Stainless Steel Door sill plates

[Nas]

These look to be quite a handy touch to the car! Something I am forever noticing on my MX5, that is without on my Elan.

[cliff]

Well here's my tuppence,

I'll trust Wayne's judgement on the matter of their quality , so I don't think I want a pair of these !
That said Wayne acted in good faith with the producer/manufacturer on behalf of the Group and therefore I don't think that he should necessarily take a financial hit (Wayne, I'm happy to make some payment for my element just let me know where and how!)

If we find another, competent, manufacturer then I, also, like Lotos' suggestion

Cheers

Pete

[wayne]

I'll keep working on the font if you want me to and get something exact suitable for a cutter to work from if you guys give me instructions as to what you want. In the example above note that the typeface in the logo and in the main body are not the same. They aren't in mine either but its closer and I will get it right, take the EPSes to bits and see if they really contain vector info when I have a bit more than 2 minutes, and if they don't I can draw the vectors so one way or another I can get you a vector file finished up no problem in black and white, and keep all of the material on file or upload to LEC for other projects.

Lotus-Sill-Draft.gif

Jeemy. I would really appreciate it if you could work on the font and the Logo and come up with a vector image of it. This is way out of my skills....

I did find a vector image of the logo.

Lotus (2).zip

and would personally prefer the origional font.

Unfortunatly I have been unable to view lotos's first picture. was it colour or B&W? As I'm starting from scratch here with a different company I will go with whichever logo suits most people. Although at the moment I am not sure if colour is an option but I will ask. Lotos please could you email me your design?

I believe I may have found several companies to look at doing them but it will take a few weeks before I decide to re order from anywhere. I am going to need some good proof of what I will be recieving.

A big Thank you to everyone that has offered to help me recover the costs for the origional plates. Unfortunatly I can not accept this. I have given it a good deal of thought and these plates are not for sale. I won't throw them away yet as they may be acceptable as a free gift if I can get them to the UK.

In the mean time. Any thoughts on the logo? do we go with lotos's proposal? (if possible)!

Regards

Wayne

[JohnB]

In the mean time. Any thoughts on the logo? do we go with lotos's proposal? (if possible)!
Wayne

I personally like lotos' proposal but whatever you can do Wayne I will be happy with.

[Jeemy]

Just tell me if you want the circular logo or the triangular one, and which version of the font, and I'll make a vector file for you; I am happy to liase with the manufacturers as well; its what I do for a living so I'll get it right!

[Jeemy]

OK,

Just to advise everyone that I will be taking over the production of these; Wayne has a bit much on his plate.

For now, if there is anything else like badges, head covers, trims, or anything else laser-etched into thin stainless steel that you would like to have produced at the same time, let me know as it will cost VERY little extra to produce a few items at once over just one.

I'll be back to you in a week or two once I have suppliers in place and ideally samples; I will look into solid metal but would imagine we are going to end up with chromed acrylic like most car trim.

[Jeemy]

Obviously I'll try to get metal ones made. But a brief (and I mean 2 minutes) examination of an Audi, a BMW, and a Mini, and it does seem that the modern material isn't stainless steel. I'm as keen as the rest of you to get something of the highest quality and will be back in a week or two with a proper update.

In the meantime, if you have any other parts in flat metal you want milled, post up here. If I don't know about it within 7 days, its not happening; and I will proceed to get quotes for these only. I have enquiries out internationally now from new and existing suppliers and will try to get example photos as this progresses.

[Jeemy]

Given recent events, I am dropping out of doing this. I don't want to be asked to put the whole sum upfront. Much as I appreciate the advice given on this forum, I don't have the facilities to expend money upfront on any kind of say so.

[wayne]

Jeemy. Looking back on this thread and all other group buys. I do not think that the members here would expect you to put the funds for the entire project.

I have always paid for any project as this is not my area of expertise. I considered it was a risk getting what you ordered and although I don't like the idea of risking my own funds. I would not have anyone else risk loosing their money from my mistake.

although "recent events" will probably affect group buys for quite along time.

Anyway. after starting this. I am willing to give it another go and try to get a better part made.

I have contacted several companies today. With a view to having them remade.
I have never been able to view lotos's picture which seemed to be the prefered logo. I presume it was the triangular losenger design?

I have sent out a couple of the old sets for people to have a look at. And I have advertised a couple on ebay. with a hope to making back some of the money I paid out for them. The majority of them are really worthless.

Fortunatly things are a bit quieter here than they have been for the last few months but It is still goint to take a few weeks before I get anything back.

After making a mess of the first batch. If anyone is willing to offer any help or advice on suppliers, logo design, etc (on the forum or via email) It would be greatly appreciated and benefit everyone.

Although it is proving difficult to make. I would still like to look at a stainless steel plate as I believe this would be the most scratch resistant plate.

This is not a commited to buy thread..... More like, advice and preference required If I get an acceptable part then I will offer it for sale.

Many thanks

Wayne

[cliff]

Once again Wayne you are doing a great job, Jeemy too.

It would be a sad blow to LEC if "recent events" lead to the demise of group buys, I hope the ongoing problems can be resolved to the satisfaction of all members.

To get back on topic, have you contacted Lockwood? They already make dials for the Elan, and might be interested in adding sill protectors to their growing catalogue. This would have the benefit of not needing an initial outlay from LEC members. I would be happy to approach them myself but do not have any of the design info.

http://www.lockwoodinternational.co.uk/about-us-c2.html

Just noticed they offer grill mesh as well. I have a new centre piece, if someone has the left & right ones to use as templates, then we could be looking at another group project.

http://www.lockwoodinternational.co.uk/ ... -c483.html

[Jeemy]

I am going to remove my horrible square mesh from inside the bumper before I respray the car, and was planning on replacing it with handcut. I have no issue (if the mesh is OEM and usable) providing this.

I also don't mind helping get this project finished. I have some info but no time to collate it. This is why I wasn't keen to go ahead if it was going to be something that I needed to put the full outlay up on. I will say more as soon as I can.

[alan e]

I phoned lockwoods in the week they can supply the sill plates in stainless steel the only difference is the size they are 600mm x 50mm the price they gave me was 10 x sets at £35.50 each,
20 x sets at £28.75 each, 40 x sets at £25.00 each all + vat plus £10 postage to one address anyone interested if so i dont mind starting a group buy and paying the £10 postage to my address or maybe see how much they will charge to send them on to each buyer.

[Jeemy]

Here's where I have got to in the Far East. I sent it to Wayne but haven't heard back from him.

Sample: $180 (2 pcs)

Production:

Part Size: 490x35x0.4mm
Part Weight: 135g
Part Material: 304 stainless steel sheet in 0.4 mm thickness
Processes Involved: Cutting + LOGO laser engraving + grinding + Chrome plating + LOGO black painting (only if required) + Double faced adhesive tape
Part Price (EXW): US$7.90/piece

So $15.80 per pair. This is ex works - total shipping weight is only 27kg so it could go by air but the size might be better on a shared shipping container - I'd guess £300 shipping. Minimum order is 100 pairs, so even though the cost seems reasonable, its $1,580 worth! But we could get people from Esprits, Elises as well perhaps - I don't know, the Elise/Exige might have something like this as standard.

This is not a specialist but is a firm I've used before for plastic moulding. They also do laser cutting of sheet metal, but he's been quite honest in saying that its probably cheaper elsewhere but I have not found a "specialist" yet.

I've not managed to clarify if we can produce them 'headed' - I don't really see the issue in reversing the cut or reversing the engrave, so am pretty sure it can be done at no extra cost. I've got a mini and an audi both with these plates so I'll have a look and see if they are mirror images or just same way to view.

Thoughts?

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Wayne is on vacation. He isn't near the internet.

[Jeemy]

Just spoke to him from phillipines or wherever he is. Will have more info for you shortly.

[Jeemy]

Wayne's given me permission to post up about this. He's actually been working on getting these done again.

He's asked me to have a look at the second lot of samples, pics attached.

My comments were that:

______________

Finish-wise, they look OK I think (I'm on a 17" laptop just now).

The lettering itself isn't perfect; its not following the lines exactly and this means it looks a bit 'fake' - this may be because you've not supplied them with proper vectors but a JPEG or something and they've generated paths from it.*

The black also isn't filling into the thin parts of the letters on the small logo as well as it could I think - this may be what is making the logos look off. This is why I think just the engrave and no fill, would be nicer.

______________

*Wayne has confirmed that yes this is from a bitmap image. He may have better internet in the week.

We have plenty of options open and I am trying to find a Far East specialist in this type of product still.

So I guess we just wait for Wayne to get back and then we can decide how we want to progress this.

By the looks of it we have 30 or so people involved. I'll speak to Wayne on his return and we can decide as a group the best way forward, whether that be just to spend £35 each and get Lockwood to make them (I'm guessing these are proven and good) or try to get more people involved and sample quality permitting, get them down to the £15-16 mark (my educated guess of the final cost per pair based on 100 people, including all shipping & tax if we source to Far East).

[hatters]

I fancy a pair of them
The cheaper the better of course, but I don't think around £30.00 is out of place for stainless ones

[JohnB]

I fancy a pair of them
The cheaper the better of course, but I don't think around £30.00 is out of place for stainless ones

I'll probably have a couple of pairs.

[Ladythorpe2]

Another pair to Yorkshire.

A pair for me if you can get them made.

GW

[Jeemy]

We can defo get them made. There's no point in taking numbers just now - everyone will be dealt with, there is no limit, this is a pretty easy thing to source. I am sorry I flipped out a bit earlier in the process, but those involved in the related situation will hopefully understand.......I'm a bit quick when my back is up.....nuff said.

All that remains for this Group Buy is too see what the actual physical quality of what Wayne has had made is. I'm still not keen on the black inlay and would prefer a matt engraving; but we aren't 100% on who can do these....again, it won't be a problem but I need to speak to Wayne properly when he gets back...there are options.

Lockwoods are undoubtedly sourcing out to China but if the quality is there and they handle that stuff all the time, I don't think any of us care if its £5, £15, or £35......just that they look right.

So we will all decide together what to do. I am sure we can get this sorted pretty easily, we'll take numbers once Wayne gets back and we decide who the final supplier is.