step 6
Putty the workpiece. The putty will help hide all defects and irregularities and prepare the tachometer body for painting.
Step 7
Paint the tachometer body. Cover the part with one or two coats of paint to match the color of your dashboard. If necessary, after the paint has completely dried (see the manufacturer's instructions for the paint and varnish material), cover the part with one or two coats of varnish.
Step 8
Install the tachometer. Place the tachometer in the finished case, lead the wires through the hole you left for them and connect. If the tachometer is working correctly, then its body must be reinforced on the dashboard. Use a household hair dryer to warm up the dashboard surface and secure your new tachometer with double-sided automotive tape.
